INDIANA, Pa. - Justina Mascaro scored a game-high 16 points as the IUP women's basketball team defeated Virginia State 51-42 in its 2021-22 season opener Saturday afternoon at the Kovalchick Complex. 

The Crimson Hawks held off a second half comeback by the Trojans, who outscored IUP 26-24 in the second half. 

The IUP defense limited Virginia State to just 15-57 shooting - 26.3 percent - and forced 12 turnovers. The Trojans managed just 16 points in the first half. 

Mascaro's 16 points came on 7-15 shooting with five rebounds in 37 minutes. Maura D'Anna also scored in double-figures, finishing with 14 points, nine boards, and four blocks in 26 minutes. 

The Crimson Hawks led by double-digits at halftime and built a 20-point lead at 40-20 on a Mascaro bucket with 4:25 left in the third quarter. The Trojans cut their deficit to single digits in the fourth quarter but buckets by Courtney Alexander and Mascaro in the final 1:35 sealed the victory.

Up next
The Crimson Hawks will play Livingstone Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.

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