INDIANA, Pa. - The No. 12 IUP women's basketball team (10-1, 4-1 PSAC) returns to action for the first time in four weeks with a top-25 matchup when they host No. 15 Gannon (10-2, 5-2 PSAC) Sunday afternoon at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The Crimson Hawks last played on Dec. 19, defeating Shippensburg 79-46 at home. Gannon was last in action on Monday, losing to Seton Hill 66-60 in Greensburg. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> The Crimson Hawks went on a program pause due to COVID-19 protocols on Jan. 3, effectively postponing four games since then. Games postponed and/or rescheduled included at Cal U (now Jan. 31), at Lock Haven (PPD), Slippery Rock (Feb. 14) and at Mercyhurst (Feb. 21).
>> This matchup against Gannon was originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 15. 
>> In IUP's last outing, Sr. G Courtney Alexander scored a career-high 31 points and broke the program's single game record with 9 3-pointers in the 79-46 win over Shippensburg. 
>> Alexander was injured during that game and is not expected to play against the Lady Knights. 
>> This will be IUP's second game against a top-25 opponent this season, falling to No. 20 (media) Shepherd 67-58 at the Kovalchick Complex on Dec. 18.
>> The Crimson Hawks are 9-7 against top-25 teams since the 2017-18 season. They are 3-3 against ranked teams at home and 2-5 against top-25 teams in the regular season during that span. 
>> The last time these teams met came on the same floor in the 2020 PSAC Championship, with Gannon ending IUP's hope of back-to-back tournament titles with a 50-40 victory. 
>> IUP HC Tom McConnell is 12-4 all-time against Gannon. The loss in the 2020 title game ended a 10-game win streak against the Lady Knights that started during the 2015-16 season.
>> IUP is 7-1 at home this season and 100-14 (.877) in Indiana under McConnell since the 2013-14 season. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LADY KNIGHTS
>> Gannon is 10-2 overall and currently 5th in the PSAC West standings with a 5-2 conference record.
>> The Lady Knights are ranked No. 15 in the WBCA Coaches' Poll and No. 17 in the D2SIDA Media Poll.
>> GU is No. 2 in this week's D2SIDA regional poll. 
>> This will be the first game against a ranked opponent for the Lady Knights this season. 
>> Gannon's two losses this year came at Shepherd (63-59) on Dec. 3 and at Seton Hill (66-60) on Monday.
>> The Lady Knights are 3-2 in road game this season with an average scoring margin of +2.6.

IUP IN THE POLLS
>> The Crimson Hawks are No. 12 in the WBCA Coaches' Top 25 for the second week in a row.
>> They have not been ranked in either of the last three D2SIDA media polls after their loss to Shippensburg.
>> IUP's highest ranks this season were No. 8 by the coaches and No. 6 by the media. 
>> The Hawks have been ranked in the top-25 of either poll for 59 of the last 60 weeks they have been eligible dating back to the 2017-18 preseason. 
>> IUP has been ranked in the top-10 in 45 of those possible 60 polls. 
>> The Hawks spent 14 straight weeks in the top-5 during the 2018-19 season, including a 3-week run at No. 1. 

IUP OPENED SEASON WITH 9 STRAIGHT WINS
>> The Crimson Hawks won their first 9 games of the season, going 6-0 against non-conference opponents.
>> It was the third time in the last four seasons the Hawks went unbeaten in regular season non-league play.
>> They had a +22.6 scoring margin in those 9 wins. 
>> It was the fourth longest win streak to start a season under HC Tom McConnell (15 twice, 13 once).
>> The best start in program history was 16 straight wins to open the 1999-00 season. 

EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES
>> All 14 players on the roster have played multiple games this season.
>> 10 Hawks have played in at least 10 of the 11 games and average more than 8.0 minutes per game.
>> Six players average more than 6.5 points for the PSAC's 3rd-ranked scoring offense. Two are in double-figures.
>> Six different players have led the Crimson Hawks in scoring this season.
>> Eight players have scored in double-figures at least once this season.

