CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Redshirt sophomore
Lauren Wolosik (Pittsburgh, Pa. /North Catholic) scored a game-high 20 points to lead IUP women's basketball to a 59-55 victory over Johnson C. Smith in the opening round of the NCAA Atlantic Regional at California's Hamer Hall on Friday.
The Crimson Hawks advance to play Virginia Union in the Atlantic Region semifinals on Saturday evening. It'll be a rematch of the last year's NCAA first round game in Richmond, a matchup won by the Panthers.
Wolosik finished 6-of-13 from the field, draining four three-pointers, while dishing out four assists and swiping five steals in 37 minutes.
It was the first NCAA tournament win for IUP head coach
Tom McConnell, and the first victory for the Crimson Hawks in the NCAAs since 2013.
The Crimson Hawks (24-6) shot 52 percent from the floor in the first half as they took a 33-26 lead into the locker room.
A three-pointer by Wolosik to start the third quarter led to an early run as IUP took a 14-point lead at 40-26. Johnson C. Smith (22-8) chipped away at its deficit, before using a 10-0 run to make it a two-point game at 43-41 with over eight minutes left to play.
Later in the quarter, IUP clung to a 50-47 lead as JCSU held the momentum, but the Crimson Hawks reeled off seven straight points as a
Brittany Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin East) layup made it a 57-47 game with under two minutes to play.
Robinson also scored in double-figures, finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) and
Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Central Catholic) each scored 11 points.
Around the region
Top overall seed California edged Glenville State 88-86, and will face four-seed Mercyhurst in the semifinals. Mercyhurst defeated Shippensburg 63-51. Three-seed Virginia Union defeated Wheeling Jesuit 66-58 to advance to the semifinal to face the Crimson Hawks.
Up next
IUP and Virginia Union will tip off at 5 p.m. on Saturday. The winner will advance to the Atlantic Region Championship game and will face the Cal/Mercyhurst winner on Monday night.
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.
