GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP Crimson Hawks (14-5, 12-3 PSAC)
vs. Mercyhurst Lakers (16-4, 11-3 PSAC)
Wednesday, February 1, 2017 | 5:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Kovalchick Complex

Full Game Notes (PDF)
Live Stats: SidearmStats.com | Fan Stats | Media Stats
Watch: IUP Webcast YouTube | youtube.com
Listen: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Listen: Smartphone | U92 Sports App
Live Updates: Twitter | @IUP_WBB

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
For the first time in two weeks, the Crimson Hawks return home as they host Mercyhurst on Wednesday night at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. IUP brings momentum back to Indiana after earning road wins last week at Seton Hill and Gannon. This will be the Lakers first game in a week after back-to-back road losses to No. 6 California and Edinboro. The Crimson Hawks head into the week with a half-game lead in the standings, sitting third at 12-3 in the league while Mercyhurst is fourth at 11-3.  

The game will be broadcast on WQMU 92.5 FM with the voice of IUP Athletics, Jack Benedict, calling the action. You can also listen on u92radio.com and on the u92radio app on your smartphone.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• IUP HC Tom McConnell has a 5-2 record against Mercyhurst, including a 64-54 win in Erie back on Jan. 9; McConnell has won all three of his home games against the Lakers, boasting an average scoring margin of +17
• Mercyhurst has never won in Indiana, dropping 14 games since the 1983-84 season
• The Crimson Hawks are 7-2 at home this year, but have lost each of their last two games in the Kovalchick Complex (Edinboro, 75-65; Cal, 79-52); They are outscoring opponents 70.4-54.9 at home
• Mercyhurst is 6-3 in road games this year, dropping each of its last two at Cal (68-66) and Edinboro (62-50)
• This matchup features two of the top defenses in the PSAC, with IUP leading the league with 55.6 points allowed while Mercyhurst is third at 58.0; The Crimson Hawks have kept opponents under 60 points 14 times in 19 games, and the Lakers have done the same 12 times in 20 games
• These two teams also boast the top two shot blockers in the conference, with the Lakers' Natalie Piaggesi (2.2) and IUP's Brittany Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) (1.9) averaging more than four combined blocks per game

MCCONNELL, CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 43-7 AT HOME
In four years under HC Tom McConnell, the Crimson Hawks boast a 43-8 record (.843) in home games, including 7-2 this season. Each of those eight losses came to PSAC teams, including once to No. 2 ranked Gannon (73-64) during the 2013-14 season.

THE IUP DEFENSE AGAIN ONE OF THE BEST IN THE PSAC, DIVISION II IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES
Despite their recent struggles, the Crimson Hawks defense still remains statistically one of the best in the PSAC. IUP leads the league in points allowed (55.6), defensive field goal percentage (.362), and blocks (5.53) - also ranking 13th, 39th, and sixth, respectively, in Division II. 

CAROLYN APPLEBY NAMED PSAC WEST ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
So. G Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Central Catholic) was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week on Monday, averaging 20.5 points while shooting 50.0 percent (15-30) from the floor, including 6-12 from three-point range. She scored a career-high 24 points at Seton Hill in the return to her hometown on Wednesday. Her 17-point game at Gannon was her 12th double-figure scoring games of the season. 

BRITTANY ROBINSON IS ONE OF THE TOP SHOT BLOCKERS IN ATLANTIC REGION
So. F Brittany Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) is second in the PSAC, third in the Atlantic Region, and 36th in Division II averaging 1.89 blocked shots per game this season. She's posted at least one block in 15 of 19 games, and is currently on a streak of six straight games with a swat. Robinson has performances of seven blocks (vs. Shippensburg) and six blocks (at Millersville), and is on pace to have one of the top individual seasons in IUP history.

HALLE DENMAN RANKS 2ND IN THE PSAC, 24TH IN DIVISION II IN STEALS PER GAME
Jr. G Halle Denman (Beaver Falls, Pa. /Blackhawk) is having a standout defensive season in her first year as a starter, as she's second in the PSAC and 24th in the NCAA with 2.79 steals per game. She's had at least one steal in 18 straight games, including a career-high seven against Gannon and five at Millersville. Denman has swiped four in each of her last two games and is on pace for more than 70 steals over the course of a 26-game regular season, which would be the most since Jahzinga Tracey had 99 in 2008-09.

IUP HAS PLAYED BALL CONTROL OFFENSE, WON THE TURNOVER BATTLE LAST THREE GAMES
After losing the turnover battle by a combined 19 in losses to Edinboro (20-16) and California (29-14), the Crimson Hawks have rebounded well in the last three games. Even with the loss at Clarion, IUP has turned the ball over just 24 times while forcing opponents into 47 turnovers in the last three games, with Gannon turning it over 22 on Saturday afternoon.