GAME INFORMATION – CLARION
INDIANA, Pa. – Heading down the stretch run of the regular season, IUP women's basketball takes on Clarion at Tippin Gymnasium on Saturday, February 11. Tipoff is slated for 1:00 p.m.
IUP (16-7, 11-7) has won consecutive games and enter the weekend in third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West standings, just one game behind Edinboro for second. The Hawks made timely plays down the stretch, knocking off Pitt-Johnstown by a 70-66 count on Wednesday at the KCAC.
Maria Cerro posted her fourth 20-point scoring output of the season, rising to second on the team in scoring average (14.6) as a key shooting threat for the Hawks. IUP once again used a strong inside presence to secure the team's 16th victory of the campaign, outscoring UPJ 38-30 in the paint while holding a 43-32 edge on the glass.
Anna Rafferty logged 10 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench, spelling
Teirra Preston through foul trouble against the Mountain Cats.
Alana Cardona was strong defensively, adding nine points and five boards, while
Kiera Baughman posted 14 points in the midweek victory.
IUP, which ranked third in the conference in rebounding, has posted a positive rebounding margin in eight of the last 10 outings. Preston is third in the league in rebounding (9.2), while Cardona follows closely behind in 10th (8.0).
Clarion (3-19, 3-14) continues slumping heading into the final weeks of the regular season, dropping nine consecutive contests. Coming off a bye on Wednesday, the Golden Eagle women's basketball team built a second-half lead, but Seton Hill prevailed in a wild finish as the Griffins held off Clarion by a 72-71 score in Tippin Gymnasium.
The duo of Sierra Bermudez and Allyson Kirby poured in 19 points apiece for the Golden Eagles in the setback. Clarion is fifth in the league in blocks/game (3.5), while Bermudez is converting at over 40% from beyond the arc, good for third in the conference.
IUP continues to rely on the starting configuration of Baughman, Cerro, Cardona, Preston and
Gina Adams this season, all averaging 10.2 points/game or better. The Hawks used that balanced output on both ends of the floor in a 76-53 victory against Clarion at the KCAC on January 18.
Baughman fired in 20 points, combining with Cerro for six assists each in the victory. The Hawks are seeking their fifth consecutive regular season series sweep against Clarion, going back to the start of the 2017-18 season.
