INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP women's basketball team hits the road for the first time in 2022-23, opening the conference portion of the schedule this weekend in eastern Pennsylvania. The Hawks visit Mansfield on Friday, December 2 before traveling to Bloomsburg on Saturday, December 3. Both tipoffs are slated for 5:30 p.m.
IUP has been idle since November 23, a 79-61 home victory against Ohio Dominican. Mansfield (1-2) continues its early homestand following its first win of the season last weekend against Alliance. Meanwhile, Bloomsburg fell to Daemen last weekend and looks to bounce back in the midst of a homestand.
Both games are available online and on the air, streaming as part of the PSAC Digital Network and broadcast live on the U92 Sports Channel.
GAME INFORMATION – MANSFIELD
GAME INFORMATION – BLOOMSBURG
TIPOFF NOTES
- With just one nonconference contest left coming on December 11, IUP turned its attention to conference action. The Hawks have won 10 consecutive PSAC openers, dating back to the 2011-12 season.
- Looking to adapt to a more up-tempo style of play, the IUP Crimson Hawks have been strong as a team on the defensive side of the ball. IUP leads the nation in field goal percentage defense (.262) and ranks second nationally in scoring defense (43.8)
- IUP has swept six consecutive PSAC East-West crossover weekends.
- The Crimson Hawks used a balanced approach offensively, led by Alana Cardona's double-double in the win against Ohio Dominican.
- Teirra Preston leads the PSAC and ranks 12th nationally in rebounding average, pulling in 11.5 boards/game.
SCOUTING MANSFIELD
- 2022-23 Overview | Overall: 1-2 | PSAC: 0-0 | Home: 1-1 | Away: 0-1 | Neutral: 0-0
- Madison Fox logged a career-high 14 points and Mansfield stifled Alliance with strong defense for its first win of the season, a 68-52 triumph on November 19.
- The Mountaineers forced 25 Alliance turnovers and added 13 steals in the victory.
- Mansfield is a volume shooting team from beyond the arc, attempting an average of 21.8 three-point field goals per game. Three players have at least five three-point baskets through the first three games of the season.
- Jasmine Hilton averages a double-double for Mansfield with 19.0 points and 10.3 rebounds. Playing an average of 37.0 minutes/game, Hilton poured in 31 points in the opener against D'Youville.
- Alivia Paeglow paces the team with 10 steals, also ranking second on the squad in rebounding average (6.0).
SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG
- 2022-23 Overview | Overall: 2-1 | PSAC: 0-0 | Home: 1-1 | Away: 1-0 | Neutral: 0-0
- The Huskies are looking to bounce back from their first setback of the season, a 66-45 defeat against Daemen. The Wildcats were ranked 10th in this week's D2SIDA poll and 23rd in the WBCA poll.
- Bloomsburg got 13 points each from Abby Brown and Ella Kale last time out.
- The Huskies began the year with a pair of narrow victories, emerging with a 70-60 triumph against Chestnut Hill and a 70-65 overtime win against Holy Family.
- Kale (13.7) and Katie Starr (11.3) each average double figures for the Huskies, a team that averages 21.7 turnovers/game.
IUP DEFENSE HAS BEEN LOCKDOWN
- While facing some poor-shooting opponents, IUP has been aggressive on the defensive end of the floor. Ohio Dominican was the first opponent this season to surpass the 60-point plateau so far in 2022-23.
- IUP is holding opponents to just 26.2% from the floor and surrendering 43.8 points/game. The Hawks have held opponents to single digits in a quarter four times, with three coming in a blowout win against Rosemont.
- The Hawks are also averaging about nine steals per contest and forcing just under 20 turnovers per game.
ANOTHER UNBEATEN START HEADING INTO PSAC PLAY
- With just one nonconference matchup to go, IUP is a perfect 4-0 with the start of conference play ahead.
- A win against Goldey-Beacom on December 11 would push the IUP record to 5-0 in the nonconference slate, which would mark the fourth time in the least five seasons IUP went perfect in non-league play in the regular season.
- IUP began the year with 16 consecutive victories at the onset of the 1999-2000 season.
CARDONA FRESH OFF CAREER NIGHT
- Gaining valuable minutes throughout her career off the bench, Alana Cardona has stepped into the starting lineup and has emerged as a driving force for the Hawks on both sides of the ball.
- She enjoyed a career night with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds.
- It marked the first 20-point outing of Cardona's career, who has started all four games this season.
- Cardona has a pair of games in double-figures this season, shooting 46.5% from the floor as a stretch forward with range. She canned a pair of three-point baskets last time out in the win against Ohio Dominican.
BAUGHMAN SETS THE TONE
- Kiera Baughman has played at least 32 minutes in three games for IUP, setting the tone at the point with a team-high 16 assists and 14 steals.
- Baughman leads the team in scoring average (13.5) and ranks seventh in the league in assists/game (4.0).
- Making 11 starts in her debut campaign, Baughman has taken the next step in her development this season. She collected 28 steals in 30 games last year and has 14 through just four games in 2022-23.
- A consistent shooter in all areas, Baughman is also 21-for-23 at the foul line heading into the weekend.
REBOUNDING CONTINUES TO BE A STRENGTH
- With one of the top rebounders in the region, Teirra Preston has helped the Crimson Hawks become a stout rebounding squad once again in 2022-23.
- The Hawks are first in the nation in rebounds/game (51.75), defensive rebounds/game (36.0) and rebounding margin (+16.0), tying into the strong defensive effort.
- Last season, IUP finished the campaign leading the PSAC and ranking 14th nationally with a rebounding margin of +8.0.
CERRO CONTINUES IMPROVING
- Maria Cerro is second on the team in scoring (12.5) as a speedy guard.
- Cerro ranks fifth in the PSAC in FG percentage at 53.8%.
- She is second on the team with an average of 29.8 as part of the IUP starting lineup, playing 36 minutes or more in each game aside from the blowout win against Rosemont.
- Cerro dropped in 17 points (7-11 FG) and handed out eight assists in a victory against Lincoln on November 12.
EVERYBODY EATS
- All 12 players currently on the active roster have seen playing time in each game this season.
- Every player has scored for the Crimson Hawks this season with five players reaching double figures in the win against Ohio Dominican.
- As a team, IUP is assisting on 55% of its made field goals with six players posting five assists or more this season.
- Nine of 12 players have registered a steal through the opening four games.
