MATCHUP
(6/9) IUP Crimson Hawks at (-/-) Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 | 5:30 p.m. | Sports Center, Johnstown, Pa.
*Rankings reflect WBCA/D2SIDA Top 25 Polls

PREVIEW INFORMATION
IUP (16-1, 11-0 PSAC) | Pitt-Johnstown (10-7, 5-6 PSAC)

FOLLOW
Watch: PittJohnstownAthletics.com (StretchInternet) | Live Stats: PittJohnstownAthletics.com (SIDEARM Sports) | 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. 6-ranked IUP women's basketball (16-1, 11-0 PSAC) looks to extend its 14-game win streak as they head out on the road to face Pitt-Johnstown (10-7, 5-6 PSAC) this Wednesday. Tipoff at the Sports Center is 5:30 p.m. The Crimson Hawks capped an exciting week with a 76-61 top-25 victory over rival Cal U Saturday night at home. The Mountain Cats also enter with a win streak after defeating Slippery Rock 77-67 for their third straight victory last Saturday night. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> Sr. F Lexi Griggs scored a season-high 22 points on 10-14 FGs and grabbed 7 rebounds in the 76-61 win over the 20th-ranked Vulcans Saturday night. She was one of four Hawks in double-figures, including Sr. G Natalie Myers who notced her 5th double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. 
>> IUP had its best shooting performance of the season, converting 59.6 percent (28-47) from the field, including 5 3-pointers, and went 15-18 from the foul line. 
>> The win over Cal U was IUP's first against a ranked opponent this year. Over the last three seasons the Crimson Hawks are 9-6 against top-25 opponents, including 3-3 against a ranked Cal U team. 
>> Jr. G Justina Mascaro was named PSAC West co-Defensive Athlete of the Week after posting 6 blocks, including a career-high 4 at Edinboro. She held opposing offensive players to a 32.4 FG%. 
>> The 14-game win streak is the third longest in the Tom McConnell era, following the two 15-game win streaks each of the past two seasons. The program record is 16 straight wins during the 1999-00 season. 
>> McConnell is 12-1 against Pitt-Johnstown, including a 7-game win streak dating back to the 2015-16 season.
>> In the 7 wins since that lone loss, the Hawks have outscored UPJ by 22 points per game (70.4 - 48.0). 
>> The Crimson Hawks are 8-0 on the road this year, with 6 wins coming against PSAC opponents. 
>> IUP has a +16.4 scoring margin on the road, limiting opponents to 51.6 PPG and a 31.5 FG%. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN CATS
>> Pitt-Johnstown is 10-7 overall and currently 6th in the PSAC West standings with a 5-6 league record. 
>> UPJ has won three straight with victories over Clarion (75-64), Mercyhurst (76-59) and Slippery Rock (77-67) - Those three teams have a combined 6-26 PSAC record.
>> UPJ's win streak followed six straight losses - all to PSAC teams - including four by double-figures. 
>> The Mountain Cats have two of the top 10 scorers in the PSAC in Gabrielle Smith (18.0 PPG) and Alli McGrath (16.9 PPG). 

CRIMSON HAWKS MOVE UP IN THE RANKINGS
>> The Crimson Hawks moved up two spots to No. 6 in this week's WBCA Top 25. 
>> This is the highest ranking of the season for IUP after spending the last two weeks at No. 8. 
>> IUP has been in the top 25 all season long, including a No. 9 ranking in the preseason poll.
>> IUP has been ranked in the WBCA Top 25 for 45 straight releases dating back to the 2016-17 season. 

IUP's WIN STREAK REACHES 14 GAMES
>> The Crimson Hawks have won 14 straight games since falling to No. 22 Glenville State 86-79 on Nov. 15. 
>> Its the third longest win streak in the HC Tom McConnell era following two 15-game win streaks each of the past two seasons. 
>> McConnell's teams have five of the top six win streaks in program history (15 2x, 14, 13, 12). 
>> The program record is 16 straight wins during the 1999-00 season. 

DEFENSE ONE OF BEST IN DIVISION II
>> IUP ranks near the top of the country in several defensive categories, including 7th in field goal percentage (.326), 8th in 3FG percentage (.251), 10th in points allowed (52.7), and 12th in blocks per game (5.1).   
>> 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. 
>> In the last four games IUP has limited opponents to a 32.3 FG%, 21.3 3FG% and has tallied 29 blocks (7.3 BPG) and 28 steals (7.0 SPG). 
>> R-Jr. F Maura D'Anna (26) and Jr. G Justina Mascaro (19) are among the top-8 in the PSAC in total blocks. 

3-BALL AGAIN EFFECTIVE PART OF IUP OFFENSE
>> The Crimson Hawks lead in the PSAC and 3rd in Division II with a 40.4 3FG% this season. 
>> IUP takes just 16 3-pointers per game (13th in PSAC) but its 6.5 made 3s per game are 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 49.4 percent, which is 6th in Division II.
>> IUP's 40.4 3FG% this season is the best mark in seven years under HC Tom McConnell. 

SHOOTERS SHOOT
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC and 12th in Division II with a 46.9 FG%. The Hawks have made 50.0 percent of their shots seven times in 17 games. 
>> The Crimson Hawks boast the top two shooters in the PSAC, with Sr. F Lexi Griggs leading the league with a 58.7 FG%. Jr. G Justina Mascaro is 2nd at 55.2 percent.
>> In the last three games IUP is shooting 52.8 percent (76-144) from the field and 82.5 percent (33-40) from the foul line. 

MASCARO MAKING BIG LEAPS IN FIRST YEAR AT IUP
>> Transfer Jr. G Justina Mascaro leads the team in scoring at 15.3 PPG posting six 20-point games. 
>> In her last eight games Mascaro is averaging 19.0 PPG and has a 58.4 FG% (59-101). 
>> Mascaro scored a career-high 32 points and had her first collegiate double-double (11 rebounds) in the win over Shippensburg.
>> She's 2nd in the PSAC with a 55.2 FG% (100-181) and is tied for 7th with 19 blocks.
>> Mascaro was named PSAC West co-Defensive Athlete of the Week Monday and has won athlete of the week honors on two occasions. 

MYERS AMONG TOP 3-POINT SHOOTERS IN DII
>> Sr. G Natalie Myers enters the week as the nation's 6th-ranked 3-point shooter at 49.4 percent (42-85). 
>> She leads the PSAC in that category and also ranks 3rd in the league with 42 3FGs and 2.5 made per game. 
>> Myers has three games of 5+ made 3s, including a career-high 6 against Davis & Elkins and Salem. 
>> Myers is 2nd on the team with 13.5 PPG and leads IUP with 7.5 RPG. 
>> She's second to Mascaro with three 20-point games and has a team-best 5 double-doubles. 

GRIGGS LEADS PSAC IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
>> Sr. F Lexi Griggs leads the PSAC and ranks 23rd in Division II with a 58.7 FG% (81-138). 
>> She's coming off a career-high 22 points on 10-14 FGs with 7 rebounds and 2 blocks against the Vulcans. 
>> She's 3rd on the team in scoring at 12.9 PPG and 3rd in rebounding with 5.0 RPG. 
>> In games against Edinboro and Cal U last week she averaged 16.0 PPG with a 71.4 FG% (15-21). 
>> 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% (30-60) in 11 league games. 
>> She has 28 made 3s over her last nine games, including a career-high 6 at Mansfield. 
>> Alexander also hit 5 against Slippery Rock and had 4 against Shippensburg and Gannon.