GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(2/7) IUP Crimson Hawks (9-0, 4-0 PSAC)
vs. Gannon Golden Knights (6-6, 2-3 PSAC)
Wednesday, January 2, 2019 | 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)
Gannon Game Preview

COMING UP
Saturday, January 5 vs. Pitt-Johnstown, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 9 at Mercyhurst, 5:30 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
2nd-ranked IUP women's basketball (9-0, 4-0 PSAC) returns from a two-week break and opens divisional play Wednesday at home against Gannon (6-6, 2-3 PSAC). Tipoff at the Kovalchick Complex is set for 5:30 p.m. The Crimson Hawks bring a 9-0 record into the start of divisional play having already won four games against PSAC East opponents. Gannon also returns from winter break after going 2-3 in cross divisional games. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> The Crimson Hawks were last in action Tuesday, December 18 with an 87-69 victory over West Chester. Sr. G Carolyn Appleby scored a game-high 23 points and Sr. F Brittany Robinson added a career-high 22 points.
>> It was Appleby's second straight and fourth 20-point outing of the season.
>> The 17-point win over West Chester was IUP's closest victory of the season. The previous eight wins all came by more than 20 points, including six of 30-plus. 
>> The 69 points scored by West Chester were the most IUP has allowed this season. 
>> The Crimson Hawks went 4-0 against PSAC East teams in December with an average scoring margin of +29.5.
>> IUP HC Tom McConnell is 8-3 against Gannon including regular season sweeps in each of the last two years. IUP has won six straight against the Golden Knights dating back to the 2015-16 season, including a win in the PSAC quarterfinal round that year.
>> IUP is 5-0 under McConnell in its first game coming back from winter break. 
>> The Crimson Hawks are looking for their second straight 10-0 start and their third in six years under McConnell. IUP started last season 15-0 and the 2014-15 season 13-0.
>> The Crimson Hawks are 4-1 in PSAC West openers under McConnell, including two straight wins - both over Gannon. The last division-opening loss came to Gannon in Erie (81-66) on December 1, 2015. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
>> Gannon is 6-6 overall and 2-3 in the PSAC, all against teams from the East Division.
>> The Golden Knights opened the year with three straight wins, including a pair over Elizabeth City State (91-89, OT) and Johnson C. Smith (69-58) in a home tournament.
>> They are just 2-4 over their last six games.
>> Gannon is 3-2 in games played away from the Hammermill Center, including 3-1 in true road matchups.
>> Gannon represents the best shooting team IUP has played this year, ranking 2nd in the PSAC with a 45.3 field goal percentage. Sr. F Nicole LaCava leads the league with a 64.6 FG%. 
>> The Golden Knights turn the ball over 20.3 times per game, including 25 times in a 71-63 loss to Kutztown.

CRIMSON HAWKS ONE OF TOP TEAMS IN DIVISION II
>> IUP are ranked No. 2 in the WBCA Top 25 and No. 7 in the D2SIDA Media Top 25 for the second straight week.
>> The No. 2 ranking in the coaches' poll ties the program record. IUP was No. 2 on January 16 last season.
>> The Crimson Hawks were ranked No. 3 in two previous WBCA polls before the No. 2 ranking. 
>> 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 6th in Division II with a scoring average of 84.2 points per game.
>> IUP has scored 80 points five times this year, including twice against PSAC East opponents
>> The 758 total points scored is the most ever by the program in the first nine 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 three players players (Appleby 17.2, Wolosik, 11.5 Robinson 10.0) averaging in double-figures. All 13 players on the roster score 2.2 points and six players average at least 8.6 per game.

THE IUP DEFENSE ALSO AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION
>> IUP leads Division II in scoring defense (48.6) and is 2nd in defensive FG% (.320), 4th in defensive 3FG% (.226), and 24th in steals (11.7 SPG).
>> 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 14 turnovers in all nine games, including six games of 20-plus. 
>> IUP held the PSACs 2nd leading scorer Ariel Jones (Shippensburg) to 10 points and 4-14 FGs. She's averaging 25.4 PPG through 13 games this season. 

APPLEBY LEADS THE WAY IN 2018-19
>> Sr. G Carolyn Appleby leads the team and is 11th in the PSAC in scoring at 17.2 PPG. 
>> She has eight straight double-digit scoring games, including four 20-point outings, and has led the Crimson Hawks in scoring six times. 

BRITTANY ROBINSON MAKING RUN AT BLOCKS RECORD
>> Sr. F Brittany Robinson enters this game with 137 career blocks, 4th in IUP history. 
>> She's 1 swat 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 4th on the team in scoring (9.4 PPG) and 2nd in rebounding (5.9 RPG) and assists (27) 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 7.2 RPG.
>> She has a team-best two double-doubles this year, including 12 points and 12 rebounds in IUP's 87-69 win over West Chester on Dec. 18. She nearly missed a third with a season-high 15 points and 9 rebounds against Cheyney.