INDIANA, Pa. – Seniors Carolyn Appleby and Brittany Robinson combined for 45 points to lead the No. 2 IUP women's basketball team to an 87-69 victory over visiting West Chester Tuesday night at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
Appleby scored a game-high 23 and Robinson tallied a new career-high of 22 points as the Crimson Hawks remained undefeated on the year at 9-0, including a 4-0 mark in conference play.
 
Appleby did most of her scoring in the first and second quarters, fighting through some early foul trouble to score 14 points in just 10 first half minutes.
 
When she wasn't on the floor for IUP, Robinson was handling the scoring with 10 points in the first quarter alone. She made three consecutive buckets in one stretch to give IUP a 21-11 lead with 2:34 left in the opening frame.
 
The IUP lead increased to 18 points midway through the second quarter with a slew of 3-pointers, as Appleby, junior Natalie Myers and sophomore Courtney Alexanders converted on successive trips down the floor.
 
The Crimson Hawks increased their lead to 21 points at 47-26 early in the second half on a triple by Ana Hollen, before West Chester caught fire. The Golden Rams (4-7, 0-4 PSAC) outscored IUP in the third quarter with 24 points, closing out the frame with seven straight made buckets, including five 3-pointers.
 
IUP kept pace as six players combined for 20 points, including eight from Robinson.
 
The lead remained safely in double-figures for the remainder of the night as the Crimson Hawks capped off yet another blowout victory.
 
Also having a successful evening was Myers, who posted her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Notes
The Crimson Hawks are No. 2 in the WBCA Top 25 and No. 7 in the D2SIDA Media Top 25 polls … At 9-0, this is the third best start for the Crimson Hawks in the six years of the Tom McConnell era … McConnell led IUP to a 13-0 start in 2014-15 and a 15-0 start last season … This was Appleby's fourth 20-point outing of the year, including her second straight … IUP made 17-of-20 from the foul line, with the .850 percentage a season-high … IUP held a 40-to-30 advantage on the glass and a 14-10 turnover advantage … The 69 points allowed by the Crimson Hawks is the most by an opponent this season (62, Ohio Valley).
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks are off for the NCAA's mandatory winter break and return to action Wednesday, January 2 at home against Gannon (6-5, 2-2 PSAC). Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m. at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.