DURHAM, N.C. – Taking the court for the first time in 2022-23 and under the direction of head coach Craig Carey, the IUP women's basketball team dropped an exhibition matchup by a 90-36 count against Duke on Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
 
Kiera Baughman led the way for IUP with 12 points in 28 minutes. Alana Cardona posted eight points with a team-high six rebounds for the Crimson Hawks, which shot just seven percent (2-27) in the second half.
 
Celeste Taylor logged a game-high 16 points as one of four Blue Devils in double figures. Duke raced ahead to a 10-2 lead and utilized a big run near the end of the opening quarter to pull ahead comfortably.
 
"I thought we played hard. We're not the deepest team right now and I think that kind of showed first half," Carey said. "Our whole calling card is playing physical, playing intense, kind of causing chaos on defense. We were able to do that in the first half and I think once the legs go, once fatigue sets in, sloppy play starts happening."
 
The second quarter was more tightly contested with IUP shooting 50% from the field in the frame. A pair of Baughman free throws at the 4:39 mark of the second trimmed the deficit to 11, as close as IUP would get for the remainder of the afternoon.
 
The Crimson Hawks converted just one of 10 three-point field goals on the afternoon, while Duke shot 54.4% from the floor and 53.8% from deep as a team.
 
Gina Adams had seven points and four rebounds against an athletic Duke squad picked in the upper half of the ACC preseason poll.
 
UP NEXT
IUP hosts the PSAC/MEC/CIAA Challenge at the KCAC from November 11-12. The Crimson hawks take on Davis & Elkins (November 11) and Lincoln (November 12), with both matchups starting at 7:00 p.m.
 
FOLLOW
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB. 
 
 

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