INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP women's basketball team (14-5, 8-5 PSAC) continues its road swing with another two-games-over-three-days stretch. The Crimson Hawks will play at Slippery Rock (10-8, 5-7 PSAC) Saturday at 1 p.m. and Mercyhurst (7-12, 5-8 PSAC) Monday at 5:30 p.m. IUP is coming off a 65-55 win at Lock Haven Wednesday while Slippery Rock lost to Clarion 66-61 and Mercyhurst defeated then-division-leading Seton Hill 89-60. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> In her first IUP start, Fr. G Kiera Baughman put up a career-high 19 points to lead three Hawks in double-figures in their 65-55 win at Lock Haven. She went 7-12 FGs and 5-5 FTs with 5 assists in 35 minutes.
>> Baughman is averaging 14.3 PPG with a 52.6 FG% and 12 assists over the last four games. 
>> IUP had a season-low 10 turnovers while forcing Lock Haven into 16. 
>> This weekend begins a stretch of nine games over 22 days to wrap up the regular season. 
>> Three of the next four games, and four of the final nine, are on the road. 
>> The Hawks are 5-3 away from home this year with an average scoring margin of +3.4. IUP has outshot opponents on the road 44.1 pct. to 40.4 pct. and is allowing less than 60 points per game.
>> IUP HC Tom McConnell is 14-0 against Slippery Rock, including a 7-0 mark at Morrow Field House. IUP has outscored The Rock by an average of 26.0 points in those seven road games under McConnell.
>> McConnell is 13-3 against Mercyhurst, including a 4-3 mark in Erie. IUP has won the last two road games in the series - 73-59 in in Feb. 2020 and 74-57 in Jan. 2019.
>> IUP defeated the Lakers 77-58 in the first matchup on Jan. 29 at the KCAC. Jr. G Rajah Fink had 21 points and 10 rebounds while Fr. G Kiera Baughman had 16 points in 31 minutes off the bench.
>> IUP is seeking its third straight, and fifth overall, regular season sweep of Mercyhurst under McConnell.
>> IUP was originally set to play at Mercyhurst on Jan. 12 before going on a pause due to COVID protocols. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ROCK
>> Slippery Rock is 10-8 overall and 7th in the PSAC West standings with a 5-7 conference record.
>> SRU has lost 5 straight games after starting January with wins over Fairmont State, UPJ, and Clarion.
>> The Rock is 6-2 at home but own just a +0.9 scoring margin at Morrow. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LAKERS
>> Mercyhurst is 7-12 overall and 8th in the PSAC West standings with a 5-8 conference record.
>> The Lakers 29-point win over Seton Hill ended a 5-game losing streak.
>> They are 5-3 at home with a +6.3 scoring 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 13 of the 19 games and average more than 8.0 minutes per game.
>> Six players average more than 6.3 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 54.8 points allowed this season.
>> They have held opponents to 60 or fewer points 12 times in 19 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 20th 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 6th in the PSAC with 8.6 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 +8.1 rebound margin.
>> They've won the battle of the boards 14 times in their 19 games, including eight times in 13 PSAC games.
>> IUP's 38.7 rebounds per game is 8th in the PSAC.
>> Six players have led IUP in rebounding this year.
>> Sr. F Maura D'Anna has a team-high 6.9 RPG and Fr. F Gina Adams averages 4.8 RPG.

ALWAYS LOOKING TO HELP
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC with 15.2 assists per game.
>> IUP has assisted on 57.8 pct of its 495 made buckets.
>> The Hawks have dished out double-digit assists in 18 of 19 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 19 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 13-2 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 53.3 FG%.

FROM WAY DOWN TOWN
>> The Hawks are 3rd in the PSAC with a 32.1 3FG%.
>> They are 4th in the PSAC with 6.3 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. 
>> The trio of Alexander, Sr. G Justina Mascaro and Fr. G Kiera Baughman have combined for 93 of IUP's 119 made 3-pointers (78.2 pct.)
>> With Alexander in the lineup, the Hawks average 6.4 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 6 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 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 12.3 PPG, and 3rd with a 33.9 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 3.0 made 3FGs per game leads the PSAC and her 33.9 3FG% is 6th.
>> 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 41.9 pct. (26-62) 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 (13.6 PPG), is tied for 2nd in rebounding (4.8 RPG) and is 4th in assists (34).
>> She's led IUP in scoring seven times and has reached double-figures 15 times in 19 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.
>> In her last two games she's averaging 18.0 PPG with a 78.9 FG% and 6-6 3FGs. 
>> Mascaro ranks 4th in the PSAC with a 53.3 FG%.
>> She's shot at least 50.0 pct. in a game 11 times in 19 games, including a season-best 8-10 performance against Cal U (Jan. 31).
>> Mascaro has scored in double-figures 36 times in 49 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 eight 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 15.4 PPG over her last seven games, leading IUP in scoring four 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 19.4 minutes
>> 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 11 times this season, including nine times in the last 12 games. 
>> She's 3rd on the team with 23 3-pointers and 2nd with a 31.1 3FG%. 
>> Her 44 assists are 2nd on the team.
>> Baughman came to IUP in 2020 but the team did not play due to COVID-19. 

D'ANNA PROVIDES EXPERIENCE IN THE POST
>> Sr. F Maura D'Anna is 5th on the team with 6.8 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 three games of 11+ boards.
>> She's converted at least half her shots in 10 of her 19 games, including 7-8 against Virginia State.
>> Her 1.4 blocks per game is tied for 6th 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 19 games for the Crimson Hawks this season.
>> She's averaging 6.3 PPG and had a season-high 16 points in the win at Clarion on Jan. 22.
>> Adams is 2nd on the team with 4.8 RPG. 
>> She had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Ohio Dominican.
>> She's shooting 46.1 pct. (47-102) from the field and has coverted at least half her shots in nine games.
>> Adams came to IUP in 2020 but the team did not play due to COVID-19.