IUP DEFENSE HAS BEEN KEY
>> The Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC and rank 5th in Division II with 50.5 points allowed this season.
>> They  have held opponents under 60 points eight times in 11 games, including three times under 40. 
>> IUP gave up a season-low 35 points to Mount Aloysius on Nov. 17. The Hawks also allowed 38 points to Livingstone and 40 points to Millersville.
>> The Hawks lead the PSAC and rank 2nd in Division II in defensive field goal percentage (.310). 
>> Six times IUP has forced an opponent to shoot less than 30 percent, with UDC shooting a season-low 24.4 pct. on Nov. 21. 
>> The Hawks are 5th in the PSAC with 9.3 steals per game. They've had double-digit steals four times, including a season-high 18 against Mount Aloysius. 

WINNING THE BATTLE OF THE BOARDS
>> The Hawks lead the PSAC and rank 3rd in Division II with +11.7 rebound margin.
>> They've won the battle of the boards 10 times in their 11 games, including four times in five PSAC games.
>> IUP's 41.0 rebounds per game is 2nd in the PSAC.
>> Five players have led IUP in rebounding this year.
>> Sr. F Maura D'Anna has a team-high 6.7 RPG and Sr. G Justina Mascaro averages 5.7 RPG. ina Adams is 2nd at 6.2 RPG and Jr. F Teirra Preston is 3rd at 5.3.

ALWAYS LOOKING TO HELP
>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 24th in Division II with 16.5 assists per game - 181 in 11 games.
>> IUP has assisted on 59.9 pct of its 302 made buckets.
>> The Hawks have dished out double-digit assists in all 11 games this year, including three games of 20+.
>> They dished out a season-high 25 assists in the win over Mount Aloysius and 21 against Shippensburg.
>> Seven players have double-digit assists, including four with 23 or more assists. 
>> So. G Maria Cerro has led IUP in assists six times in 11 games and has a team-best 41 dimes - 3.7 APG. 
>> IUP also leads the PSAC in assist-turnover ratio (1.04-1). 

KNOCKING THEM DOWN
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC and 21st in Division II in field goal percentage at 45.7 pct. (302-661). 
>> The Hawks have knocked down half their shots in a game three times, including a season-best 53.4 pct. (31-58) at Ohio Dominican.
>> IUP is 9-0 this year when shooting better from the field than its opponent. 1-1 when shooting worse.
>> Four regular Hawks are converting at least half their shots this year - Jr. G Mikayla Lovelace at 54.5 pct. (12-22), Sr. G Justina Mascaro at 53.5 pct. (61-114), Sr. F Maura D'Anna at 53.4 pct. (39-73) and Fr. F Gina Adams at 50.0 pct. (29-58). 

FROM WAY DOWN TOWN
>> The Hawks are averaging 7.8 3-pointers made over their last six games.
>> They are coming off a season-high 12 3FGs made in the win over Shippensburg. 
>> Sr. G Courtney Alexander has been the main source of that run, hitting 31 treys over the last six games. She set an IUP single-game record with 9 against Ship.
>> Traditionally one of the top 3-point teams in Division II, IUP made 37.7 pct. in 2019-20 and 38.0 pct. in 2018-19.

 A NEW ADDITION IN 2022
>> On Jan. 4 it was announced that Grace Mangapora would join the team for the rest of the season.
>> Mangapora just finished her sophomore season on the IUP women's volleyball team where she started 10 matches this fall.
>> She was a 4-year starter and 1,000-point scorer at Canfield (Ohio) HS.
>> Mangapora was a Division I All-Ohio selection as a senior, leading Canfield in scoring (16.4), rebounding and assists. 

