MATCHUP
(8/15) IUP Crimson Hawks at (-/-) Gannon Lady Knights
Saturday, January 11, 2020 | 5:30 p.m. | Hammermill Center, Erie, Pa.
*Rankings reflect WBCA/D2SIDA Top 25 Polls

PREVIEW INFORMATION
IUP (13-1, 8-0 PSAC) | Gannon (11-3, 7-1 PSAC)

FOLLOW
Watch: GannonSports.com/StretchInternet | Live Stats: GannonSports.com/Sidearm | Listen: WQMU 92.5, U92 Sports App | Twitter Updates: @IUP_WBB

COMING UP
Wednesday, Jan. 15 at Edinboro, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 18 vs. (15/20) Cal U, 5:30 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
No. 8-ranked IUP women's basketball (13-1, 8-0 PSAC) faces its first big divisional test of the season Saturday when they travel to Erie to battle Gannon (11-3, 7-1 PSAC). Tipoff at the Hammermill Center is 5:30 p.m. The game features the top two teams in the PSAC West standings with just one conference loss between them. The Crimson Hawks enter with an 11-game win streak and are coming off a dominant 81-39 road win over Slippery Rock Wednesday. Gannon has won six straight including an 87-70 victory over Seton Hill at home Wednesday.  

TIPOFF NOTES
>> Sr. F Lexi Griggs led the team with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks in just 29 minutes. R-Jr. G Courtney Alexander hit 5 3-pointers as the Crimson Hawks finished with 11 treys as a team.
>> After two straight second half comeback wins, Wednesday's 42-point victory at Slippery Rock was IUP's second largest of the season and the fifth win by more than 20 points. 
>> IUP is 9th in Division II in scoring defense at 51.7 PPG, holding opponents under 60 points 11 times this year. 
>> This is the fifth win streak of at least 10 games in the HC Tom McConnell era, with one coming in each of the last four seasons. McConnell's longest win streaks have been 15 games to start each of the last the last two years. 
>> McConnell is 10-3 against Gannon with eight straight wins dating back to the 2015-16 season. The Crimson Hawks are 4-2 at the Hammermill Center under McConnell, the last loss coming in Erie coming in '15-16. 
>> IUP is 6-0 on the road this year, including 4-0 against league opponents, and has a +19.0 scoring margin. 
>> IUP's closest road win was the 39-34 defeat of University of DC on December 3. 
>> IUP's 13 wins are the most in the PSAC. IUP is the only team with an undefeated league record.
>> On Tuesday Jr. G Justina Mascaro was named PSAC West Athlete of the Week after averaging 21.0 PPG and 6.5 RPG in leading IUP to two straight comeback wins over Lock Haven (Friday) and Mercyhurst (Monday). 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LADY KNIGHTS
>> Gannon is 11-3 overall and trails IUP by one game in the PSAC West standings with a 7-1 league record. 
>> The Lady Knights are 6-0 at home, defeating opponents by an average of 11.8 PPG. 
>> GU has won six straight games with the last loss coming at Kutztown (58-50) Dec. 7. 
>> Gannon has a +5.2 scoring margin, going 5-1 in games decided by 8 or fewer points. 
>> GU is 15th in the PSAC giving up 18.1 turnovers per game.
>> So. G Tori Obenrader leads GU in scoring (17.4 PPG), rebounding (7.4 RPG) and FG% (.519). 

CRIMSON HAWKS BACK IN THE TOP 10
>> For the first time since the WBCA preseason poll, the Crimson Hawks are back in the top 10 coming in at No. 8 this week. 
>> This is IUP's highest ranking since finishing the 2018-19 season at No. 4. 
>> IUP has been ranked in the WBCA Top 25 for 42 straight releases dating back to the 2016-17 season. 

IUP's WIN STREAK REACHES 11 GAMES
>> The Crimson Hawks have won 11 straight games since falling to No. 22 Glenville State 86-79 on Nov. 15. 
>> Its the fifth longest win streak in the HC Tom McConnell era. IUP won 15 straight games each of the last two seasons and had a win streak of 13 in 2014-15 and 12 in 2016-17. 
>> The 11 straight wins have come by an average of 19.7 points, including victories of 55 (Pitt-Bradford) and 5 (University of DC). 

