INDIANA, Pa. – Senior guard Carolyn Appleby and junior forward Lexi Griggs each scored 24 points to lead third-ranked IUP women's basketball to a 79-62 win over visiting Clarion Thursday night at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
It was the third straight 20-point game for Appleby and a new career-high for Griggs as they shot a combined 21-of-30 to help the Crimson Hawks convert 59 percent from the field.
 
The win was the seventh straight for the Crimson Hawks who improved to 22-1 overall and 17-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The victory also secured a first round bye in next month's PSAC tournament.
 
The Crimson Hawks, who were named the No. 1 team in the NCAA's first Atlantic Region rankings of the season Wednesday, came out fast with an 8-2 lead with the help of several transition buckets.
 
The momentum quickly swung the other way as Clarion (9-16, 3-15 PSAC) scored 10 straight points over a two minute span to take a 12-8 lead. Adding to IUP's run of misfortunes was Appleby leaving the court with a possible injury after crashing to the floor on a loose ball.
 
IUP battled back to take a 14-12 lead on a Griggs jumper but the Golden Eagles finished the quarter on an 8-1 run to take a 20-15 lead into the second quarter.
 
Appleby returned but Clarion kept up its pace to take a 27-21 lead four minutes into the next frame.
 
But the tables turned back to the Crimson Hawks favor when senior guard Lauren Wolosik created a fast break bucket with a steal before finding Appleby for a 3-pointer in the corner. That play helped lead to six more Clarion turnovers over the next four minutes as IUP ran off a 15-2 run to take a 36-29 lead into halftime.
 
Appleby scored seven points on the run with Griggs adding six and sophomore guard Courtney Alexander chipping in with another bucket.
 
Big defensive plays came from Wolosik, Appleby, Alexander, senior forward Brittany Robinson and freshman forward Teirra Preston.
 
IUP made four of the first five second half baskets to build a lead of 14 points at 45-31. Clarion was able to keep the game within reach, cutting its deficit to 63-55 with five minutes to play. But the Crimson Hawks quickly responded with a 10-2 run to get their lead back to double-figures in the final minutes and cruise to the victory.
 
Robinson picked up her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds, adding three blocks and three steals. Wolosik dished out nine assists with just one turnover and also had two steals in 38 minutes.
 
Notes
The Crimson Hawks entered the game No. 3 in the WBCA Top 25 and No. 4 in the D2SIDA Media Top 25 polls … Coach Tom McConnell improved his IUP record to 140-35 (.800) and is just two wins shy of becoming the program's all-time winningest coach … The Crimson Hawks improved to 12-1 at home … IUP has won 14 straight home games over Clarion dating back to the 2005-06 season …  The 62 points by Clarion is the most scored by an IUP opponent since Edinboro finished with 73 on January 21 … IUP finished off a regular season sweep of Clarion, its fifth in six years under McConnell … The 59.3 field goal percentage (35-of-59) is the best performance of the season for the Crimson Hawks … Appleby is averaging 22.7 points over the last three games with a 48.0 field goal percentage and 89.5 free throw percentage … This was her 10th 20-point game of the season.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks look to avenge their only loss of the season Saturday with a top 25 match at No. 18 California (Pa.). Tipoff is 1 p.m. The Vulcans (21-3, 15-3 PSAC) handed IUP a 61-56 loss at the Kovalchick Complex January 23 but have dropped games to Slippery Rock and Edinboro since. A win by the Crimson Hawks would clinch their second straight PSAC West regular season title.
 
Follow
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