INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP women's basketball team (16-6, 10-6 PSAC) faces another Saturday-Monday weekend schedule as the Crimson Hawks travel to Erie to face Gannon (18-4, 13-4 PSAC) and return home to host Slippery Rock (10-11, 5-10 PSAC). The Hawks are coming off a heartbreaking 64-59 loss to rival Cal U Wednesday, snapping a 3-game win streak. Gannon defeated Mercyhurst 76-66 and The Rock enters the weekend with eight straight losses. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> IUP led 59-55 with 3 minutes left but the Vulcans scored the game's final 9 points to get the win Wednesday.
>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro scored a team-best 15 points on 6-8 shooting. In the two games against Cal U this year Mascaro averaged 17.5 PPG with a 77.8 FG% (14-18) and 77.8 3FG% (7-9). 
>> IUP is now 7-14 against Cal U under HC Tom McConnell - 3-13 in the regular season and 4-1 in the postseason.
>> The Crimson Hawks enter the final six games of the regular season fighting for positioning in the PSAC West standings. Cal U is 3rd with a 10-4 league record, IUP is 4th at 10-6 and Edinboro is 5th at 9-6. 
>> Four of IUP's final six games are at home, including three straight to end the season. 
>> One of those losses came to Gannon (60-52) on Jan. 16. Mascaro scored 24 points on 10-18 shooting. 
>> McConnell is 12-5 all-time against Gannon, including back-to-back losses. 
>> McConnell and the Hawks are 7-2 against the Lady Knights in Erie with four straight wins dating back to the 2016-17 season. IUP has a +16.5 scoring margin in those games with a score of 65.3 - 48.8. 
>> McConnell is 15-0 against Slippery Rock, including a 7-0 mark at the KCAC. IUP has outscored The Rock by an average of 22.9 points in those seven home games under McConnell.
>> The Hawks are 47-11 in PSAC West games since the 2017-18 season. That record includes a 24-4 mark at home and a 23-7 record away. IUP is 5-5 against divisional teams this year.
>> IUP is 102-16 (.864) at home under McConnell, including 54-8 (.871) since the start of the 2017-18 season. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LADY KNIGHTS
>> Gannon is 18-4 overall and leads the PSAC West standings with a 13-4 conference record.
>> The Lady Knights are receiving votes in both national polls and are No. 3 in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll. 
>> GU is 10-1 at home with its only loss at the Hammermill Center coming to Seton Hill (61-52) on Feb. 5. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROCK
>> Slippery Rock is 10-11 overall and currently 7th in the PSAC West standings with a 5-10 league record.
>> The Rock has lost eight straight entering the weekend and are at Seton Hill on Saturday.
>> SRU is 3-7 in road games with a -6.6 scoring margin.

IUP IN THE POLLS
>> The Crimson Hawks are not ranked in either major poll, falling out of the WBCA coaches' poll last 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 64 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 64 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 16 of the 22 games and average more than 8.0 minutes per game.
>> Six players average more than 6.0 points for the PSAC's 5th-ranked scoring offense. Three 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 3rd in the PSAC and rank 17th in Division II with 55.2 points allowed this season.
>> They have held opponents to 60 or fewer points 14 times in 22 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 18th in Division II in defensive field goal percentage (.348). 
>> 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 12th in the PSAC with 7.9 steals per game. They've had double-digit steals seven times, including a season-high 18 against Mount Aloysius. 

WINNING THE BATTLE OF THE BOARDS
>> The Hawks lead the PSAC and rank 26th in Division II with +7.8 rebound margin.
>> They've won the battle of the boards 17 times in their 22 games, including 11 times in 16 PSAC games.
>> IUP's 38.9 rebounds per game is 5th in the PSAC.
>> Seven players have led IUP in rebounding this year.
>> Sr. F Maura D'Anna has a team-high 6.9 RPG and Sr. G Justina Mascaro averages 4.8 RPG.

ALWAYS LOOKING TO HELP
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC with 14.4 assists per game.
>> IUP has assisted on 55.2 pct of its 574 made buckets.
>> The Hawks have dished out double-digit assists in 20 of 22 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 and Fr. G Kiera Baughman each have a team-best 53 assists. 

KNOCKING THEM DOWN
>> IUP is 1st in the PSAC and 23rd in Division II in field goal percentage at 45.0 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 15-3 this year when shooting better from the field than its opponent. 1-3 when shooting worse.
>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro leads the team with a 53.9 FG%.