DEFENSE ONE OF BEST IN DIVISION II
>> IUP is again near the top of several defensive categories, ranking 4th in field goal percentage (.321), 9th in points allowed (51.7), 17th in 3FG percentage (.255) and 19th in blocks per game (4.7).   
>> The Crimson Hawks have held opponents under 60 points 11 times and to 50 or fewer points six times, including four games in the 30s. 
>> Five times opposing teams have failed to shoot 30.0 percent against the Crimson Hawks, with the University of DC's 20.8 percent the lowest by an IUP opponent since Ursuline made 20.5 percent in Nov. 2012 (7 years). 

3-BALL AGAIN EFFECTIVE PART OF IUP OFFENSE
>> The Crimson Hawks are 2nd in the PSAC and 4th in Division II with a 40.4 3FG% this season. 
>> IUP takes just 16 3-pointers per game (15th in PSAC) but its 6.5 made 3s per game is tied for 6th in the league.
>> The Crimson Hawks had made 10+ 3-pointers three times this year, including a season-high 14 in the opener against Davis & Elkins. 
>> IUP's three main 3-point shooters are all connecting on at least 39 percent from deep, led by Sr. G Natalie Myers and her 52.2 3FG%.
>> IUP's 40.4 3FG% this season is the best mark in seven years under HC Tom McConnell. 

CRASHING THE BOARDS
>> The Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC and rank 10th in Division II with a +12.0 rebound margin. 
>> They've won the battle on the glass in 13 of 14 games and have eight games of +12 or better.
>> IUP is coming off a +21 performance at Slippery Rock, posting a season-high 54 rebounds. 

MASCARO MAKING BIG LEAPS IN FIRST YEAR AT IUP
>> Transfer Jr. G Justina Mascaro leads the team in scoring at 15.1 PPG posting nine games in double-figures.
>> She's coming off a streak of four straight 20-point performances, the most since All-American Lindsay Stamp to open the 2014-15 season.
>> Mascaro scored a career-high 32 points and had her first collegiate double-double (11 rebounds) in the win over Shippensburg.
>> She's among the best shooters in the conference with a 52.9 FG% (82-155) and a 47.2 3FG% (17-36). 
>> Mascaro won back-to-back PSAC West Athlete of the Week honors to end December and begin 2020. 

MYERS LEADS DIVISION II IN 3-POINT SHOOTING
>> Sr. G Natalie Myers enters the weekend as the nation's top 3-point shooter with a 52.2 3FG% (36-69). 
>> She's also 3rd in the PSAC with 36 and 2.6 made 3s per game. 
>> Myers has three games of 5+ made 3s, including a career-high 6 against Davis & Elkins and Salem. 
>> Myers is currently 3rd on the team with 13.0 PPG and leads IUP with 7.3 RPG. 
>> She's second to Mascaro with three 20-point games and has a team-best 4 double-doubles. 

GRIGGS LEADS PSAC IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
>> Sr. F Lexi Griggs leads the PSAC and ranks 29th in Division II with a 57.7 FG% (64-111). 
>> She's 2nd on the team in scoring at 13.2 PPG and 3rd in rebounding with 5.0 RPG. 
>> Griggs has a season-high 18 points three times this season, the latest coming in the win at Slippery Rock.
>> She missed two games due to injury and returned at Shepherd by scoring 18 points. 

ALEXANDER'S A THREAT FROM DEEP
>> R-Jr. G Courtney Alexander has been IUP's top 3-point shooter during conference play, leading the PSAC with a 48.8 3FG% (20-41) in eight games. 
>> She has 18 made 3s over her last six games, including a career-high 6 at Mansfield. 
>> Alexander also hit 5 against Slippery Rock and had 4 against Shippensburg. 

D'ANNA RETURNS FROM INJURY
>> R-Jr. F Maura D'Anna has made her return after missing all but five games last season due to a lower body injury.
>> This year D'Anna is averaging 6.6 PPG and 7.1 RPG and is tied for 3rd in the PSAC with 21 blocks.