GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(W2) IUP Crimson Hawks (20-6, 18-4 PSAC)
vs. (W3) Mercyhurst Lakers (23-6, 17-5 PSAC)
Wednesday, March 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
The Crimson Hawks open up postseason play on Wednesday when they host Mercyhurst in the 2017 PSAC Women's Basketball Quarterfinals. Tipoff at the Kovalchick Complex is set for 5:30 p.m. IUP received a first round bye in the tournament after earning the second seed in the PSAC West. Mercyhurst is the third seed, and advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Clarion 74-46 in the first round on Monday. The Crimson Hawks swept their regular season series with the Lakers, including a 73-71 home victory back on Feb. 1. 

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 is making its 20th all-time PSAC tournament appearance, including a run of 12 straight years dating back to 2006; It's the second longest streak in the conference to California's current run of 17 consecutive
• This is the fourth postseason appearance for the Crimson Hawks under HC Tom McConnell; He has a 4-3 record in PSAC tournament games, including a run to the conference championship game last season
• McConnell is 6-2 lifetime against Mercyhurst; He's won all four of his home games against the Lakers, with an average scoring margin of +13.3
• The Crimson Hawks have shot 48.0 percent from the field in this year's two meetings with Mercyhurst, averaging 68.5 points per contest; IUP has limited the Lakers to 37.1 percent from the floor
• The Crimson Hawks are 11-2 at home this season, defeating opponents by an average of 15.2 points a game; IUP is 12-1 all-time at home in the PSAC tournament, including 4-0 at the Kovalchick Complex
• Mercyhurst is 9-4 away from home this season, including a three-game road win streak

IUP IS DOMINANT AT HOME, BOTH IN REGULAR SEASON AND POSTSEASON
The Crimson Hawks have been nearly unstoppable at home under HC Tom McConnell, boasting a record of 47-8 (.854) since the 2013-14 season. That includes a 3-0 record in PSAC tournament games, with wins over Pitt-Johnstown (79-56) in 2014, Edinboro (71-63) in 2015, and Gannon (75-70) in 2016. IUP's only two home losses this year came to Edinboro and then-sixth-ranked California. 

CRIMSON HAWKS ONE OF TOP THREE-POINT SHOOTING TEAMS IN PSAC, DIVISION II
IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 19th in Division II with a 36.8 three-point field goal percentage. The Crimson Hawks shoot 40.4 percent from beyond the arc at home, draining a season-high 14 threes against Slippery Rock back on Feb. 4. R-Soph. G Lauren Wolosik (Pittsburgh, Pa. /North Catholic) is the team-leader with 54 threes made and a 43.9 three-point percentage.

LAUREN WOLOSIK PUTTING TOGETHER ONE OF THE TOP 3-POINT SHOOTING SEASONS IN IUP HISTORY
Wolosik's three-point numbers are nearing the top of the IUP single season charts. Her 54 threes are currently 10th all-time, while her 43.9 percentage ranks second. She's also tied for fifth in the PSAC this season with 2.1 made three-pointers per game. 

WOLOSIK HAS BEEN IUP's MOST CONSISTENT SCORING THREAT OF LATE
Wolosik has led the Crimson Hawks in scoring over their last six games, averaging 17.8 points per contest while shooting a blistering 51.5 percent from the floor. She's reached double-figures in each game, including a career-high 29 points on 9-14 shooting against Slippery Rock, and enters the postseason with back-to-back 17-point games against Clarion and California. In addition to her 43.9 three-point field goal percentage, Wolosik is fourth in the PSAC with an 86.3 free throw percentage on the year.  

IUP RANKS SECOND IN DIVISION II WITH 5.81 BLOCKS PER GAME
Led by So. F Brittany Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin East), the Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC and rank second in the country with 5.81 blocked shots per game. IUP's 151 total blocks this year is a program record. Robinson is putting together one of the best blocking seasons in program history with 52 through 26 games, while Jr. F Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) has added 29. Four more players have at least 13 this year for a team that has performances of 14 blocks vs. Shippensburg (Dec. 3) and 10 blocks vs. UPJ (Jan. 3). 

BRITTANY ROBINSON IS ONE OF THE TOP SHOT BLOCKERS IN ATLANTIC REGION
Robinson leads the the PSAC, ranks second in the Atlantic Region, and 30th in Division II averaging 2.00 blocked shots per game. She's posted at least one block in 21 of 26 games, and recently ended a streak of 12 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.

NCAA ATLANTIC REGION RANKINGS
IUP moved up one spot to No. 3 in last week's NCAA Division II Regional Rankings, which are released each Wednesday afternoon in the weeks leading up to the postseason. These rankings determine the 64 teams selected to the NCAA tournament, with the top eight in each region earning berths. The next regional rankings will be released in the afternoon of Wednesday, March 1.