INDIANA, Pa. - Seventh-seeded IUP women's basketball (21-8, 15-7 PSAC) opens its seventh straight NCAA tournament when they take on second-seeded and rival Cal U (24-5, 17-4 PSAC) Friday afternoon at the Waco Center in Glenville, W.Va. The Division II Atlantic Region Championship first round game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The game is the second of the weekend tournament with the winner advancing to Saturday evening's regional semifinal. 

TIPOFF NOTES
>> IUP is making its 15th NCAA tournament appearance, including its seventh straight under HC Tom McConnell. 
>> The seven straight appearances in the NCAA tournament is a program record. 
>> IUP entered the 2020 NCAA tournament as the regional No. 1 seed and host before its cancellation when the COVID-19 pandemic began. The Hawks did not compete last season.
>> McConnell has led the Crimson Hawks to a 9-5 record in the tournament, including eight combined wins and back-to-back Atlantic Region titles and trips to the national semifinals in 2018 and 2019.
>> This is IUP's third all-time trip to Glenville State to compete in a regional championship. The Hawks defeated Cal U in the 2019 regional final and lost to the host Pioneers in the 2007 title game, going a combined 5-1.
>> The Hawks are 8-5 in NCAA tournament openers, including 3-2 under McConnell.
>> The Hawks posted their seventh straight 20-win season under McConnell. The program has 14 20-win campaigns in its history with no other coach posting more than three. 
>> McConnell is 7-14 against Cal U, but has defeated the Vulcans in each of the last four postseasons.
>> Cal U swept the regular season series with a +10.5 scoring margin. Sr. G Justina Mascaro averaged 17.5 PPG and 4.5 RPG in the two games, making 14-18 FGs and 7-9 3FGs. 
>> The Hawks are 54-12 in February and March over the last five seasons, including 26-5 at home and 28-7 away from Indiana. IUP won PSAC titles on the road in 2017 and 2019 and back-to-back regional titles in VA and WV. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE VULCANS
>> Cal U is 24-5 overall and won the PSAC West with a 17-4 conference record.
>> The Vulcans were the PSAC tournament runners-up, falling to Gannon 59-47 in the title game.
>> Cal U is making its 18th NCAA tournament appearance in the last 21 years and is 33-15 all-time in the tourney.

IUP MAKING 7TH STRAIGHT NCAA APPEARANCE
>> This is the seventh straight NCAA tournament under HC Tom McConnell, a program record. 
>> 11 of IUP's 15 all-time NCAA tournament trips have come in the last 15 seasons. 
>> IUP is 16-13 all-time in NCAA tournament games with three regional titles (1999, 2018, 2019). 
>> The Hawks advanced to back-to-back national semifinal games in 2018 and 2019. 

RIVALS MEET AGAIN IN THE POSTSEASON
>> This is the sixth straight year these teams have met in the postseason, with IUP winning the previous four. 
>> The Hawks defeated Cal U 68-65 in the 2020 PSAC quarterfinals; won 68-60 in the 2019 regional title game; won 90-65 in the first round of the NCAAs in 2018; and won 84-79 in the 2017 PSAC title game in Shippensburg.

IUP IN THE POLLS
>> The Crimson Hawks enter the postseason not ranked in either poll for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
>> 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 68 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 68 polls. 

EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES
>> 10 players on the roster have played in 23 of the 29 games while all 15 have played multiple contests.
>> Three Hawks average double-figures while five averaging 6.3 PPG for for the PSAC's 2nd-ranked scoring offense. 
>> Seven players have led IUP 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 13tj in Division II with 55.4 points allowed this season.
>> They have held opponents to 60 or fewer points 18 times in 29 games, including four times under 40. 
>> Opponents are scoring just 48.8 points with a 33.0 FG% and a 29.6 3FG% against IUP over the last four games.
>> IUP gave up a season-low 35 points to Mount Aloysius on Nov. 17. The Hawks also allowed 37 points to UPJ, 38 to Livingstone, 40 to Millersville and 41 to Clarion.
>> The Hawks are 2nd in the PSAC and rank 17th in Division II in defensive field goal percentage (.348). 
>> IUP has held opponents under 40.0 pct. shooting 11 times in the last 14 games. 
>> Seven 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 11th in the PSAC with 7.8 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 16th in Division II with +8.1 rebound margin.
>> They've won the battle of the boards 23 times in their 29 games, including 16 times in 22 PSAC games.
>> They are 19-4 when winning the rebound battle.
>> IUP's 39.1 rebounds per game is 4th in the PSAC.
>> Seven players have led IUP in rebounding this year.

ALWAYS LOOKING TO HELP
>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC with 14.8 assists per game.
>> IUP has assisted on 56.8 pct of its 754 made buckets.
>> The Hawks have dished out double-digit assists in 27 of 29 games this year, including five games of 20+.
>> They tallied a season-high 25 assists against Mount Aloysius and 23 against Clarion.
>> 10 players have double-digit assists, including five with 54 or more helpers.

