MATCHUP
(6/9) IUP Crimson Hawks vs. (-/-) Clarion Golden Eagles
Saturday, January 25, 2020 | 5:30 p.m. | Kovalchick Complex, Indiana, Pa.
*Rankings reflect WBCA/D2SIDA Top 25 Polls

PREVIEW INFORMATION
IUP (17-1, 12-0 PSAC) | Clarion (3-15, 1-11 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
Saturday, Jan. 25 vs. Clarion, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 29 vs. Seton Hill, 5:30 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
No. 6-ranked IUP women's basketball (17-1, 12-0 PSAC) boasts yet another 15-game win streak and comes home Saturday to host Clarion (3-15, 1-11 PSAC) at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. The Crimson Hawks extended their streak with a nail-biter Wednesday, fending off Pitt-Johnstown in a 58-53 road victory. The Golden Eagles enter the weekend having dropped six straight, including a 62-56 home loss to Bloomsburg Wednesday.

TIPOFF NOTES
>> Sr. G Natalie Myers posted her second straight double-double with 18 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in the win. She went 4-4 from the foul line in the final minute of play to help IUP secure the win. 
>> The victory was the 250th for HC Tom McConnell. He is 165-39 in seven seasons at IUP and earned 85 wins in seven years as the head men's coach at Saint Francis (1992-99). 
>> The Crimson Hawks overcame a season-high 28 turnovers by shooting 46 percent while limiting UPJ to a 27.4 FG%, including 3-15 from 3-point range. IUP also owned a +12 advantage on the glass.
>> Jr. G Justina Mascaro and Fr. G Maria Cerro both did not start due to illness. Cerro did see time off the bench.
>> This marks the third straight year that IUP has accumulated a 15-game win streak under HC Tom McConnell.
>> This is McConnell's fifth win streak of at least 12 games. Those streaks have come in the last six seasons. 
>> IUP looks to tie the program record with 16 straight wins Saturday. That was set during the 1999-00 season. 
>> McConnell is 11-1 against Clarion with that loss (64-59) coming at Tippin Gym during the 2016-17 season. IUP has won five straight since then by an average of 23.8 points. 
>> The Crimson Hawks are 8-1 at home this year and 75-8 (.905) over the last six seasons. 
>> This year IUP has a +21.3 scoring margin at the KCAC and is limiting opponents to a 33.7 FG%. 
>> IUP has a +16.4 scoring margin on the road, limiting opponents to 51.6 PPG and a 31.5 FG%. 
>> Boasting the best defense in the PSAC, IUP has held opponents under 60 points 13 times this year.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GOLDEN EAGLES
>> Clarion is 3-15 overall and last in the PSAC Western Division with a 1-11 league record. 
>> The Golden Eagles have dropped six straight with their last win coming at home to Slippery Rock (63-60) Jan. 3. 
>> Clarion is 1-8 away from home including an 0-5 mark against PSAC squads.
>> CU boasts two players who rank in the top-11 of the PSAC in rebounding - Jada Smith (4th) at 7.9 RPG and Yasmin Lewis (11th) with 7.5 RPG. 

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 15 GAMES
>> The Crimson Hawks have won 15 straight games since falling to No. 22 Glenville State 86-79 on Nov. 15. 
>> This marks the third straight season the Crimson Hawks have put together 15 straight victories, the longest streak in the seven-year Tom McConnell era.
>> McConnell's teams have five of the top six win streaks in program history (15 3x, 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 4th in field goal percentage (.323), 5th in 3FG percentage (.248), 8th in points allowed (52.7), and 12th in blocks per game (5.2).   
>> The Crimson Hawks have held opponents under 60 points 13 times and to 50 or fewer points seven times, including four games in the 30s. 
>> In the last five games IUP has limited opponents to a 31.3 FG%, 21.1 3FG% and has tallied 35 blocks (7.0 BPG) and 36 steals (7.2 SPG). 
>> R-Jr. F Maura D'Anna (28) and Jr. G Justina Mascaro (19) are among the top-10 in the PSAC in total blocks. 

3-BALL AGAIN EFFECTIVE PART OF IUP OFFENSE
>> The Crimson Hawks lead in the PSAC and 2nd in Division II with a 40.6 3FG% this season. 
>> IUP takes just 16 3-pointers per game (14th in PSAC) but its 6.4 made 3s per game are 7th 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 51.1 percent, which is 2nd in Division II.
>> IUP's 40.6 3FG% this season is the best mark in seven years under HC Tom McConnell. 

SHOOTERS SHOOT
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC and 13th in Division II with a 46.8 FG%. The Hawks have made 50.0 percent of their shots seven times in 18 games. 
>> The Crimson Hawks boast two of the top shooters in the PSAC, with Sr. F Lexi Griggs leading the league with a 58.0 FG%. Jr. G Justina Mascaro is 3rd at 55.2 percent.
>> In the last four games IUP is shooting 51.1 percent (96-188) from the field and 75.0 percent (45-60) 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 weekend as the nation's 2nd-ranked 3-point shooter at 51.1 percent (46-90). 
>> She leads the PSAC in that category and also ranks 3rd in the league with 46 3FGs and 2.5 made per game. 
>> In January Myers is shooting 56.3 percent (18-32) from long range, including 4-5 Wednesday at UPJ. 
>> 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 13.8 PPG and leads IUP with 7.9 RPG. 
>> She's second to Mascaro with three 20-point games and has a team-best 6 double-doubles. 

GRIGGS LEADS PSAC IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
>> Sr. F Lexi Griggs leads the PSAC and ranks 26th in Division II with a 58.0 FG% (87-150). 
>> She's coming off a career-high 22 points on 10-14 FGs with 7 rebounds and 2 blocks Saturday against Cal U.
>> She's 3rd on the team in scoring at 12.9 PPG and 3rd in rebounding with 5.1 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 48.4 3FG% (31-64) in 12 league games. 
>> She has a team-best 29 made 3s over her last 10 games, including a career-high 6 at Mansfield. 
>> Alexander also hit 5 against Slippery Rock and had 4 against Shippensburg and Gannon.