GREENSBURG, Pa. – Sophomore guard Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Central Catholic) scored a career-high 24 points in the return to her hometown, leading IUP women's basketball to a 72-51 victory at Seton Hill on Wednesday night at the Salvitti Gymnasium. 

Appleby's 24 points came on 8-of-17 shooting, including a season-best 5-of-8 from three-point range. She also went 3-of-3 from the foul line, dished out three assists, and had a pair of steals in 32 minutes. 

The Crimson Hawks (13-5, 11-3 PSAC) won the game in the fourth quarter, outscoring Seton Hill 28-8 in the final 10 minutes of action. Appleby scored 10 of her points in the fourth, as IUP stretched a one point lead into a 21-point blowout victory. 

The win also broke a three-game losing streak for the Crimson Hawks, who moved into a tie with Mercyhurst (16-4, 11-3) for third place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division. 

It was a back-and-forth game for the first three quarters, with each team exchanging momentum swings. IUP took a 13-12 lead after the first, but a 13-3 run by Seton Hill at the end of the second had the Griffins leading 31-27 at halftime. 

The Crimson Hawks used an 11-3 run in the second half to take a 44-43 lead into the final quarter. 

IUP shot nearly 47 percent from the floor, as junior forward Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) and junior guard Halle Denman (Beaver Falls, Pa. /Blackhawk) scored 13 and 11 points, respectively. Sophomore forward Brittany Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) helped IUP hold the edge on the boards, grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds. 

Up next
The Crimson Hawks start the second half of their PSAC West schedule this Saturday as they travel to Gannon (5-15, 5-9). It'll be the third straight road game for IUP.

Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.