MATCHUP
(5/7) IUP Crimson Hawks at (-/-) Mercyhurst Lakers
Saturday, February 1, 2020 | 1 p.m. | Mercyhurst Athletic Center, Erie, Pa.
*Rankings reflect WBCA/D2SIDA Top 25 Polls

PREVIEW INFORMATION
IUP (19-1, 14-0 PSAC) (PDF) | Mercyhurst (5-15, 5-9 PSAC)

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Watch: HurstAthletics.com (Stretch Internet) | Live Stats: HurstAthletics.com (SIDEARM Sports) | Listen: WQMU 92.5, U92 Sports App | Twitter Updates: @IUP_WBB

COMING UP
Saturday, Feb. 8 vs. Slippery Rock, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Cal U, 5:30 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
No. 5-ranked IUP women's basketball (19-1, 14-0 PSAC) brings its record-setting win streak into the second half of divisional play with a matchup at Mercyhurst (5-15, 5-9 PSAC) Saturday. The afternoon tipoff at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center is 1 p.m. The Crimson Hawks won their 17th straight Wednesday with an 81-55 home victory over Seton Hill while the Lakers are coming off a 78-61 loss at home to Edinboro. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> Sr. G Natalie Myers and R-Jr. G Courtney Alexander combined for 37 points and 11 3-pointers as the Crimson Hawks broke the program record for consecutive victories. 
>> Myers and Alexander rank 1-2 in the PSAC in 3FG%, while Myers leads Division II at 51.4 percent. 
>> The win surpassed the 20-year old record of 16 straight by the 1999-00 team coached by Sandy Thomas. 
>> This is the third straight year that IUP has accumulated a win streak of at least 15 games under HC Tom McConnell. In his seven seasons at IUP, he has five of the top-6 streaks in program history (17, 15 2x, 13, 12). 
>> IUP defeated Mercyhurst 61-55 in the season's first matchup at the KCAC on Jan. 6. Jr. G Justina Mascaro scored 20 points as the Hawks rallied from an 8-point halftime deficit to win its 10th straight.
>> McConnell is 11-3 against Mercyhurst, including a 3-3 record in Erie. Four of those Erie games have been decided by double-digits, including last year's 74-57 IUP victory in early January. 
>> IUP is 9-0 on the road this year with a +15.1 scoring margin. The Hawks are limited opponents to under 52 points and a 31.0 FG% in their own gyms 
>> The Hawks lead the PSAC in points allowed (52.7), defensive field goal percentage (.325) and defensive 3-point percentage (.247), and are 2nd in blocks (5.5). IUP has held opponents under 60 points 15 times in 20 games. 
>> In the last four games the Hawks have a 52.3 FG% and a 44.7 3FG% with 42 made 3s. They also have a rebounding margin of +11.6 averaging 40.8 boards per game. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LAKERS
>> Mercyhurst is 5-15 overall and 7th in the PSAC West standings with a 5-9 league record.
>> The Lakers are 2-7 at home, including six straight losses in the MAC dating back to November. 
>> In the three previous seasons Mercyhurst is a combined 27-14 (.659) at home. 
>> The Lakers are 2-5 since their loss to IUP, including a 62-55 road win over Cal U Jan. 25. 
>> Mercyhurst is last in the PSAC in turnover margin at -3.40, losing the TO battle seven times in its last 11.

CRIMSON HAWKS MOVE UP IN THE RANKINGS
>> The Crimson Hawks moved up one spot to No. 5 in this week's WBCA Top 25. 
>> This is the highest ranking of the season, spending the last four weeks inside the top-10.
>> 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 46 straight releases dating back to the 2016-17 season. 

IUP's 17 STRAIGHT WINS SETS PROGRAM RECORD
>> The Crimson Hawks won their 17th straight game Wednesday to break the program record.
>> IUP has not lost since falling to No. 22 Glenville State 86-79 on Nov. 15, winning 9 on the road and 8 at home.
>> The old record of 16 straight wins came during the 1999-00 season under HC Sandy Thomas. 
>> IUP has a +18.4 scoring margin during the streak and has held opponents under 60 points 13 times. 
>> HC Tom McConnell's teams have five of the top six win streaks in program history (17, 15 2x, 14, 13, 12). 

