COLUMBUS, Ohio – Another historical run for the IUP women's basketball program came to a premature and heartbreaking ending Wednesday night with a 66-57 loss to Southwestern Oklahoma State in the national semifinals of the 2019 NCAA Division II Elite Eight at Alumni Hall.
The Crimson Hawks wrap up the greatest two-year run in program history with back-to-back final four appearances and Atlantic Region Championships, and a combined 60-8 overall record.
The two straight 30-4 records are the best in IUP women's basketball history.
"I just want to celebrate these young ladies and what they've done, who they are and how they've done it," said IUP head coach
Tom McConnell in his postgame press conference.
"They've taken us on a very, very special journey that we are all very thankful to be a part of," McConnell continued. "It's been my privilege to be their coach."
The game was tight throughout with the Crimson Hawks rebounding from an early second quarter 9-point deficit to go into halftime down 33-32.
The Cougars (35-1) used the threat of the 3-pointer in the first half to stay in front, knocking down six treys from six different players.
IUP made its move in the third quarter, using a 12-4 run over 5:12 to take a 44-41 lead with under four minutes to play in the frame.
Carolyn Appleby made a huge 3-pointer to start the run with
Brittany Robinson making back-to-back buckets in the low post before
Courtney Alexander drained a huge trey to give IUP the lead.
Appleby rebounded from a first quarter injury that seemingly took her out of her final collegiate game before returning early in the second. She scored a team-high 13 points.
"There was nothing, nothing that was going to keep her down and keep her from competing with her teammates," said McConnell. "She's just special."
IUP outscored the Cougars 17-12 in the third quarter to take a 49-45 lead into the fourth. Their lead then went to six with a bucket by Robinson early in the fourth quarter before SWOSU came back to take a 53-51 lead.
Appleby answered with a jumper to tie it up but the game got away from the Crimson Hawks, going scoreless over a 3:21 stretch while the Cougars went on an 8-0 run during that time to finish out the game.
Three players scored in double-figures for IUP, led by Appleby. Robinson added 12 points to go along with three blocks while Alexander came off the bench to score 12 points on four 3-pointers.
IUP outshot the Cougars by a slim 37.9 percent to 36.1 percent with the difference coming on the glass as the Crimson Hawks were out-rebounded 45 to 32. SWOSU collected 16 offensive rebounds and had 13 second chance points.
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For up-to-date game information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.
