MATCHUP
(5/7) IUP Crimson Hawks vs. (-/-) Slippery Rock "The Rock"
Saturday, February 8, 2020 | 5:30 p.m. | Kovalchick Complex, Indiana, Pa.
*Rankings reflect WBCA/D2SIDA Top 25 Polls

PREVIEW INFORMATION
IUP (20-1, 15-0 PSAC) | Slippery Rock (6-16, 4-12 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, Feb. 12 at Cal U, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15 vs. Gannon, 5:30 p.m.

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
No. 5-ranked IUP women's basketball (20-1, 15-0 PSAC) returns to action for the first time in a week and bring their win streak home to host Slippery Rock (6-16, 4-12 PSAC) Saturday. Tipoff at the Kovalchick Complex is 5:30 p.m. The Crimson Hawks carry a program record 18-game win streak after defeating Mercyhurst 73-59 in their last action Saturday afternoon. The Rock is also coming off a win, defeating Clarion 76-58 Wednesday. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> So. G Rajah Fink led four Hawks in double-figures as she scored a career-high 20 points off the bench to lead the offensive effort in a key road win at Mercyhurst last weekend. 
>> With the Lakers taking away the 3-point line, IUP scored 42 of its points in the paint. The Crimson Hawks still finished 5-11 from deep with PSAC leaders Sr. G Natalie Myers and R-Jr. G Courtney Alexander each hitting 2. 
>> The win extended the program record to 18 straight after breaking the old record of 16 last Wednesday.  
>> 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 (18, 15 2x, 13, 12). 
>> The Crimson Hawks are looking the sweep of Slippery Rock after winning 81-39 at Morrow Field House Jan. 8. 
>> A victory would mark the seventh regular season sweep of The Rock in seven seasons under HC Tom McConnell. 
>> McConnell is 13-0 against Slippery Rock, including 6-0 at home. The Hawks have outscored SRU by an average of 20.2 PPG in those six home games, including an 88-51 win last year. 
>> The Crimson Hawks are 10-1 at home this year and 77-8 (.906) over the last six seasons. 
>> This year IUP has a +22.7 scoring margin at the KCAC and is limiting opponents to a 33.8 FG%. 
>> The Hawks lead the PSAC in points allowed (53.0), defensive field goal percentage (.329) and defensive 3-point percentage (.251), and are 2nd in blocks (5.3). IUP has held opponents under 60 points 16 times in 21 games. 
>> In the last five games the Hawks have a 51.8 FG% and a 44.8 3FG% with 47 made 3s. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROCK
>> Slippery Rock is 6-16 overall and 8th in the PSAC West standings with a 4-12 league record.
>> The Rock is 4-10 away from home, including a 1-4 mark against divisional opponents on the road.
>> SRU has a 14-game losing streak in Indiana, last defeating IUP 64-59 on Feb. 23, 2005.  
>> SRU is 2-6 since falling to IUP in January, with home wins over Millersville (77-75) and Clarion (76-58). 
>> The Rock is shooting 42.3 percent from the field over their last 5 games. They shot a season-low 24.5 percent in the first meeting with IUP. 

CRIMSON HAWKS STEADY IN THE RANKINGS
>> The Crimson Hawks remained at No. 5 in this week's WBCA Top 25. 
>> This is the highest ranking of the season, spending the last five 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 47 straight releases dating back to the 2016-17 season. 

IUP's 18 STRAIGHT WINS SETS PROGRAM RECORD
>> The Crimson Hawks won their 18th straight game Saturday to extend the program record. 
>> IUP has not lost since falling to No. 22 Glenville State 86-79 on Nov. 15, including 8 wins at the KCAC.
>> The old record of 16 straight wins came during the 1999-00 season under HC Sandy Thomas. 
>> IUP has a +18.1 scoring margin during the streak and has held opponents under 60 points 14 times. 
>> HC Tom McConnell's teams have five of the top six win streaks in program history (18, 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 (.251), 7th in points allowed (53.0), 8th in field goal percentage (.328), and 11th in blocks per game (5.3).   
>> The Crimson Hawks have held opponents under 60 points 16 times, including seven times under 50. 
>> In nine divisional games, IUP has limited opponents to a 33.0 FG% and a 23.6 3FG%, and has tallied 59 blocks (6.6 BPG) and 66 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 (22) 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 41.9 3FG% this season. 
>> IUP takes just 16 3-pointers per game (13th in PSAC) but its 6.9 made 3s per game are 5th in the league.
>> Against divisional opponents, the Hawks are converting 45.3 percent from deep with 7.6 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. 

SHOOTERS SHOOT
>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 8th in Division II with a 47.5 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 56.5 FG%. Jr. G Justina Mascaro is 3rd at 55.9 percent.
>> Sr. G Natalie Myers would rank 7th with a 52.9 FG%, but her 4.8 made FGs per game does not qualify. 

MYERS AMONG TOP 3-POINT SHOOTERS IN DII
>> Sr. G Natalie Myers enters the week as the nation's leading 3-point shooter at 51.8 percent (57-110). 
>> Her 57 made 3s ranks 3rd in the PSAC and is 39th in Division II. 
>> She is tied for 10th (Lacey Claar, 10-11) in single season IUP history. Lindsay Stamp (14-15) is 9th with 58. 
>> Myers is shooting 56.7 percent (17-30) over her last five games, tying a career-high with 6 against Seton Hill.
>> Against the PSAC West Myers is averaging 15.2 PPG and 8.1 RPG with a 54.3 FG%, 55.3 3FG% and 88.5 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 14.7 PPG, posting six 20-point games. 
>> She's earned two PSAC West Athlete of the Week honors, and a defensive POW award once.
>> Mascaro is 3rd in the PSAC with a 55.9 FG% (113-212) and 12th with 22 blocks. 
>> She posted four straight 20-point outings from December into January, posting a career-high 32 points in the win at Shippensburg.
>> She would rank 9th in Division II with a 46.8 3FG% but her 22 made 3s aren't enough to qualify.

GRIGGS LEADS PSAC IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
>> Sr. F Lexi Griggs leads the PSAC and ranks 30th in Division II with a 56.7 FG% (100-177). 
>> She has 14 double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 22 points vs. Cal U. 
>> Griggs is 3rd on the team in scoring (12.6 PPG) and rebounding (5.1 RPG) and leads the Hawks with 52 assists and 29 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 12.6 PPG.
>> Seven of her 10 double-figure scoring games this season have come against divisional opponents.
>> Alexander has two games of 20 points and 6 3-pointers, including the Jan. 25 win over Clarion.
>> She has 4+ 3-pointers in a game six times, including a 5-10 effort at Slippery Rock Jan. 8. 
>> She is 2nd in the PSAC and 13th in Division II with a 46.2 3FG%. During conference play she leads all players at 52.4 percent (44-84) in 15 games.