FROM WAY DOWN TOWN
>> The Hawks are 4th in the PSAC with a 31.7 3FG%.
>> They are 5th in the PSAC with 6.0 made 3-pointers per game. 
>> IUP's production has slipped of late, averaging 4.3 3s made with a 27.4 pct. (17-62) in the last four games.
>> 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 44 made 3FGs. 
>> The trio of Alexander, Sr. G Justina Mascaro and Fr. G Kiera Baughman have combined for 104 of IUP's 132 made 3-pointers (78.8 pct.)
>> 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 7 games and is shooting 50.0 pct (5-10), including 3-7 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 HAVING BREAKING SENIOR SEASON
>> Sr. G Courtney Alexander made her return to the court 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 44 made 3FGs, 2nd with 11.8 PPG, and 3rd with a 32.4 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 2.8 made 3FGs per game leads the PSAC and her 32.4 3FG% is 7th.
>> She scored in double-figures in seven straight games before her injury on Dec. 19, averaging 18.9 PPG.
>> Alexander has three 20-point games, including a career-high 31 points against Shippensburg.
>> She is 10th in IUP history with 140 career 3-pointers made (Eryn Withers, 9th, 141). 
>> Alexander has a 2.50-1 (30-12) assist-turnover ratio this year.

MASCARO BRINGS CONSISTENCY
>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro leads the team in scoring (13.3 PPG), is 2nd in rebounding (4.8 RPG) and is 4th in assists (39).
>> She's led IUP in scoring nine times and has reached double-figures 17 times in 22 games.
>> Mascaro hit season-highs of 24 points, 10 made FGs and 4 made 3FGs against Gannon on Jan. 16.
>> She also scored 20 points at Cal U on Jan. 31.
>> Mascaro ranks 4th in the PSAC with a 53.9 FG%.
>> She's shot at least 50.0 pct. in a game 13 times in 22 games, including a season-best 8-10 performance against Cal U (Jan. 31).
>> Mascaro heads into Saturday's game with 890 career points, including 719 scored (13.8 PPG) at IUP over the last two seasons (52 games).
>> Mascaro has scored in double-figures 38 times in 52 career games at IUP, including 11 20-point games.
>> She was a first team All-PSAC West performer in 2019-20, her first season at IUP.

FINK STANDING OUT
>> Jr. G Rajah Fink moved into the lineup on Jan. 16 with Alexander's injury and has started 11 games.
>> She was named PSAC West co-Athlete of the Week on 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's averaging 15.3 PPG over her last 10 games, leading IUP in scoring five times.
>> Fink has two 20-point games this year, including a season-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).
>> She came on at the end of her sophomore season of 2019-20, averaging 10.9 PPG with six double-figure outings in the final 11 games. 

KB MOVES INTO THE STARTING LINEUP
>> Fr. G Kiera Baughman is 3rd on the team in scoring at 10.1 PPG while averaging just 21.4 minutes.
>> She's started each of the last four games, averaging 12.5 PPG and 6.8 RPG with a 50.0 FG% (18-36). 
>> Baughman posted back-to-back double-doubles: 15 points and 10 rebounds at Slippery Rock (Feb. 5); 16 points and 12 rebounds at Mercyhurst (Feb. 7).
>> She made her first start at Lock Haven (Feb. 2), hitting a career-high 19 points on 7-12 FGs and 5-5 FTs.
>> She's scored in double-figures 13 times this season, including 11 times in the last 14 games (11.5 PPG).
>> She's 3rd on the team with 25 3-pointers and 2nd with a 36.2 3FG%. 
>> Her 53 assists are tied for most on the team.

D'ANNA PROVIDES EXPERIENCE IN THE POST
>> Sr. F Maura D'Anna is 5th on the team with 6.7 PPG and has a team-best 6.9 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 four games of 11+ boards.
>> She's converted at least half her shots in 11 of her 22 games, including 7-8 against Virginia State.
>> Her 1.2 blocks per game is 9th in the PSAC, getting a career-high 4 blocks against Virginia State.

ADAMS IS ANOTHER VALUABLE FRESHMAN
>> Fr. F Gina Adams started the first 19 games and has played in all 22 in her first year. 
>> She's averaging 6.0 PPG and had a season-high 16 points in the win at Clarion on Jan. 22.
>> Adams is 3rd on the team with 4.5 RPG. 
>> She had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Ohio Dominican.
>> She's shooting 46.5 pct. (53-114) from the field and has converted at least half her shots in 10 games.