INDIANA, Pa. – Senior Guard Natalie Myers scored a game high 21 points to help lead the 9^th-ranked IUP women's basketball team to an 81-52 opening day victory over Davis & Elkins College on Saturday afternoon at the Memorial Field House.

It was the first game of the season-opening PSAC/MEC Challenge for the Crimson Hawks.
 
The Crimson Hawks got out to a flying start on Saturday, taking a 9-0 lead to open the game. The Crimson Hawks would continue to build on that lead as the first quarter progressed, taking a commanding 23-7 advantage into the start of quarter number two.
 
The Crimson Hawks would continue to build on their lead in the second quarter, extending their cushion to 31 points by halftime. IUP went into the halftime break up 49-18 and in firm command of the game.
 
Myers would play a key role in building that halftime lead after going 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from three point range for a total of 13 points in the first half. Guard Courtney Alexander would be the other high scorer for IUP in the first part of the game contributing 9 points in the half to go along with two steals, and one assist.
 
The Crimson Hawks shot an impressive 58 percent from the field as a team in the first half while holding their opponents to a mere 27.3 shooting percentage. The Crimson Hawks also held a distinct advantage in the turnover battle, after forcing 13 turnovers while committing just three of their own.
 
IUP picked up scoring in the third quarter right where they had left off, and went into the final period of play up 71 to 31. The fourth quarter was a slightly lower scoring affair for the Crimson Hawks, with the team going 4-of-15 from the floor. Despite the slightly lower offensive output in the final period of the game, the Crimson Hawks maintained their stingy defense, holding the Senators to a shooting percentage of 28.6, while also out rebounding their opponents 12 to 6.

The Crimson Hawks shot lights out as a team throughout the game on Saturday, going 30-of-61 from the floor to shoot just under 50 percent in the game. Seven members of the IUP women's basketball team shot 50 percent or better individually against Davis & Elkins, highlighted by Myers going 8-of-12 overall on the day en route to her 22 point outburst.
 
In total, 12 members of the IUP women's basketball team got on the scoreboard on Saturday, with other notable contributors including Justina Mascaro who added 9 points to IUP cause, as well as forwards Lexi Griggs and Maura D'Anna also added 8 points apiece.
 
The Crimson Hawks defense was at its' stifling best throughout the game. In addition to holding the Senators to shooting just 32 percent from the floor overall, the Crimson Hawks also forced 18 turnovers, which they converted into 31 points. The IUP defense also notched 10 steals in the game, led by Myers with four takeaways.

After having her season cut short due to injury last year, Maura D'Anna led the way on the boards for IUP, snagging a team high 8 rebounds for the Crimson Hawks, while also adding 3 assists. D'Anna was one of five Crimson Hawks to notch at least three assists in the game. As a team the Crimson Hawks registered an impressive 26 assists on Saturday.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks wrap up their season-opening weekend Sunday afternoon against West Virginia Wesleyan at 4 p.m. The Bobcats defeated Mansfield 71-61 in Saturday night's second game.
 
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