GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(W1) IUP Crimson Hawks (25-2, 20-2 PSAC)
vs. (W4) Seton Hill Griffins  (20-9, 14-8 PSAC)
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 | 5:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Kovalchick Complex

Full Game Notes (PDF)
Stats: IUPAthletics.com | Statbroadcast
Radio: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com | U92.5 Sports App (Android & iPhone)
Video: IUPAthletics.com | IUPAthletics.com/watch
Social Media: Twitter | @IUP_WBB

COMING UP
Saturday, March 3 PSAC Semifinals (3:30 p.m.)
Sunday, March 4 PSAC Championship (3 p.m.)
*Both games dependent on victory in previous round

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
Top-seed IUP women's basketball (25-2, 20-2 PSAC) heads into postseason play this week as they host Seton Hill (20-9, 14-8 PSAC) in the PSAC quarterfinals Wednesday night. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. at the Kovalchick Complex. The Crimson Hawks won the PSAC West regular season title and carry home court advantage - and an eight-game win streak - into the conference tournament. Seton Hill is the four-seed and advanced with a 78-65 win over Gannon in Monday's first round. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> The Crimson Hawks swept the season series with Seton Hill, winning 86-60 at home (Jan. 24) and 86-71 on the road (Feb. 24) to close out the schedule
>> Sr. F Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) averaged 26.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and shot 54.3 pct. from the field against Seton Hill in the regular season; She scored 28 points in Greensburg Saturday
>> IUP is making its 21st appearance in the PSAC tournament and have a 12-8 record in quarterfinal games
>> With its win at Seton Hill Saturday, IUP set a program record for regular season victories (25); It's the fourth straight 20-win season under IUP HC Tom McConnell
>> The Crimson Hawks are 15-0 at home this season, outscoring opponents an average of 78.4-50.4
>> Seton Hill is 9-5 in true road games, including 0-3 against the top three West seeds (IUP, Edinboro and Cal)

SERIES WITH SETON HILL
>> IUP leads the all-time series with Seton Hill 10-2
>> IUP HC Tom McConnell is 8-2 lifetime against the Griffins, including a 5-0 record at home; The Crimson Hawks have outscored Seton Hill 76.2-58.2 in those five wins

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GRIFFINS
>> Seton Hill is 20-9 overall and earned the fourth seed from the PSAC West with a 14-8 conference record
>> The Griffins advanced to the PSAC quarterfinals with a 78-65 first round win over Gannon Monday at home
>> They are making the program's fifth straight PSAC tournament appearance; Monday's win over Gannon was the program's first PSAC tournament victory (1-4) 
>> The Griffins enter Wednesday ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Atlantic Region rankings; This is Seton Hill's first appearance in the regional rankings since the 2009-10 season
>> After starting 15-4, the Griffins are 5-5 in their last 10 games, including two losses to IUP
>> Seton Hill is 1-5 against nationally-ranked teams this year, defeating 10th-ranked Cal 64-58 on Jan. 13

CRIMSON HAWKS AMONG BEST TEAMS IN REGION, DIVISION II
>> IUP has been ranked in the top 25 of the WBCA poll in all 13 releases this year, reaching No. 2 on  Jan. 17
>> That No. 2 ranking is the highest achieved in program history
>> The Crimson Hawks are 2nd in both installments of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region rankings; The NCAA field of 64 will be announced Sunday, March 4

TOM MCCONNELL HAS WON 100 GAMES AT IUP IN LESS THAN FIVE SEASONS
>> HC Tom McConnell was the fastest IUP coach to 100 wins with an 89-38 win over Mercyhurst (Jan. 6); He currently owns a 113-32 (.779) record in five seasons at IUP
>> His .779 win percentage is leads all IUP coaches, and his 113 victories are third
>> McConnell is averaging 22.6 wins per season, including a career-best 25 wins this year and in 2014-15
>> The 25 regular season victories this year is the most in IUP history
>> IUP's 15-game win streak this year is the longest of McConnell's career
>> He's also nearing the career 200-win milestone with a 198-137 (.591) record in 12 coaching seasons; McConnell went 85-105 in seven seasons (1992-99) as the St. Francis head men's basketball coach

IUP IS ONE OF THE MOST BALANCED TEAMS IN THE CONFERENCE
>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 2nd in Division II in scoring defense (52.9 PPG); The Crimson Hawks have held opponents to less than 60 points 20 times in 27 games
>> The Crimson Hawks are 3rd in the PSAC in scoring offense (75.1 PPG) and are 5th in the nation in scoring margin (+22.3); They've defeated opponents by 20+ points 14 times this year
>> The Crimson Hawks set a school record with 125 points in its Education Day victory over Geneva (Dec. 18)
>> IUP also leads the PSAC in rebound margin (+5.9), field goal pct. (46.7), 3-point pct. (37.1), defensive field goal pct. (34.2) and defensive 3-point field goal pect. (26.6)

SMITH PUTTING TOGETHER A CAREER SCORING YEAR
>> Sr. F Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) is a PSAC West Player of the Year candidate, ranking high in the PSAC with 17.7 PPG (5th), a 43.7 3FG% (1st), 2.6 3s per game (2nd), and 47.5 FG% (5th) 
>> She has nine 20-point performances, including two games of 30-plus points
>> Smith scored a career-high 34 points in a 72-53 win at Pitt-Johnstown (Jan. 3); She went 12-18 from the field, 6-9 from 3-point range, and 4-6 from the foul line
>> Smith hit the 1,000-point milestone at Mansfield (Dec. 9); Her 1,337 career points is 8th in program history - 7. Sarah Zdesar (1339), 6. Leah Simmons (1342), 5. Terri Piatak (1347), 4. Jan Lightcap (1371)
>> Smith's 479 points is tied for the 8th most in IUP single season history (Leslie Stapleton, 2015-16), and her 17.7 PPG average is tied for the 12th highest (Sarah Zdesar, 2002-03)

WOLOSIK ONE OF TOP DISTRIBUTORS IN THE PSAC
>> R-Jr. G Lauren Wolosik (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) leads the PSAC and ranks 45th in Division II with 4.6 assists per game
>> She set a career-high with 10 assists in a 79-61 win over East Stroudsburg (Jan. 10)
>> Wolosik is 2nd in the PSAC and ranks 24th in Division II with a 2.2 assist-turnover ratio

APPLEBY AGAIN TURNING UP THE OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION IN CRUNCH TIME
>> Jr. G Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) is averaging 20.3 PPG over her last four games, including two 20-point outings
>> She did the same a year ago, averaging 19.3 PPG in the last six games of the season, including a 30-point performance in the PSAC Championship win over Cal 
>> Appleby is looking to join Smith in the 1000-point club as she enters Wednesday with 995 career points