INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP women's basketball team (18-6, 12-6 PSAC) head out onto the road for the final time this regular season when they battle Edinboro (11-9, 9-8 PSAC) Wednesday at McComb Fieldhouse. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. The Crimson Hawks have won five of their last six and are coming off a thrilling 71-68 double overtime win over Slippery Rock on Monday. Edinboro has dropped two straight, including a 66-54 loss to Gannon Monday. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> IUP clinched the program's 16th straight PSAC tournament appearance with Monday's win.
>> Sr. G Courtney Alexander scored a game-high 24 points, her highest point total since returning from injury. She shot 10-18 from the floor, and made 4 3-pointers, including 3 in the two overtime periods.
>> Jr. G Rajah Fink added 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals. In two games against The Rock this year she averaged 20.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG and 4.5 APG. 
>> IUP extended its win streak over Slippery Rock to 29 games dating back to the 2006-07 season.  
>> IUP improved to 3-1 in overtime games under HC Tom McConnell.
>> The Hawks enter the final two games of the regular season fighting for positioning in the PSAC West standings. Seton Hill leads with a 14-4 league record, Gannon is 2nd at 14-5, Cal U is 3rd at 12-4, and IUP is 4th at 14-4. 
>> The Hawks are looking to sweep the regular season series for the fourth straight year - and sixth time in the last seven - after defeating Edinboro 76-67 on Jan. 26. Fink had 20 points and 11 rebounds in that win. 
>> McConnell is 13-4 against Edinboro with wins in eight straight and 13 of the last 14 meetings.
>> McConnell and the Hawks are 6-1 against Edinboro on the road with six straight wins. The last loss at McComb Fieldhouse came in McConnell's first season of 2013-14 (79-60). 
>> The Hawks are 49-11 in PSAC West games since the 2017-18 season. That record includes a 25-4 mark at home and a 24-7 record away. IUP is 7-5 against divisional teams this year.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIGHTING SCOTS
>> Edinboro is 11-9 overall and 5th place in the PSAC West standings with a 9-8 conference record.
>> The Fighting Scots are 3-3 since the last meeting with IUP, with wins coming over Clarion (x2) and UPJ.
>> EU is 9-2 playing at home this season with an average scoring margin of +7.8.

IUP IN THE POLLS
>> The Crimson Hawks are not ranked in either major poll, falling out of the WBCA coaches' poll three weeks ago.
>> 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 65 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 65 polls. 
>> The Hawks spent 14 straight weeks in the top-5 during the 2018-19 season, including a 3-week run at No. 1. 

REGIONAL RANKINGS TO COME OUT WEDNESDAY
>> The season's first NCAA regional rankings are slated to be released Wednesday afternoon. 
>> These rankings determine the eight teams from Division II's eight regions to earn NCAA tournament berths.
>> IUP is looking to clinch its 9th NCAA tournament appearance since 2015. 

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 18 of the 24 games and average more than 8.0 minutes per game.
>> Six players average more than 5.8 points for the PSAC's 3rd-ranked scoring offense. Four average 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 21st in Division II with 55.9 points allowed this season.
>> They have held opponents to 60 or fewer points 15 times in 24 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 7.6 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 25th in Division II with +7.7rebound margin.
>> They've won the battle of the boards 19 times in their 24 games, including 13 times in 18 PSAC games.
>> They are 16-3 when winning the rebound battle.
>> IUP's 39.1 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 7.0 RPG and Sr. G Justina Mascaro averages 5.0 RPG.

ALWAYS LOOKING TO HELP
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC with 14.3 assists per game.
>> IUP has assisted on 54.9 pct of its 625 made buckets.
>> The Hawks have dished out double-digit assists in 22 of 24 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 27 or more assists. 
>> r. G Kiera Baughman has a team-best 58 assists. 

KNOCKING THEM DOWN
>> IUP is 1st in the PSAC and 22nd 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 17-3 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 31.4 3FG%.
>> They are 5th in the PSAC with 6.0 made 3-pointers per game. 
>> IUP's production has slipped of late, averaging 4.7 3s made with a 27.5 pct. (28-102) in the last six 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 48 made 3FGs. 
>> The trio of Alexander, Sr. G Justina Mascaro and Fr. G Kiera Baughman have combined for 114 of IUP's 143 made 3-pointers (79.7 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.

ALEXANDER HAVING BREAK OUT SENIOR SEASON
>> Sr. G Courtney Alexander has a team-best 48 3-point field goals and is 2nd on the team with 12.1 PPG. 
>> Her 2.67 made 3-pointers per game leads the PSAC and ranks 24th in Division II.
>> Alexander missed six games in January with an injury. 
>> She scored in double-figures in seven straight games before her injury on Dec. 19, averaging 18.9 PPG. 
>> Alexander is averaging just 8.4 PPG in 7 games since returning, but scored 24 points against SRU on Feb. 14.
>> Alexander has four 20-point games this year, including a career-high 31 points against Shippensburg.
>> 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. 
>> She is 9th in IUP history with 144 career 3-pointers made (Lindsay Stamp, 8th, 146). 

MASCARO BRINGS CONSISTENCY
>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro is averaging 13.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG and has 43 assists. 
>> In addition to leading the team in scoring, she ranks 3rd in the PSAC with a 53.9 FG%. 
>> She's led IUP in scoring 10 times and has reached double-figures 18 times in 24 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.
>> She's shot at least 50.0 pct. in a game 14 times in 24 games, including a season-best 8-10 performance against Cal U (Jan. 31).
>> Mascaro heads into Wednesday's game with 913 career points, including 742 scored (13.7 PPG) at IUP over the last two seasons (54 games).
>> Mascaro has scored in double-figures 39 times in 54 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 is 3rd on the team with 10.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 48 assists.
>> Since moving into the starting lineup on Jan. 16 (13 starts), she has been the team's leading scorer (14.8 PPG) and 2nd leading rebounder (6.8 RPG).
>> 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 reached double-figures in scoring 11 times in her last 12 games.
>> Fink has three 20-point games this year, including 21 points against Mercyhurst (Jan. 29) and SRU (Feb. 14).
>> Fink had a career-high 11 rebounds against Edinboro.
>> 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 putting together one of the top freshman seasons in program history.
>> She has a team-best 58 assists and is 4th on the team in scoring at 10.1 PPG. 
>> Her 242 points is the most by an IUP freshman since Cathy Torchia's 369 (13.7 PPG) in 1989-90. 
>> She's started each of the last six games, averaging 11.5 PPG and 4.8 RPG with a 41.7 FG% (25-60). 
>> 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 14 times this season, including 12 times in the last 15 games (11.3 PPG).
>> She's 3rd on the team with 28 3-pointers and 2nd with a 35.4 3FG%. 

D'ANNA PROVIDES EXPERIENCE IN THE POST
>> Sr. F Maura D'Anna is 5th on the team with 6.6 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 four games of 11+ boards.
>> She's converted at least half her shots in 13 of her 24 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 24 in her first year. 
>> She's averaging 5.8 PPG and had a season-high 16 points in the win at Clarion on Jan. 22.
>> Adams is 4th on the team with 4.6 RPG. 
>> She had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Ohio Dominican.
>> She's shooting 46.6 pct. (55-118) from the field and has converted at least half her shots in 11 games.

 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.