INDIANA, Pa. - The No. 21 IUP women's basketball team (11-4, 5-4 PSAC) returns home this week and looks to get back in the win column against Edinboro (8-5, 6-4 PSAC) Wednesday at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff is 5:30 pm.. The Crimson Hawks have lost three of four games this month after returning from a team pause, including Monday night's 63-60 loss at Pitt-Johnstown. The Fighting Scots are also coming off a loss, 79-68 at Seton Hill on Monday. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> Jr. G Rajah Fink scored a season-high 17 points in the full 40 minutes in the loss at UPJ, going 7-10 from the field and 3-4 from the line. She also had 7 rebounds and a career-high 7 assists. 
>> Fink was making her 4th straight start and tallied her 3rd straight double-figure scoring game (14.3 PPG).
>> The Hawks forced UPJ into 23 turnovers but turned the ball over 20 times themselves. The Mountain Cats also owned the edge on the glass 39-to-32.
>> The loss ended IUP's 9-game win streak over the Mountain Cats. 
>> Sr. G Courtney Alexander is expected to miss her fifth straight game after getting injured in the win over Shippensburg on Dec. 19. She scored a career-high 31 points with a program-record 9 3FGs against the Raiders.
>> IUP HC Tom McConnell is 12-4 against Edinboro with wins in seven straight and 12 of the last 13 meetings.
>> McConnell and the Hawks' last loss to Edinboro came at home (75-65) during the 2016-17 season.
>> The last meeting between these teams was an 80-72 double OT victory by IUP at the KCAC on Feb. 19, 2020. Sr. G Justina Mascaro scored 23 points in that win.
>> IUP is 7-2 at home this year with an average scoring margin of +20.8. Mascaro is averaging 15.6 PPG at home.
>> The Hawks are 43-9 in PSAC West games since the 2017-18 season. That record includes a 22-3 mark at home and a 21-6 record away. IUP is 1-3 against divisional teams this year.
>> A win would be the 800th victory in program history, which dates back to its pre-Division II days (1971-present).

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIGHTING SCOTS
>> Edinboro is 8-5 overall and currently 4th in the PSAC West standings with a 6-4 league record.
>> The Fighting Scots are just 1-4 on the road this season with an average scoring margin of -15.2.
>> Their road losses include Walsh (90-32), Mansfield (53-46), and Pitt-Johnstown (70-59).
>> Edinboro is one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the PSAC with 5.8 made per game and a 31.5 3FG%.
>> EU also forces 20.4 turnovers per game and is 2nd in the PSAC with 11.54 steals per game. 

IUP IN THE POLLS
>> The Crimson Hawks fell four spots to No. 21 in this week's WBCA Coaches' Top 25.
>> 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 61 of the last 62 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 62 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 15 players on the roster have played multiple games this season.
>> 10 Hawks have played in at least 14 of the 15 games and average more than 7.5 minutes per game.
>> Six players average more than 6.0 points for the PSAC's 4th-ranked scoring offense. Two are in double-figures.
>> Seven 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 are 2nd in the PSAC and rank 12th in Division II with 53.3 points allowed this season.
>> They have held opponents to 60 or fewer points 10 times in 15 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 are 2nd in the PSAC and rank 14th in Division II in defensive field goal percentage (.340). 
>> 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 6th in the PSAC with 9.1 steals per game. They've had double-digit steals six times, including a season-high 18 against Mount Aloysius. 

WINNING THE BATTLE OF THE BOARDS
>> The Hawks lead the PSAC and rank 15th in Division II with +9.3 rebound margin.
>> They've won the battle of the boards 12 times in their 15 games, including six times in eight PSAC games.
>> IUP's 39.2 rebounds per game is 5th in the PSAC.
>> Five players have led IUP in rebounding this year.
>> Sr. F Maura D'Anna has a team-high 7.2 RPG and Fr. F Gina Adams averages 5.2 RPG.

ALWAYS LOOKING TO HELP
>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 44th in Division II with 15.5 assists per game - 232 in 15 games.
>> IUP has assisted on 58.7 pct of its 395 made buckets.
>> The Hawks have dished out double-digit assists in all 15 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 six with 20 or more assists. 
>> So. G Maria Cerro has led IUP in assists eight times in 15 games and has a team-best 48 dimes - 3.2 APG. 

KNOCKING THEM DOWN
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC and 26th in Division II in field goal percentage at 44.9 pct. (395-879). 
>> 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 10-1 this year when shooting better from the field than its opponent. 1-3 when shooting worse.
>> Three regular Hawks are converting at least half their shots this year - Sr. G Justina Mascaro at 52.2 pct. (83-159), Jr. G Mikayla Lovelace at 52.0 pct. (13-25), Sr. F Maura D'Anna at 51.0 pct. (51-100).

FROM WAY DOWN TOWN
>> The Hawks are averaging 7.0 3-pointers made over their last 10 games.
>> They had a season-high 12 3FGs made in the win over Shippensburg and made 8 against Gannon.
>> Sr. G Courtney Alexander has been the main source of that run, hitting 31 treys over her last six games. She set an IUP single-game record with 9 against Shippensburg.
>> 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. She made her debut against Gannon.
>> 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 is 2nd on the team with 14.4 PPG, and has team-highs with 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 (13.7 PPG), 3rd in rebounding (4.9 RPG) and 3rd in assists (31).  
>> She's led IUP in scoring six times and has reached double-figures 12 times in 15 games.
>> Mascaro hit season-highs of 24 points, 10 made FGs and 4 made 3FGs against Gannon on Jan. 16.
>> Mascaro ranks 5th in the PSAC with a 52.2 FG%.
>> She's shot at least 50.0 pct. in a game nine times in 15 games, including games of 6-7 (.857) against Millersville and 5-6 (.833) against Shippensburg.
>> Mascaro has scored in double-figures 33 times in 45 career games at IUP, including 10 20-point games.

CERRO STEPPING UP IN SECOND SEASON
>> So. G Maria Cerro is 7th on the team with 5.9 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 earlier in the season.
>> Cerro is tied for 2nd in the PSAC with a 1.6 assist-turnover (48-30) ratio.
>> 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 7.3 PPG and has a team-best 7.2 RPG. 
>> She has five 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 has three games of 10+ boards.
>> She's converted at least half her shots in 7 of her 13 games, including 7-8 against Virginia State.
>> Her 1.4 blocks per game is 6th 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 15 games for the Crimson Hawks this season.
>> She's averaging 6.5 PPG and has a season-high 16 points in the win at Clarion on Jan. 22.
>> Adams is 2nd on the team in rebounding a 5.2 RPG. She had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Ohio Dominican.
>> She's shooting 46.0 pct. (40-87) from the field and has coverted at least half her shots in eight 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 9.0 PPG in 17.5 minutes off the bench. 
>> She's averaging 20.6 points per 40 minutes of action.
>> Baughman has eight double-figure scoring games, including a season-high 16 points against Mount Aloysius.
>> She is averaging 10.6 PPG over the last eight 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.

FINK IN THE LINEUP
>> Jr. G Rajah Fink has started each of the last four games with Sr. G Courtney Alexander sidelined.
>> Fink went for a season-high 17 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists at UPJ.
>> She nearly had a double-double with 14 points and 9 rebounds at Seton Hill, her second start.
>> Fink is averaging 14.3 PPG and has a 64.3 FG% (18-28) over her last three games.