GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(A3) IUP Crimson Hawks (26-3, 20-2 PSAC)
vs. (A6) California Vulcans  (24-6, 18-4 PSAC)
Friday, March 9, 2018 | 12 p.m.
Richmond, Va. | Barco-Stevens Hall

Full Game Notes (PDF)
Stats: VUUSports.om | Sidearm Stats
Radio: WQMU 92.5 FM | u92radio.com | U92.5 Sports App (Android & iPhone)
Video: YouTube.com | VUU YouTube
Social Media: Twitter | @IUP_WBB

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Virginia Union Tournament Central
Ticket/Tournament info

COMING UP
Saturday, March 10, Atlantic Region semifinals (5 p.m.)
*Dependent on victory in previous round

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
Three-seed IUP women's basketball (26-3, 20-2 PSAC) opens the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships with a matchup against rival and six-seed California (24-6, 18-4 PSAC) in Friday's first round. Tipoff is scheduled for noon at Barco-Stevens Hall on the campus of Virginia Union. The game is the first of the tournament with the winners advancing to Saturday's semifinal to face either two-seed Glenville State or seven-seed West Chester.

TIPOFF NOTES
>> IUP is making its 12th appearance in the NCAA tournament and carries an 8-11 all-time record
>> This is the fourth straight appearance under HC Tom McConnell, a program record; The Crimson Hawks made three straight appearances from 2007-09
>> This is IUP's second trip to Virginia Union for the Atlantic Regional in the last three seasons; As the eight-seed in 2016, the Crimson Hawks fell to the top-seed Panthers 91-72
>> IUP is one win away from tying the program record of wins in a season; The 2007-08 team finished 27-5
>> With its win at Seton Hill last Saturday, IUP set a program record for regular season victories (25); It's the fourth straight 20-win season under IUP HC Tom McConnell
>> IUP has a 6-1 combined record against NCAA tournament teams from the Atlantic Region; Cal is 2-3

SERIES WITH CALIFORNIA
>> Cal leads the all-time series with IUP 46-37; The Crimson Hawks have won two of the last three meetings with the Vulcans, including an 84-79 victory in last year's PSAC Championship
>> IUP and Cal split the regular season series, with each team winning on its home court
>> This will be the first meeting between these two schools in the NCAA tournament

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE VULCANS
>> California earned the six-seed in the Atlantic Region with a 24-6 overall record
>> The Vulcans finished third in the PSAC West with an 18-4 league record, advancing to the conference tournament quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Edinboro 89-45 
>> Three of the Vulcans six losses came in their last nine games and by an average of 29 points; They lost to IUP 79-49 and to Edinboro 79-66 and 89-45 - all on the road
>> Cal is seeking its first regional title since 2015 when they won the national championship
>> The Vulcans feature two All-PSAC West honorees in Sr. F Shatara Parsons (1st team) and Jr. G Mia Cushon (2nd) 

CRIMSON HAWKS AMONG BEST TEAMS IN REGION, DIVISION II
>> IUP has been ranked in the top 25 of the WBCA poll in all 16 releases this year, landing in the top 10 in the nation in 10 releases
>> The Crimson Hawks reached as high as No. 2 on Jan. 17, the highest ranking in program history

TOM MCCONNELL NAMED PSAC WEST COACH OF THE YEAR; HAS 100 WINS IN FIVE SEASONS
>> HC Tom McConnell was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year, becoming the fourth IUP coach to earn such honors from the conference
>> He was the fastest IUP coach to 100 wins with an 89-38 win over Mercyhurst (Jan. 6); He currently owns a 114-33 (.776) record in five seasons at IUP
>> His .776 win percentage is leads all IUP coaches, and his 114 victories are third
>> McConnell is averaging 22.8 wins per season, including a career-best 26 wins this year
>> The 25 regular season victories this year is the most in IUP history
>> IUP's 15-game win streak to open the season is the longest of McConnell's career
>> He's also nearing the career 200-win milestone with a 199-137 (.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 5th in Division II in scoring defense (54.1 PPG); The Crimson Hawks have held opponents to less than 60 points 21 times in 29 games
>> The Crimson Hawks are 3rd in the PSAC in scoring offense (75.2 PPG) and are 5th in the nation in scoring margin (+21.1); 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 field goal pct. (46.1), 3-point pct. (36.6), defensive field goal pct. (34.4) and defensive 3-point field goal pect. (27.3), and are second in rebound margin (+4.8)

1ST TEAM ALL-PSAC WEST PICK SMITH PUTTING UP ONE OF BEST SCORING SEASONS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
>> Sr. F Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) was named 1st team All-PSAC West; She ranks high in the PSAC with 18.0 PPG (5th), a 42.3 3FG% (1st), 2.6 3s per game (2nd), and 45.6 FG% (8th) 
>> She has 10 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; The 34 points is tied for 5th in IUP single game history
>> Smith hit the 1,000-point milestone at Mansfield (Dec. 9); Her 1,381 career points is 4th in program history - 3. Lindsay Stamp (1498), 2. Cathy Torchia (1722), 1. Jahzinga Tracey (2101)
>> Smith's 523 points is 6th most in IUP single season history and her 18.0 PPG average is tied for 11th

WOLOSIK ONE OF TOP DISTRIBUTORS IN THE PSAC, EARNED 2ND TEAM ALL-PSAC WEST HONORS
>> R-Jr. G Lauren Wolosik (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) leads the PSAC with 141 assists and 4.9 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 21st in Division II with a 2.24 assist-turnover ratio

APPLEBY SELECTED TO PSAC WEST 1ST TEAM, INCREASING HER SCORING DOWN THE STRETCH
>> Jr. G Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) is averaging 18.3 PPG over her last six games, including two 20-point outings
>> She's upped her production down the stretch in each of her three seasons, averaging 13.0 PPG and 5.3 APG in her final three games as a freshman, and 19.3 PPG in the last six games as a sophomore
>> Appleby hit the 1,000-point milestone in the PSAC quarterfinals and enters the weekend with 1,024 points in three seasons