ALEXANDER LOOKS TO CONTINUE BREAKOUT
>> Sr. G Courtney Alexander leads the Hawks with 14.4 PPG, a 35.8 3FG% and 39 3FGs made.
>> She set an IUP single game record with 9 3-pointers in the win over Shippensburg on Dec. 19.
>> Alexander tied the previous record of 8 in the win over Kuztown on Dec. 3. 
>> Her 3.55 made 3FGs per game leads the PSAC and ranks 3rd in Division II.
>> She's scored in double-figures in seven straight games, averaging 18.9 PPG, after averaging 6.5 PPG in the first four games of the season.
>> Alexander has three 20-point games, including a career-high 31 points against Shippensburg.
>> Her 19.6 PPG in PSAC games ranks 3rd in the league.
>> Alexander is also shooting 46.4 pct. (26-56) from 3-point range against conference opponents.
>> She is 10th in IUP history with 135 career 3-pointers made (Eryn Withers, 9th, 141). 
>> Alexander has a 3.38 (27-8) assist-turnover ratio this year, including 6-1 over the last three games. 

MASCARO BRINGS CONSISTENCY
>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro is 2nd on the team in scoring (13.9 PPG), rebounding (5.7 RPG) and assists (27). 
>> She's led IUP in scoring five times and has reached double-figures 10 times in 11 games.
>> She scored a season-high 18 points in 22 minutes in the win over Millersville on Dec. 14.
>> Mascaro ranks 7th in the PSAC with a 53.5 FG%.
>> She's shot at least 50.0 pct. in a game seven times in 11 games, including games of 6-7 (.857) against Millersville and 5-6 (.833) against Shippensburg.
>> Mascaro has scored in double-figures 31 times in 41 career games at IUP, including nine 20-point games.

CERRO STEPPING UP IN SECOND SEASON
>> So. G Maria Cerro is 4th on the team with 7.4 PPG.
>> She has three double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 23 points against UDC on Nov. 21.
>> She averaged 13.3 PPG over a 4-game stretch after scoring 4 combined points in the opening two games.
>> Cerro leads the PSAC with a 1.7 assist-turnover (41-24) ratio this season.
>> Cerro has 24 assists and just 9 turnovers (2.7-1) over the last five games.
>> She had a season-high 7 assists against Shepherd and has two 6-assist games.

D'ANNA PROVIDES EXPERIENCE IN THE POST
>> Sr. F Maura D'Anna is 4th on the team with 7.4 PPG and has a team-best 6.7 RPG. 
>> She has four double-figure scoring games including a season-high 14 points against Virginia State.
>> D'Anna posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards against Livingstone.
>> She's converted at least half her shots in 7 of her 11 games, including 7-8 against Virginia State.
>> Her 1.3 blocks per game is 11th in the PSAC, getting a career-high 4 blocks against Virginia State.

ADAMS A STARTER IN FIRST SEASON
>> Fr. F Gina Adams as started all 11 games for the Crimson Hawks this season.
>> She's averaging 6.5 PPG and has a season-high 14 points in the win at Ohio Dominican on Nov. 28.
>> Adams is 3rd on the team in rebounding a 5.6 RPG. She had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Ohio Dominican.
>> She's shooting 50.0 pct. (29-58) from the field and has coverted at least half her shots in seven games.
>> Adams came to IUP in 2020 but the team did not play due to COVID-19. 
>> She was a Division I All-Ohio selection at Westlake HS where she averaged 15.8 PPG as a senior.

KB PROVIDES SCORING OFF THE BENCH
>> Fr. G Kiera Baughman is 3rd on the team in scoring at 8.5 PPG in 14.2 minutes off the bench. 
>> She's averaging 23.9 points per 40 minutes.
>> Baughman has five double-figure scoring games, including a season-high 16 points against Mount Aloysius.
>> She is averaging 10.8 PPG over the last four games, scoring 15 points in the win over Shippensburg.
>> Baughman came to IUP in 2020 but the team did not play due to COVID-19. 
>> She was a 5A All-Pennsylvania selection at Donegal HS where she averaged 23.7 PPG as a senior.

PRESTON IN THE PAINT
>> Jr. F Teirra Preston leads all reserves in minutes with 160 and 14.5 MPG. 
>> She's 4th on the team with 5.0 RPG.
>> She has 5+ rebounds seven times in 11 games, including a season-high 9 at Kutztown.
>> Preston also had 13 points on 5-7 FGs at Kutztown.