INDIANA, Pa. – Redshirt sophomore
Lauren Wolosik (Pittsburgh, Pa. /North Catholic) scored a career-high 29 points in leading the IUP women's basketball team to a 105-73 victory over Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Saturday evening at the Kovalchick Complex.
With the win the Crimson Hawks improve to 16-5 overall and 14-3 in PSAC play. Meanwhile, The Rock falls to 9-14 overall behind a 6-11 mark in league play.
The 105 points rank as the fifth most in a single-game in programs history and the most under head coach
Tom McConnell. It also marks the first time that the Crimson Hawks have scored 100 or more points since January 26, 2013 against Mercyhurst.
Wolosik made 9-of-14 from the field, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. She added five assists, four rebounds and four steals. Junior
Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) totaled 16 points to go along with four rebounds and two steals. Sophomore
Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Central Catholic) added 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting while dishing out six assists. Classmate
Brittany Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) scored 11 points to go along with seven rebounds and four blocks. Junior
Halle Denman (Beaver Falls, Pa. /Blackhawk) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points.
IUP opened the game on a 10-0 run after a three-pointer from Smith. Slippery Rock cut the lead to 11-7 on a layup from Mallory Heinle. Cassidy Wright pulled The Rock to within four (16-12) at the 2:24-mark of the first quarter. The Crimson Hawks pushed the lead back to double-digits at 30-20 after a free-throw from Appleby at the 7:56-mark of the second quarter. The Rock answered with a 10-4 run to cut the lead to 34-30 after a pair of free-throws from Brooke Hinderliter midway through the quarter. An Appleby jumper gave IUP a 45-37 lead with 2:31 left in the half. Slippery Rock then finished the half on a 7-0 run to pull to within 45-44 at the break.
The Rock retook the lead (49-47) early in the third quarter on a jumper from C.C. Dixon at the 7:17-mark. The Crimson Hawks answered emphatically with a 21-1 run which pushed the lead to 68-50 at the 2:56-mark of the quarter. IUP was 6-of-8 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc during the run and held The Rock to 0-of-4 from the floor. The Crimson Hawks also forced five Slippery Rock turnovers during the stretch.
A Wolosik layup gave IUP an 80-55 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Minutes later Denman pushed the lead to 89-60 midway through the quarter. Slippery Rock was not able to cut the deficit closer than 28 points the rest of the way.
IUP shot a sizzling 61.4 percent (33-of-57) from the floor including 66.7 percent (14-of-21) from beyond the arc. In comparison, Slippery Rock shot just 35.3 percent (24-of-68) and 27.3 percent (6-of-22) from three-point range. Both teams collected 35 rebounds.
The Rock was led by Dixon's team-high 24 points. Sierra Fordham added 14 points.
Up Next
The Crimson Hawks begin a two-game PSAC West road trip when they travel to Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday, February 8, with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m.
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.
