INDIANA, Pa. – IUP women's basketball clamped down on the defensive end and battled back for a 71-65 victory against California (Pa.) on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action at the KCAC.
 
IUP (13-3, 8-3) doubled up Cal U (10-7, 6-5) in the fourth quarter, turning a four-point deficit into a nine-point lead with under 30 seconds remaining. The Hawks placed all five starters in double figures as Maria Cerro and Gina Adams logged a game-high 19 points each.
 
Adams came up clutch when it mattered at the foul line, adding four rebounds and two assists. Teirra Preston, who was called for her third foul in the second quarter, dropped in 10 points in the second half to provide a key spark in the low block. Adams and Alana Cardona each had double-doubles for the Hawks in the victory. 
 
Rajah Fink, an all-conference performer for IUP last season, paced the Vulcans with 17 points and a staggering 21 rebounds. The Vulcans went cold down the stretch, going around five minutes without a basket as IUP methodically battled back. Halle Herrington dropped in 15 points, while Ciara Lloyd nearly posted a double-double behind 11 points and a game-high eight assists.
 
The Hawks continually chipped away in the fourth, taking control with 3:39 remaining and not looking back. Cerro drove into the paint to lift IUP ahead at 60-59 and the Crimson Hawks eventually expanded their edge to nine at the foul line.
 
The first half was tightly contested with five ties and 11 lead changes, with neither side able to gain much separation. The Hawks shot 45.8% from the floor in the opening half, while Cal U mustered just 34.3% from the floor, holding the convincing edge in shot attempts.
 
Cal U jumped ahead to a 6-2 advantage in the first before IUP moved back in front with the next five points. Cardona closed out the first quarter scoring for IUP at 1:47 before Ciara Lloyd responded with a pullup shot, pushing the California advantage to 17-14 after one.
 
Cerro worked the score tied with triples on two occasions in the second, coming at 9:39 and 6:27. The Hawks stepped up the defensive intensity as Cal underwent a scoring drought for several minutes. Off a turnover, the Hawks converted with Baughman sticking a jumper for a 24-23 edge. Fink tallied five straight points for the Vulcans before Adams countered back with six in a row for IUP, capped by a carving layup through contact with 36 seconds left in the second.
 
Herrington capped the first half scoring with a layup for a 30-29 Cal U lead at the break. Cerro paced the Hawks with nine first half points, while Fink fired in 10 on 4-of-7 shooting in the opening 20 minutes.
 
The Vulcans led throughout the third quarter, but the Hawks remained within striking distance. A triple from Jordan Smith and stepback from Lloyd ballooned the Cal U lead to 10 points each time around two minutes into the third before IUP got back to within three on an Adam's triple at 2:54.
 
In the fourth, IUP was able to string together stops in building the lead, holding on down the stretch. Kiera Baughman dealt out six assists as the Hawks shared the ball well for the second consecutive outing. The Hawks shot 48% from the floor for the game, going 12-for-15 at the line in the second half.
 
Up Next
IUP is set for a quick turnaround, hitting the road at Edinboro on Monday, January 23 at 5:30 p.m.
 
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.

 

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