INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP women's basketball team (13-5, 7-5 PSAC) gets ready for another quick turnaround as they travel to Lock Haven (8-10, 5-9 PSAC) to face the Bald Eagles Wednesday. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. at the Thomas Fieldhouse. The Crimson Hawks are coming off a 62-46 loss to rival Cal U on the road Monday night while the Bald Eagles have dropped two straight, including a 78-50 loss at Shepherd on Saturday. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro scored 20 points in the loss at Cal U Monday. The only Hawk to score in double-figures, she shot 8-10 FGs, including 4-4 3FGs. It was her second 20-point performance of the season.
>> The Vulcans outrebounded IUP 43-to-28 and also had a 9-point advantage at the foul line, converting 12-13 from the charity stripe compared to the Hawks' 3-8 performance. 
>> Sr. G Courtney Alexander returned to the court, playing in 10 minutes off the bench. She was seeing her first action since December 19, missing six straight games with an injury.
>> Earlier on Monday, Jr. G Rajah Fink was named the PSAC West co-Athlete of the Week. She averaged 19.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG and 4.7 RPG while posting the first two double-doubles of her career in three games last week.
>> The Lock Haven matchup was originally scheduled for Jan. 8 but was postponed due to COVID protocols. It was recently rescheduled by the conference office. 
>> IUP HC Tom McConnell is 5-0 lifetime against Lock Haven, including 2-0 on the road. It has been over four years since the Hawks were last in Lock Haven, defeating the Bald Eagles 80-46 on Nov. 19, 2016.
>> IUP is 27-1 against PSAC East teams in the regular season since the start of the 2016-17 season, including 4-1 this year. That only loss came at home to Shepherd (67-58) on Dec. 18. 
>> The Hawks are 4-3 away from home this year with an average scoring margin of +2.5. IUP has outshot opponents on the road 44.0 pct. to 40.1 pct. and are making 7 treys a game.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE BALD EAGLES
>> Lock Haven is 8-10 overall and is 6th in the PSAC East standings with a 5-9 league record.
>> The Bald Eagles are 3-3 at home this year, including  wins over Mercyhurst (64-55) and Millersville (49-44).
>> LHU went 4-6 in the month of January and has a -9.0 scoring margin over the last four games.
>> The Bald Eagles are shooting 30.2 pct. and are 16-91 from 3-point range over those last four games.
>> LHU is one of the top rebounding teams in the PSAC, ranking 2nd to IUP with a +6.4 margin.
>> The Bald Eagles are also last in the PSAC with a -3.50 turnover margin. 

IUP IN THE POLLS
>> The Crimson Hawks are not ranked in either major poll, falling out of the WBCA coaches' poll this week.
>> IUP had been ranked for 10 straight weeks during the regular season.
>> 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 63 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 63 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 12 of the 18 games and average more than 8.0 minutes per game.
>> Six players average more than 6.4 points for the PSAC's 5th-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 17th in Division II with 54.8 points allowed this season.
>> They have held opponents to 60 or fewer points 11 times in 18 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 19th in Division II in defensive field goal percentage (.344). 
>> 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 7th in the PSAC with 8.5 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 21st in Division II with +8.7 rebound margin.
>> They've won the battle of the boards 14 times in their 18 games, including eight times in 12 PSAC games.
>> IUP's 39.1 rebounds per game is 6th in the PSAC.
>> Six players have led IUP in rebounding this year.
>> Sr. F Maura D'Anna has a team-high 7.0 RPG and Fr. F Gina Adams averages 4.9 RPG.

ALWAYS LOOKING TO HELP
>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 48th in Division II with 15.2 assists per game - 273 in 18 games.
>> IUP has assisted on 58.2 pct of its 469 made buckets.
>> The Hawks have dished out double-digit assists in 17 of 18 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.
>> Nine players have double-digit assists, including seven with 24 or more assists. 
>> So. G Maria Cerro has led IUP in assists eight times in 18 games and has a team-best 51 dimes.

KNOCKING THEM DOWN
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC and 26th in Division II in field goal percentage at 44.9 pct. 
>> The Hawks have knocked down half their shots in a game four times, including a season-best 53.4 pct. (31-58) at Ohio Dominican.
>> IUP is 12-2 this year when shooting better from the field than its opponent. 1-3 when shooting worse.
>> Two regular Hawks are converting at least half their shots this year - Sr. G Justina Mascaro at 52.1 pct. and  Sr. F Maura D'Anna at 50.0 pct. 

