GAMEDAY CENTRAL
(2/6) IUP Crimson Hawks (10-0, 5-0 PSAC)
vs. Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats (7-5, 3-2 PSAC)
Saturday, January 5, 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)
UPJ W. Basketball Home Page

COMING UP
Wednesday, January 9 at Mercyhurst, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 12 at Slippery Rock, 1 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
2nd-ranked IUP women's basketball (10-0, 5-0 PSAC) looks to keep the momentum going at home Saturday when they host Pitt-Johnstown (7-5, 3-2 PSAC). Tipoff at the Kovalchick Complex is 5:30 p.m. The Crimson Hawks are off to one of the best starts in program history and enter the weekend after a 66-40 win over Gannon in the divisional opener Wednesday. The Mountain Cats are surging with three straight wins, including league victories over Millersville (62-58) and Clarion (69-57). 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> The Crimson Hawks remained undefeated at 10-0 with their blowout victory over Gannon Wednesday at the KCAC. Sr. F Brittany Robinson scored 18 points and the IUP defense forced GU into 27 turnovers. 
>> It was IUP's seventh straight win over Gannon dating back to the 2015-16 season. 
>> It was the Crimson Hawks' ninth win of at least 20 points, including its fourth over a PSAC opponent. IUP has six wins this year of more than 30 points. 
>> The 40 points by GU was the 2nd lowest allowed by the Crimson Hawks this season.  
>> Wednesday saw the return of Sr. G Lauren Wolosik, who missed five games due to injury. 
>> IUP improved to 6-0 under HC Tom McConnell in its first game after winter break. 
>> McConnell is now 5-1 in PSAC West openers, with wins over GU in each of the last three years. 
>> This is the Crimson Hawks' second straight 10-0 start - and third in six years - under McConnell. IUP opened the 2014-15 season 15-0 and the 2014-15 season 13-0. 
>> McConnell carries a 10-1 record against Pitt-Johnstown, including a 6-0 record in games at the KCAC. 
>> IUP has won five straight over UPJ, with the Mountain Cats winning 87-86 in OT during the 2015-16 season.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN CATS
>> Pitt-Johnstown is 7-5 overall and in a tie for 5th place in the PSAC West with a 3-2 league record.
>> The Mountain Cats have won three straight games, including their division opener over Clarion (69-67) Wednesday. They also defeated Millersville (62-58) and Cheyney (77-49). 
>> UPJ is 4-4 away from home this year but just 2-4 in true road games. Its last road win was a 70-63 victory at West Virginia Wesleyan on November 14. 
>> The Mountain Cats lead the PSAC in blocked shots at 4.38 per game. They are also 4th in the league in defensive FG% (.388) and defensive 3FG% (.286), and 7th in points allowed (65.9).
>> UPJ averages 69.5 points per game, but has scored more than 70 just four times, including once in the last six games. The Mountain Cats average 18.5 turnovers per per game. 

CRIMSON HAWKS ONE OF TOP TEAMS IN DIVISION II
>> IUP are ranked No. 2 in the WBCA Top 25 for the third consecutive week.
>> The three straight weeks at that spot is a program record. They were ranked No. 2 for one week last season. 
>> The Crimson Hawks opened the year at No. 5 in the WBCA poll - their highest preseason ranking ever - and claimed a No. 3 ranking for two weeks prior to their current status at No. 2. 
>> They moved up to No. 6 in this week's D2SIDA Media Top 25 after sitting at No. 7 for two straight weeks. 
>> 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 are 2nd in the PSAC and 12th in Division II with a scoring average of 82.4 points per game.
>> IUP has scored 80 points five times this year, including twice against PSAC opponents
>> The 824 total points scored is the most ever by the program in the first 10 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 17.0, Robinson 10.8, Wolosik 10.4) averaging in double-figures. All 13 players on the roster score 2.4 points and six players average at least 8.0 per game.

THE IUP DEFENSE ALSO AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION
>> IUP leads Division II in scoring defense (47.7) and 3FG% defense (.217), is 4th in FG% defense (.321) and 18th in steals (11.8 SPG). 
>> IUP has held opponents under 50 points five 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 10 games, including seven games of 20-plus. 
>> IUP held the PSACs leading scorer Ariel Jones (Shippensburg) to 10 points and 4-14 FGs. She's averaging 25.4 PPG through 13 games this season. 

CAROLYN APPLEBY LEADS THE WAY IN 2018-19
>> Sr. G Carolyn Appleby leads the team and is 12th in the PSAC in scoring at 17.0 PPG. 
>> She has nine straight double-digit scoring games, including four 20-point outings, and has led the Crimson Hawks in scoring six times. 

LAUREN WOLOSIK RETURNS TO THE LINEUP, GIVES THE CRIMSON HAWKS DEPTH
>> R-Sr. G Lauren Wolosik returned to the court against Gannon with a season-high 9 assists and just 1 turnover in 35 minutes. She missed the previous five games with an injury.
>> In five games, Wolosik is averaging 10.4 PPG and 6.2 APG with an assist-turnover ratio of 3.9 and 12 steals. 

BRITTANY ROBINSON CONTRIBUTES ON BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR
>> Sr. F Brittany Robinson is 3rd in IUP history with 138 career blocks, including a team-high 9 this year. 
>> She's 2nd on the team in scoring at 10.8 PPG, with three games of at least 18 points.
>> Robinson's 56.9 career FG% is the best mark in program history. She's shooting 58.2 pct. this season. 
 
LEXI GRIGGS STEPPING UP IN FIRST YEAR AS A STARTER
>> Jr. F Lexi Griggs is 4th on the team in scoring (9.7 PPG), 2nd in rebounding (6.0 RPG) and 3rd in assists (29).
>> She's also 2nd to Robinson with a 57.3 FG% and 8 blocks. 
>> Griggs opened the year with her first career double double (15 pts, 10 rebs) against Alderson Broaddus.