MATCHUP
(8/14) IUP Crimson Hawks at (-/-) Edinboro Fighting Scots
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 | 5:30 p.m. | McComb Fieldhouse, Edinboro, Pa.
*Rankings reflect WBCA/D2SIDA Top 25 Polls

PREVIEW INFORMATION
IUP (14-1, 9-0 PSAC) | Edinboro (7-6, 5-4 PSAC)

FOLLOW
Watch: GoFightingScots.com (StretchInternet) | Live Stats: GoFightingScots.com (StretchInternet) | Listen: WQMU 92.5, U92 Sports App | Twitter Updates: @IUP_WBB

COMING UP
Saturday, Jan. 18 vs. (20/NR) Cal U, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Pitt-Johnstown, 5:30 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
No. 8-ranked IUP women's basketball (14-1, 9-0 PSAC) continue their northern road swing as they travel up to Edinboro (7-6, 5-4 PSAC) Wednesday. Tipoff at the McComb Fieldhouse is 5:30 p.m. This will be the third straight road game for the Crimson Hawks, who are coming off a hard fought 62-48 win over Gannon in Erie Saturday night for their 12th straight victory. The Fighting Scots have won three straight games to move back over .500 on the year, including a 73-72 win at No. 15 Cal U last weekend. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> IUP used a big second half in Erie to get the win, outscoring the Lady Knights 37-24 in the final 20 minutes. Jr. G Justina Mascaro scored 17 points and R-Jr. G Courtney Alexander added 16 off the bench.
>> It's the third time in four games IUP has put up big second half performances in close games. The Hawks outscored Lock Haven 46-22 and Mercyhurst 41-27 for comeback victories. 
>> Alexander averaged 15.5 PPG with 9 3FGs in two games off the bench last week. In nine conference games she's shooting 50.0 percent (24-48) from deep with four games of 4+ treys. 
>> The 12-game win streak is tied for the 4th longest in the HC Tom McConnell era, the longest being a 15-game streak each of the last two years. IUP has had four straight seasons with at least a 12-game wins streak. 
>> McConnell is 10-4 against Edinboro with wins in five straight and 10 of the last 11 meetings. 
>> The Crimson Hawks have won five straight in McComb Fieldhouse by an average of 15 points per game. 
>> IUP is 7-0 on the road this year, including 5-0 against league opponents, and has a +18.3 scoring margin. The Crimson Hawks are giving up 50.0 PPG and a 31.6 FG% to their home counterparts. 
>> The Crimson Hawks have held opponents under 60 points 12 times this year. 
>> IUP's 14 wins are the most in the PSAC. The Hawks are one of 17 teams in Division II with 1 loss or fewer. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIGHTING SCOTS
>> Edinboro is 7-6 overall and in 5th place in the PSAC West standings with a 5-4 conference record.
>> The Fighting Scots recently got back over .500 with a three-game win streak, which included a 73-72 victory at No. 15 Cal U Saturday. 
>> They are 2-1 against PSAC West teams, with that loss coming at Gannon (72-53) on Jan. 3. 
>> The Fighting Scots have the 2nd best scoring offense in the division and rank 5th overall in the PSAC at 74.5 PPG.
>> One of the poorest shooting teams in the conference (41.8%), they are still 3rd in 3-pointers made (8.2) and 3FG% (34.8%). 

CRIMSON HAWKS HOLD STEADY IN THE RANKINGS
>> The Crimson Hawks remained at No. 8 in the WBCA Top 25 for the second straight 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 44 straight releases dating back to the 2016-17 season. 

IUP's WIN STREAK REACHES 12 GAMES
>> The Crimson Hawks have won 12 straight games since falling to No. 22 Glenville State 86-79 on Nov. 15. 
>> Its tied for the the fourth 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 12 straight wins have come by an average of 19.2 points, including victories of 55 (Pitt-Bradford) and 5 (University of DC) points. 

DEFENSE ONE OF BEST IN DIVISION II
>> IUP is again near the top of several defensive categories, ranking 6th in points allowed (51.5) and field goal percentage (.326), 11th in 3FG percentage (.251) and 20th in blocks per game (4.7).   
>> The Crimson Hawks have held opponents under 60 points 12 times and to 50 or fewer points seven 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 3rd in Division II with a 40.6 3FG% this season. 
>> IUP takes just 16 3-pointers per game (15th in PSAC) but its 6.5 made 3s per game is 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 40 percent from deep, led by Sr. G Natalie Myers and her Division II-leading 52.8 3FG%
>> IUP's 40.6 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 9th in Division II with a +11.3 rebound margin. 
>> They've won the battle on the glass in 14 of 15 games and have eight games of +12 or better.
>> IUP had a +21 performance last week 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 15.3 PPG posting 10 games in double-figures.
>> She's coming off a streak of four straight 20-point performances, the most since All-American Lindsay Stamp during 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 53.3 FG% (88-165) and a 47.4 3FG% (18-38). 
>> 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 week as the nation's top 3-point shooter with a 52.8 3FG% (38-72). 
>> She's also 3rd in the PSAC with 38 and 2.5 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 2nd on the team with 13.2 PPG and leads IUP with 7.2 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 32nd in Division II with a 56.7 FG% (66-117). 
>> She's 3rd on the team in scoring at 12.4 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. 

'GREEN' MEANS SHOOT FOR ALEXANDER
>> R-Jr. G Courtney Alexander has been IUP's top 3-point shooter during conference play, leading the PSAC with a 50.0 3FG% (24-48) in nine league games. 
>> She has 22 made 3s over her last seven games, including a career-high 6 at Mansfield. 
>> Alexander also hit 5 against Slippery Rock and had 4 against Shippensburg and Gannon.

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 6.7 PPG and 7.1 RPG and is tied for 3rd in the PSAC with 24 blocks.