LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- The IUP women's basketball program was picked to finish fourth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division as the league announced its 2022-23 preseason coaches' polls Thursday.
IUP has made seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments following a 21-9 campaign a season ago. The Crimson Hawks welcomed interim head coach
Craig Carey to the program in September following the retirement of Tom McConnell. Carey is a former assistant coach at Division I West Virginia for his father, who also retired following the 2021-22 season.
California (Pa.) was picked as the favorites in the PSAC West, earning six of nine possible first-place votes. Gannon nabbed the remaining three votes in second, followed by Edinboro, IUP and Seton Hill.
In the East, Kutztown picked up eight first-place votes with Shippensburg following in second. Bloomsburg, West Chester and Lock Haven followed to round of the initial five teams.
The Crimson Hawks will look to replace four of the team's top five scorers from 2021-22.
Kiera Baughman is the team's top returning scorer, averaging 9.7 PPG and 3.4 RPG over 30 contests. She logged double figures in 16 outings, which included a season-high 19 points at Lock Haven in early February.
Also returning for the Crimson Hawks is
Gina Adams (5.4PPG, 4.3 RPG) and
Maria Cerro (4.2 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 55 assists), both bringing starting experience to the lineup.
Teirra Preston,
Alana Cardona,
Josie Smith,
Molly Howard and
Anna Kadlubek will all compete for expanded roles as key bench contributors in 2021-22.
IUP welcomes four first-year players to the team for 2022-23, including
Hope Cook,
Grace Spadaro,
Anna Rafferty and
Daniela Shaughnessy.
The 2022-23 season
IUP begins the 2022-23 season with an exhibition at Duke (November 5), before opening regular season play at the KCAC against Davis & Elkins (November 11) and Lincoln (November 12).
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.
2022-23 PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
East (# of 1st Place Votes)
1. Kutztown (8)
2. Shippensburg
3. Bloomsburg
4. West Chester
5. Lock Haven (1)
6. Millersville
7. Mansfield
8. East Stroudsburg
9. Shepherd
West
1. California (Pa.) (6)
2. Gannon (3)
3. Edinboro
4. IUP
5. Seton Hill
6. Pitt-Johnstown
7. Mercyhurst
8. Slippery Rock
9. Clarion