FROM WAY DOWN TOWN
>> The Hawks are 2nd in the PSAC with a 32.5 3FG%.
>> They are 4th in the PSAC with 6.4 made 3-pointers per game. 
>> They had a season-high 12 3FGs made against Shippensburg (Dec. 19) and 9 against Edinboro (Jan. 26).
>> Despite missing six games, Sr. G Courtney Alexander still leads IUP with 39 made 3FGs. 
>> With Alexander in the lineup, the Hawks average 6.6 3-pointers per game - 6.0 without out.
>> 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
>> Grace Mangapora joined the team on Jan. 4. She made her debut against Gannon on Jan. 16.
>> She's played in five games and is shooting 55.6 pct (5-9), including 3-6 from 3-point range.
>> 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, 1,000-point scorer, an Division I All-Ohio selection Canfield HS. 

ALEXANDER LOOKS TO CONTINUE BREAKOUT
>> Sr. G Courtney Alexander made her return to the lineup at Cal U on Jan. 31 after missing six straight games due to an injury she suffered against Shippensburg.
>> She is 1st on the team with 39 made 3FGs, 2nd with 13.2 PPG, and 3rd with a 35.8 3FG%.
>> 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 3.3 made 3FGs per game leads the PSAC and her 35.8 3FG% is 5th.
>> She scored in double-figures in seven straight game before her injuary, averaging 18.9 PPG.
>> Alexander has three 20-point games, including a career-high 31 points against Shippensburg.
>> Alexander is 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 3.00-1 (27-9) assist-turnover ratio this year.

MASCARO BRINGS CONSISTENCY
>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro leads the team in scoring (13.5 PPG), is 3rd in rebounding (4.8 RPG) and assists (34).  
>> She's led IUP in scoring seven times and has reached double-figures 14 times in 18 games.
>> Mascaro hit season-highs of 24 points, 10 made FGs and 4 made 3FGs against Gannon on Jan. 16.
>> Mascaro ranks 6th in the PSAC with a 52.1 FG%.
>> She's shot at least 50.0 pct. in a game 10 times in 18 games, including a season-best 8-10 performance against Cal U (Jan. 31).
>> Mascaro has scored in double-figures 35 times in 48 career games at IUP, including 11 20-point games.

FINK STANDING OUT
>> Jr. G Rajah Fink moved into the lineup on Jan. 16 with Alexander's injury and has started seven games.
>> She was named PSAC West co-Athlete of the Week on Monday, Jan. 31 after averaging 19.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 4.7 APG with a 56.4 FG% in three games. 
>> Fink tallied her first two career double-doubles against Edinboro (Jan. 26) and Mercyhurst (Jan. 29). 
>> She has two 20-point games this year, including a career-high 21 points against Mercyhurst. 
>> Fink had a career-high 11 rebounds against Edinboro.
>> Fink also had 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists at Pitt-Johnstown (Jan. 24).

CERRO STEPPING UP IN SECOND SEASON
>> So. G Maria Cerro is 7th on the team with 5.5 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.
>> 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 5th on the team with 6.9 PPG and has a team-best 7.0 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 11 boards against Livingstone.
>> She has three games of 11+ boards.
>> She's converted at least half her shots in 10 of her 18 games, including 7-8 against Virginia State.
>> Her 1.5 blocks per game is tied for 5th 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 18 games for the Crimson Hawks this season.
>> She's averaging 6.4 PPG and had a season-high 16 points in the win at Clarion on Jan. 22.
>> Adams is 2nd on the team with 4.9 RPG. 
>> She had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Ohio Dominican.
>> She's shooting 45.5 pct. (46-101) 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. 

KB PROVIDES SCORING OFF THE BENCH
>> Fr. G Kiera Baughman is 3rd on the team in scoring at 9.6 PPG in 18.5 minutes off the bench. 
>> She scored in double-figures 10 times this season, including eight times in the last 12 games. 
>> Baughman had a season-high 18 points against Edinboro (Jan. 26) with 5-9 FGs and 6-9 FTs.
>> She's 3rd on the team with 23 3-pointers and 2nd with a 38.3 3FG%. 
>> Her 39 assists are 2nd on the team.
>> Baughman came to IUP in 2020 but the team did not play due to COVID-19.