MATCHUP
(8/14) IUP Crimson Hawks vs. (20/-) Cal U Vulcans
Saturday, January 18, 2020 | 5:30 p.m. | Kovalchick Complex, Indiana, Pa.
*Rankings reflect WBCA/D2SIDA Top 25 Polls

PREVIEW INFORMATION
IUP (15-1, 10-0 PSAC) | Cal U (13-3, 7-3 PSAC)

FOLLOW
Watch: IUP-TV Sports (Stretch Internet) | Live Stats: IUPstats.com (StatBroadcast) | Listen: WQMU 92.5, U92 Sports App | Twitter Updates: @IUP_WBB

COMING UP
Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Pitt-Johnstown, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 25 vs. Clarion, 5:30 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
No. 8-ranked IUP women's basketball (15-1, 10-0 PSAC) brings its 13-game win streak into a top-25 matchup with division rival Cal U (13-3, 7-3 PSAC) Saturday night at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. IUP is riding high, recently wrapping up its three-game road swing with a thrilling 66-63 win at Edinboro Wednesday. The 20th-ranked Vulcans have won four of their last five, and are coming off a 67-58 win at Seton Hill. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> Jr. G Justina Mascaro blocked an Edinboro 3-pointer at the buzzer to secure IUP's victory Wednesday night. The Fighting Scots rallied from a 15-point third quarter deficit and led by four points late in the game.
>> Mascaro finished with 20 points (8-11 FGs, 2-2 FTs), 4 rebounds, 4 assists and blocked a career-high 4 shots. It was her sixth 20-point game of the year, with five coming in the last seven outings. 
>> The Crimson Hawks turned the ball over a season-high 25 times, including 14 turnovers in the second half. 
>> The 13-game win streak is tied for the third longest in the Tom McConnell era. IUP has 15-game win streaks each of the past two seasons and won 13 straight during the 2014-15 season.
>> The program record for consecutive wins is 16 to open the 1999-00 season. 
>> McConnell is 5-11 against Cal U, with three of those wins ending the Vulcans postseason runs each of the last three seasons. He's 2-2 against the Vulcans at home the last four years, including a 79-49 win in 2017-18. 
>> The Vulcans have ended IUP's 15-game win streaks each of the past two seasons. 
>> This will be IUP's second game against a ranked opponent this season. Then-No. 22 Glenville State won defeated the Crimson Hawks 86-79 at the Kovalchick Complex on November 15. 
>> This is IUP's first home game in nearly three weeks. IUP is 7-1 at home, including 4-0 against PSAC teams. 
>> The Crimson Hawks have held opponents under 60 points 12 times this year. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE VULCANS
>> Cal U is 13-3 overall and in 3rd place in the PSAC West standings with a 7-3 league record.
>> The Vulcans are ranked 20th in this week's WBCA coaches top 25 and unranked in the D2SIDA poll.
>> Cal U opened the year with seven straight wins before an 80-66 loss at Shippensburg. Its two other losses have come in the last six games - at Millersville (79-53) and home to Edinboro (73-72). 
> The Vulcans rank near the bottom of the PSAC in both FG% and defensive FG%, but are 10th in Division II with a +8.27 turnover margin. 
>> Cal U leading scorer Monica Burns (16.3 PPG) is a grad transfer from Wheeling who began her collegiate career at IUP in 2014.

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 13 GAMES
>> The Crimson Hawks have won 13 straight games since falling to No. 22 Glenville State 86-79 on Nov. 15. 
>> Its tied for the the third 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 during the 2014-15 season.
>> The program record is 16 straight wins during the 1999-00 season. 

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 lead in the PSAC and 3rd in Division II with a 40.2 3FG% this season. 
>> IUP takes just 16 3-pointers per game (12th in PSAC) but its 6.6 made 3s per game is 6th in the league.
>> The Crimson Hawks have 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 at 50.0 percent, one of the best marks in Division II.
>> IUP's 40.2 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 +11.2 rebound margin. 
>> They've won the battle on the glass in 15 of 16 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 15.6 PPG posting six 20-point games. 
>> She's coming off a streak of four straight 20-point performances, the most since All-American Lindsay Stamp during the 2014-15 season.
>> In her last six games Mascaro is averaging 20.1 PPG and has a 57.3 FG% (55-96). 
>> Mascaro scored a career-high 32 points and had her first collegiate double-double (11 rebounds) in the win over Shippensburg.
>> She's 4th in the PSAC with a 54.5 FG% (96-176) and is among the best with a 47.6 3FG% (20-42). 
>> Mascaro won back-to-back PSAC West Athlete of the Week honors to end December and begin 2020. 

MYERS AMONG TOP 3-POINT SHOOTERS IN DII
>> Sr. G Natalie Myers entered the week as the nation's top 3-point shooter and currently leads the PSAC with a 50.0 3FG% (40-80).  
>> She's also 3rd in the PSAC with 40 made 3s. 
>> 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 13.3 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 32nd in Division II with a 57.3 FG% (71-124). 
>> She's 3rd on the team in scoring at 12.2 PPG and 3rd in rebounding with 4.9 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 49.1 3FG% (27-55) in 10 league games. 
>> She has 25 made 3s over her last eight 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 6.6 PPG and 7.3 RPG and is 3rd in the PSAC with 25 blocks.