INDIANA, Pa. – Returning to the court for the first time in over two weeks, the IUP women's basketball team returns to the KCAC for consecutive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover contests, coming against Mansfield and Bloomsburg on December 18-19. Tipoff for both contests is set for 5:30 p.m.
Both games will be streamed live on the PSAC Digital Network with live audio coverage on U92.5 FM. The consecutive games are the last home contests for the Crimson Hawks in the 2023 calendar year.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (4-2, 1-1 PSAC) vs. Mansfield (4-3, 1-1 PSAC)
Monday, December 18 – 5:30 p.m. -- KCAC – Indiana, Pa.
Social Media Updates: @IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)
IUP vs. Bloomsburg
Saturday, December 19 – 5:30 p.m. -- KCAC – Indiana, Pa.
Social Media Updates: @IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)
TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES
- In what has been an unusual 2023 portion of the schedule for the IUP women, Monday's game will be the first action in 17 days. Additionally, IUP is back home for the first time since a 55-54 victory against Salem on November 13, over a month between home games.
- A shorthanded IUP side fell 65-54 to Lock Haven last time out on December 2, running out of steam down the stretch with just seven available players.
- The Hawks have played just two of their initial six games this season at home ahead of the crossover games on Monday and Tuesday.
- IUP placed three scorers in double figures last time out at Lock Haven, including a team-high 17 points (4-6 3FG) from Rahmena Henderson. Nyshae' Weaver logged her first double-double of the season in 24 minutes off the bench, racking up 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks.
- IUP is 18-1 all-time in its series with Mansfield, including 13 straight wins. That one loss came in Mansfield on December 17, 2003 (71-63). IUP held off Mansfield for an 82-72 victory last season.
- IUP has won each of the last seven meetings against Bloomsburg, including last season's 72-64 road victory.
- The Hawks lead the PSAC in field goal percentage (.483) and rank second in three-point field goal percentage (.346) over the initial six games of the season.
- Henderson has gotten off to a stellar start to her IUP tenure, leading the team and ranking fifth in the PSAC in scoring average (16.5) over 34.2 minutes per game.
- The Crimson Hawks have a dynamic forward group with a variety of skillsets and strengths in Teirra Preston, Grace Centrulla and Weaver.
- IUP added midyear transfer Macie Jarrett to the roster upon the conclusion of the fall 2023 semester, previously beginning her collegiate career at Edinboro for two seasons. Jarrett is expected to be in uniform for IUP this week as a former three-sport student-athlete at Maysville High School in Ohio.
MANSFIELD AT A GLANCE
- Mansfield enters the week on a two-game slide, most recently dropping a 73-69 contest at Roberts Wesleyan on December 13. Five Mounties scored in double figures during the contest, including 18 points from Jasmine Hilton.
- The Mountaineers rank eighth in the nation in defensive rebounding (30.9) and fourth in the PSAC in field goal percentage defense (.350).
- Hilton leads the team in scoring, rebounding and blocks in what should be an intriguing matchup inside on Monday.
BLOOMSBURG AT A GLANCE
- Katie Starr is a four-time PSAC East Athlete of the Week for Bloomsburg, leading the Huskies to a road win over No. 6/5 Jefferson in triple overtime on December 9. Starr led all players on the afternoon with 26 points, recording her seventh 20-point outing of the season and her fourth double-double with 14 rebounds to go with a career-high seven assists.
- Ella Kale ranked fourth in the nation in assists/game (6.4), while Starr enters second in the country in scoring (22.1). Starr leads the PSAC in scoring (22.1), total rebounds (79), rebounds/game (9.9) and field goal percentage (.627).
- Bloomsburg's win against Jefferson marked the program's first over a ranked opponent since December 2018.
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HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
- Since the KCAC opened in the 2011-12 season, IUP has had an outstanding home court advantage to go along with a nationally prominent basketball program.
- IUP boasts a 145-26 (.848) mark in home games since the venue opened, not losing more than four home games in a single season during that span.
- At the KCAC, the IUP women have won:
- 13 of 17 games in 2022-23 (13-4)
- 28 of their last 36 (28-8)
- 44 of their last 54 (44-10)
- 57 of their last 69 (57-12) since 2018-19
COACHING TIES FOR CRAIG CAREY
- Head coach Craig Carey was named the program's head coach on a full-time basis in 2023-24, serving in an interim role during his first season in 2022-23.
- Carey is the son of former longtime WVU head coach (and current UCF assistant) Mike Carey, a 34-year coaching veteran within the Big 12 Conference.
