GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(2/7) IUP Crimson Hawks (8-0, 3-0 PSAC)
vs. West Chester Golden Rams (4-6, 0-3 PSAC)
Tuesday, December 18, 2018 | 5:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Kovalchick Complex (4,000)
*Rankings reflect WBCA/D2SIDA Top 25 Polls

HOW TO FOLLOW
Stats: IUPAthletics.com | Statbroadcast
Watch: IUPathletics.com/watch | IUP-TV
Video App: PSAC Sports Network
Radio: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com
Audio App: U92.5 Sports App (Android & iPhone)
Social Media: Twitter | @IUP_WBB

GAME PREVIEWS
IUP Game Notes (PDF)
West Chester W. Basketball page

COMING UP
Wednesday, January 2 vs. Gannon, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 5 vs. Pitt-Johnstown, 5:30 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
2nd-ranked IUP women's basketball (8-0, 3-0 PSAC) hosts West Chester (4-6, 0-3 PSAC) Tuesday evening in its final game of 2018. Tipoff at the Kovalchick Complex is 5:30 p.m. The Crimson Hawks return to action after their 66-32 win over Shippensburg at the Memorial Field House two Saturdays ago gave them an 8-0 record on the year. West Chester is also returning to the court after a 10-day layoff having lost four straight games. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> The Crimson Hawks posted their lowest scoring output of the season (66) against Shippensburg, while also giving up the fewest points (32) in the last seven seasons. 
>> The win was IUP's sixth this year by more than 30 points. All eight of their victories have come by more than 20.
>> The Crimson Hawks improved to 6-0 in games played at the Memorial Field House since moving to the Kovalchick Complex for the 2011-12 season. Four of those wins have come in conference play. 
>> Sr. G Carolyn Appleby posted her third 20-point outing of the season against Shippensburg.
>> This is IUP's fourth of five games against a PSAC East opponent this year. The Crimson Hawks are 3-0 against Kutztown, Millersville and Shippensburg with an average scoring margin of +30.0 in those games. 
>> IUP also defeated Bloomsburg 73-46 on November 14, but it did not count in the PSAC standings. 
>> IUP HC Tom McConnell is 3-2 against West Chester, winning two straight in the series, including an 86-75 decision at West Chester last regular season.
>> Since Coach McConnell's first season, the Crimson Hawks are 31-3 against PSAC East teams during the regular season. That includes 20 straight wins, with the last loss coming to West Chester (92-79) Nov. 22, 2015.
>> McConnell is 33-5 combined against the PSAC East, with a 2-2 record postseason record. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GOLDEN RAMS 
>> West Chester is 4-6 overall and 0-3 in the PSAC. 
>> The Golden Rams have lost four straight games, including three to PSAC West opponents Slippery Rock (72-69) on the road, and No. 20 Cal (67-52) and No. 19 Edinboro (91-72) at home. 
>> They are 1-2 on the road this season, defeating Lincoln 84-80 back on November 20. 
>> West Chester is the 2nd highest scoring team in the PSAC East (70.5) and 6th overall among conference teams.
>> So. G Destiny Jefferson is 10th in the PSAC in scoring at 17.2 PPG and is one of the top 3-point shooters in the conference with a 42.6 3FG% (20-47). She has six 20-point performances.

CRIMSON HAWKS ONE OF TOP TEAMS IN DIVISION II
>> IUP moved up to No. 2 in this week's WBCA Top 25 Poll and No. 7 in the D2SIDA Media Top 25. 
>> This ties the Crimson Hawks' highest ever ranking, first reaching the No. 2 spot January 16 of last season. 
>> They stayed in that spot for just one week last year, falling at No. 14 Cal 62-53 the next night. 
>> The Crimson Hawks have been ranked No. 3 in each of the two previous WBCA polls. The No. 7 ranking by the media is their highest in that poll this season. 
>> IUP opened the year ranked 5th and 18th, respectively, in the polls. The WBCA ranking is the program's highest preseason ranking ever. 
>> They are also the No. 1 ranked team in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll, garnering all six first place votes. 

SCORING PACE FOR IUP OFF TO A HOT START
>> The Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC and are 7th in Division II with a scoring average of 83.9 points per game. 
>> The 671 total points scored is the most ever by the program in the first eight games of a season. 
>> IUP has two 100-point outings this year - 101 vs. Ohio Valley and 100 vs. Cheyney. They are the 14th and 15th 100-point performances in school history. 
>> The 95 points against Alderson Broaddus is the 2nd most by IUP in a season opener (96 vs. Ohio Valley, 2002).
>> Individual scoring is spread out with just two players (Appleby, 16.5 Wolosik, 11.5) averaging in double-figures. All 13 players who play average at least 2.0 points and six players average at least 8.1 per game.

THE IUP DEFENSE ALSO AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION
>> IUP leads Division II in scoring defense (46.0) and defensive FG% (.302), is 3rd in defensive 3FG% (.221) and 21st in steals per game (12.0). 
>> IUP has kept opponents under 50 points four times this year, including a season-low 32 points against Shippensburg. That's tied for the 10th fewest allowed in program history and the least given up since the 2011-12 season.
>> IUP has forced at least 16 turnovers in all eight games, including six games of 20-plus. The Crimson Hawks have forced 20 or more turnovers in five straight, with a season-high 29 at Kutztown.
>> Shippensburg's Ariel Jones was held to 10 points and 4-14 FGs after entering the game averaging 26.0 PPG.
 
APPLEBY LEADS THE WAY IN 2018-19
>> Sr. G Carolyn Appleby leads the team and is 12th in the PSAC in scoring at 16.5 PPG. 
>> She has seven straight double-digit scoring games, including three 20-point outings, and has led the Crimson Hawks in scoring five times. 

BRITTANY ROBINSON MAKING RUN AT BLOCKS RECORD
>> Sr. F Brittany Robinson enters this game with 136 career blocks, 4th in IUP history. 
>> She's 2 swats away from tying former teammate Megan Smith (138, 2014-18) for 3rd and could make a run at the all-time program record of 186 held by Jodi Frederick (1996-01). 

LEXI GRIGGS STEPPING UP IN FIRST YEAR AS A STARTER
>> Jr. F Lexi Griggs is 3rd on the team in scoring (9.9 PPG) and rebounding (6.0 RPG) and is 2nd with 24 assists in her first year as a starter. 
>> She opened the year with her first career double double (15 pts, 10 rebs) against Alderson Broaddus.

NEWCOMER NATALIE MYERS FITTING IN
>> Jr. G Natalie Myers, a transfer from Youngstown State, leads IUP in rebounding at 6.6 RPG. 
>> She posted her first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds in her IUP debut, and nearly missed another with a season-high 15 points and 9 rebounds last against Cheyney.