INDIANA, Pa. - The 12th-ranked IUP women's basketball team (4-0, 0-0 PSAC) returns to action Wednesday as they host Division II independent Salem at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. This will be the Crimson Hawks' fifth straight home game to start the season and are coming off a 63-53 win over the University of the District of Columbia on Sunday. Salem enters the matchup with a 1-3 record, falling to a pair of PSAC opponents last weekend in Greensburg - 81-80 to Lock Haven and 83-58 to Seton Hill. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> So. G Maria Cerro scored a career-high 23 points on 7-12 FGs and 7-9 FTs in the win over UDC. It was her second straight career game as she averaged 19.5 PPG and shot 12-21 from the field in two games last week.
>> The 53 points by UDC are the most by an IUP opponent this season. The 22.6 FG% by the Firebirds was the lowest by an IUP opponent since UDC managed a 20.8 FG% in these teams' 2019 meeting in Washington, D.C.
>> The Hawks lead the PSAC in points allowed (42.0), defensive FG pct. (.247), rebound margin (+17.0). They are tied for fourth in turnovers forced (20.0). 
>> IUP and Salem last met in November of 2019 in West Virginia, with the Crimson Hawks winning 65-54. 
>> The Hawks are ranked 12th in the WBCA Top 25 and No. 11 in the D2SIDA Media Top 25, both released Tuesday afternoon. IUP was not ranked in the previous coaches' (preseason) poll and moved back two spots from No. 9 from last week's media rankings.
>> IUP is also No. 2 in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region rankings, receiving two of the six first place votes. Gannon is No. 1.
>> The Hawks' top four scorers are all shooting over 50.0 percent on the year, with leading scorer Sr. G Justina Mascaro (14.8 PPG) shooting 51.1 pct. Sr. F Maura D'Anna is averaging 10.0 PPG and shooting 64.5 pct., So. G Maria Cerro is averaging 9.8 PPG and shooting 51.9 pct., and Fr. G Kiera Baughman is averaging 8.0 PPG and shooting 52.4 pct.