- Carey led IUP to an 18-10 record and a conference tournament berth despite arriving just before the season last year. The Hawks played six players for much of the season while using an up-tempo style for much of the year.
- Carey is a 2012 graduate of WVU, playing one season with eh Mountaineer men's program before assisting his father with the women's squad.
BAUGHMAN RETURNS AS ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREE
- Junior guard Kiera Baughman returns for her second season as a full-time starter with the Crimson Hawks, earning All-PSAC West First Team honors in 2022-23.
- Baughman has been a consistent presence along the IUP backcourt, particularly over the last two seasons, averaging over 34.5 minutes/game since the start of the 2022-23 season.
- Baughman has become the key facilitator for IUP in 2023-24, averaging 4.0 assist/game and a team-high 20 assists. She boasts 759 career points on 40.1% shooting, logging a season-high 22 points at Goldey-Beacom on November 18.
HENDERSON PROVING TO BE AN ALL-AROUND STANDOUT IN DEBUT SEASON FOR IUP
- Transfer guard Rahmena Henderson has quickly established herself as one of the top players in the region, joining the Hawks for her first season in 2023-24.
- Named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week on November 20, 2023, Henderson has posted double digits in each of the first six games for the Crimson Hawks.
- Henderson ranks fifth in the league in scoring (16.5), seventh in minutes (34.3), seventh in steals (2.1). She's tied for the team lead in overall steals (13).
- She's played all 40 minutes twice this season and has found her touch from beyond the arc, going a combined 7-for-12 (58.3%) from deep in crossover action at Shippensburg and Lock Haven.
IUP FORWARDS BRING VAST SKILLSET
- IUP has a talented group of forwards that each provide a unique skillset and role on the team, helping the Hawks to a rebounding margin of +5.8, good for fourth in the conference. The interior trio of Teirra Preston, Grace Centrulla and Nyshae' Weaver all enter Monday's crossover action averaging double figures.
- Weaver (4th; 8.3) and Preston (6th; 8.2) are each among the top six in the conference in rebounding average.
- Preston is the veteran of the team, returning as a graduate student in 2023-24. She has played in a team-high 96 games since 2018-19, boasting 514 points and 481 rebounds in her career. Preston has eight career double-doubles (one in 2023-24) and is tied for the team lead in steals (13).
- Weaver has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in consecutive outings for IUP, providing a key option off the bench for the Hawks while averaging over 20 minutes per contest.
- Centrulla (Career: 80 GP, 948 Pts, 522 Rebs, 90 Blocks) gives IUP the ability to stretch the floor with an athletic inside/outside game, transferring in after three seasons at Mercyhurst for her first season with the Hawks in 2023-24. Battling foul trouble of late, Centrulla has recorded double figures in four of six games this season for IUP.
CERRO PROVIDES TWO-WAY ABILITY AS AN EXPERIENCED GUARD
- Maria Cerro is the most experienced guard on the IUP roster, starting at least 18 games each of the past three seasons.
- Making 89 career appearances and 68 collegiate starts, Cerro is looking to return to the lineup after missing the Hawks' crossover matchups on December 1-2.
- Cerro ranked fifth in the PSAC in steals (61) as a junior in 2022-23, boasting 96 steals in her collegiate career. Averaging just over seven points/game for her career, Cerro has emerged as a dynamic two-way contributor for the Crimson Hawks.
JARRETT PROVIDES REINFORCEMENTS FOR IUP
- Much like Janeira Scott did last season, Macie Jarrett joins the IUP women's roster as a midyear addition, previously playing at Edinboro in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
- Jarrett made 52 career appearances at Edinboro, along with 15 starts. Averaging just under 19 minutes/game in her collegiate career, Jarrett registered a career high 15 points against Salem (W.Va.) in November 2022.
ALEXANDER LENDING EXPERIENCE ON THE BENCH
- Former IUP sharpshooter Courtney Alexander returned to the bench midway through the 2022-23 season, joining Carey's coaching staff and returning to her alma mater as an assistant coach.
- Alexander made 100 career appearances as a student-athlete at IUP, spanning 2016-20 and 2021-22. She holds the program's single-game record for three-point baskets in a game, canning nine triples against Shippensburg in December 2021.
- Alexander scored 687 career points across her collegiate career, shooting 37.0% from beyond the arc. She was part of two PSAC championship squads, along with a regional title and NCAA DII Final Four appearance.
FOLLOW
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.