KNOCKING THEM DOWN
>> IUP is 1st in the PSAC and 20th in Division II in field goal percentage at 44.9 pct. 
>> The Hawks have knocked down half their shots in a game five times, including a season-best 54.7 pct. (35-64) against Clarion.
>> IUP is 20-4 this year when shooting better from the field than its opponent. 1-4 when shooting worse.
>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro leads the team with a 54.9 FG%.

FROM WAY DOWN TOWN
>> The Hawks are 2nd in the PSAC with a 32.4 3FG%.
>> IUP's 6.3 made 3FGs per game is 5th in the PSAC.
>> IUP is averaging 9.3 made 3FGs per game in its last three outings, including 12 against Clarion, and 8 against UPJ and Edinboro. 
>> IUP also made 12 3FGs against Shippensburg. 
>> Despite missing six games, Sr. G Courtney Alexander still leads IUP with 63 made 3FGs. 
>> The Hawks are one of two teams in the PSAC (Shepherd) that have two players with 50+ 3-pointers. Sr. G Justina Mascaro has 50 to go with Alexander's 63.
>> The trio of Alexander, Mascaro and Fr. G Kiera Baughman have combined for 144 of IUP's 182 made 3-pointers (79.1 pct.).

ALEXANDER HAVING BREAK OUT SENIOR SEASON
>> Sr. G Courtney Alexander has a team-best 63 3-point field goals and is 2nd on the team with 12.1 PPG. 
>> Her 2.7 made 3-pointers per game leads the PSAC and ranks 17thh 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 10.0 PPG in 12 games since returning from injury, including 14.2 in the last six.
>> Alexander has five 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 7th in IUP history with 159 career 3-pointers made (Carolyn Appleby, 6th, 168). 

MASCARO IS A 1ST TEAM ALL-PSAC PICK
>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro is averaging 13.5 PPG and 5.0 RPG with 54 assists and 32 steals.
>> She was named first team All-PSAC West for the second straight season. 
>> In addition to leading the team in scoring, she ranks 2nd in the PSAC with a 54.9 FG%. 
>> She's led IUP in scoring 12 times and has reached double-figures 22 times in 29 games.
>> Mascaro has three 20-point outings, including a season-high 24 points, 10 made FGs and 4 made 3FGs against Gannon on Jan. 16.
>> She's shot at least 50.0 pct. in a game 18 times in 29 games, including a season-best 8-10 performance against Cal U (Jan. 31).
>> Mascaro heads into the NCAA tournament with 990 career points, including 819 scored (13.9 PPG) at IUP over the last two seasons (59 games).
>> Mascaro has scored in double-figures 43 times in 59 career games at IUP, including 12 20-point games.

FINK GETS 2ND TEAM ALL-PSAC HONORS
>> Jr. G Rajah Fink ranks 3rd on the team with 10.7 PPG and 65 assists, and third with 4.6 RPG.
>> She earned her first career All-PSAC West honor, landing on the second team.
>> Since moving into the starting lineup on Jan. 16 (18 starts), she has been the team's leading scorer (14.2 PPG) and 2nd leading rebounder (5.8 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 14 times in her last 17 games.
>> Fink has four 20-point games this year, including 21 points against Mercyhurst, Slippery Rock, and UPJ.
>> 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. 

D'ANNA PROVIDES EXPERIENCE IN THE POST
>> Sr. F Maura D'Anna is 5th on the team with 6.3 PPG and has a team-best 7.5 RPG. 
>> She's averaging 11.0 RPG over her last four outings and has five double-digit games in the last nine.
>> She has eight games of 10+ boards on the year.
>> 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's converted at least half her shots in 15 of her 29 games, including 7-8 against Virginia State.
>> D'Anna leads IUP in both blocks (34) and steals (34).
>> She is 6th in IUP history with 117 career blocks (Sherri Leysock, 5th, 130)
>> Her 1.2 blocks per game is 10th in the PSAC, getting a career-high 4 blocks against Virginia State.

KB IS A TOP FRESHMAN
>> Fr. G Kiera Baughman is putting together one of the top freshman seasons in program history.
>> She has a team-best 72 assists and is 4th on the team in scoring at 9.6 PPG. 
>> Her 278 points is the most by an IUP freshman since Cathy Torchia's 369 (13.7 PPG) in 1989-90. 
>> 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 averaging 10.4 PPG in 10 starts and 9.1 PPG in 19 games off the bench.
>> 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's scored in double-figures 15 times this season, including 13 times in the last 20 games.
>> She's 3rd on the team with 31 3-pointers and a 34.1 3FG%. 

ADAMS IS ANOTHER VALUABLE FRESHMAN
>> Fr. F Gina Adams started the first 19 games and has played in all 29 in her first year. 
>> She's averaging 5.4 PPG and had a season-high 16 points in the win at Clarion on Jan. 22.
>> Adams is 4th on the team with 4.3 RPG. 
>> She had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Ohio Dominican.
>> She's shooting 44.6 pct. (62-139) from the field and has converted at least half her shots in 13 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 8 games and is shooting 54.5 pct (6-11), including 4-8 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.