DEFENSE ONE OF BEST IN DIVISION II
>> IUP ranks near the top of the country in several defensive categories, including 5th in 3FG percentage (.247), 6th in field goal percentage (.325), 7th in points allowed (52.7), and 8th in blocks per game (5.5).   
>> The Crimson Hawks have held opponents under 60 points 15 times, including seven times under 50. 
>> In the last seven games IUP has limited opponents to a 32.2 FG%, 21.6 3FG% and has tallied 51 blocks (7.3 BPG) and 51 steals (7.3 SPG). 
>> IUP boasts three players in the top-16 of the PSAC in blocks - R-Jr. F Maura D'Anna (30), Jr. G Justina Mascaro (21) and Sr. F Lexi Griggs (16).  

3-BALL AGAIN EFFECTIVE PART OF IUP OFFENSE
>> The Crimson Hawks lead in the PSAC and 2nd in Division II with a 41.7 3FG% this season. 
>> IUP takes just 17 3-pointers per game (11th in PSAC) but its 7.0 made 3s per game are 4th in the league.
>> In their last eight games, the Hawks are converting 45.3 percent from deep with 7.9 3FGs per game. 
>> IUP made 12 3s vs. Seton Hill and made 11 each against Clarion and Slippery Rock.
>> IUP's three main 3-point shooters are all connecting on at least 40 percent from deep, with Sr. G Natalie Myers leading Division II at 51.4 percent. 
>> The 41.7 3FG% is the best mark in the McConnell era. 

SHOOTERS SHOOT
>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 9th in Division II with a 47.4 FG%. The Hawks have made 50.0 percent of their shots nine times, including four in the last five games.
>> The Crimson Hawks boast two of the top shooters in the PSAC, with Sr. F Lexi Griggs leading the league with a 56.8 FG%. Jr. G Justina Mascaro is 3rd at 55.7 percent.
>> In the last five games IUP is shooting 52.0 percent (128-188) from the field and 75.3 percent (52-69) from the foul line. 

MYERS AMONG TOP 3-POINT SHOOTERS IN DII
>> Sr. G Natalie Myers enters the week as the nation's leading 3-point shooter at 51.4 percent (55-107). 
>> Her 55 made 3s ranks 3rd in the PSAC and is tied for 11th (Marita Mathe, 14-15) in IUP history. Lacey Claar (10-11) is 10th with 57. 
>> In January Myers shot 55.1 percent (27-49) from deep, tying a career-high with 6 against Seton Hill. 
>> Against the PSAC West Myers is averaging 16.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG with a 53.9 FG%, 54.5 3FG% and 91.7 FT%. 
>> She has four 20-point games and 6 double-doubles.

MASCARO EXCELLING IN FIRST YEAR AT IUP
>> Transfer Jr. G Justina Mascaro leads the team in scoring at 14.6 PPG, posting six 20-point games. 
>> She scored 20 points, including 12 in the 2nd half, in IUP's 61-55 comeback win over Mercyhurst Jan. 6.
>> She posted four straight 20-point outings from December into January, posting a career-high 32 points in the win at Shippensburg.
>> Mascaro is 3rd in the PSAC with a 55.7 FG% (107-192) and 10th with 21 blocks. 
>> She would rank 12th in Division II with a 46.7 3FG% but her 45 shot attempts aren't enough to qualify.
>> Mascaro is a two-time PSAC West Athlete of the Week, also earning Defensive Athlete of the Week honors once.

GRIGGS LEADS PSAC IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
>> Sr. F Lexi Griggs leads the PSAC and ranks 30th in Division II with a 56.8 FG% (96-169). 
>> She has 13 double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 22 points vs. Cal U. 
>> Griggs is 3rd on the team in scoring (12.7 PPG) and rebounding (5.1 RPG) and leads the Hawks with 50 assists and 28 steals. 
>> Griggs missed two games in December due to injury and returned with 18 points at Shepherd. 

'GREEN' MEANS SHOOT FOR ALEXANDER
>> R-Jr. G Courtney Alexander has been IUP's 3rd leading scorer during divisional play with 12.9 PPG.
>> She has nine double-figure scoring games, including six times in the last seven outings. 
>> Alexander has two games of 20 points and 6 3-pointers, including the Jan. 25 win over Clarion.
>> She is 2nd in the PSAC and 17th in Division II with a 46.1 3FG%. During conference play she leads all players at 52.5 percent (42-80) in 14 games.