INDIANA, Pa. – IUP women's basketball closes out the 2022-23 regular season on the road, visiting California (Pa.) on Saturday, February 25 in a battle for the number two seed in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.
Despite a loss last time out, IUP (18-8, 13-8) clinched a spot in the PSAC Tournament for the 17th consecutive season. It marks the 25th all-time PSAC Tournament berth for IUP, which can secure a bye into the quarterfinal round with a win on Saturday against the Vulcans.
The Hawks could not overcome a slow start against Slippery Rock last Saturday, dropping a 70-57 decision before last Wednesday's bye. Meanwhile, California (17-10, 13-8) enters the final contest of the regular season on a roll with a pair of consecutive wins, including a 79-70 road triumph at Pitt-Johnstown.
Both sides enter with a 13-8 mark in conference play, part of a balanced PSAC Western division. The teams are battling for the number two seed, while the loser can slip down the conference standings to fourth.
- PSAC Composite Schedule: Here
- 2022-23 Stats: Here
- 2022-23 Standings: Here
TIPOFF NOTES
- IUP has its entire starting lineup in double figures, with Kiera Baughman and Maria Cerro tied for the team lead in scoring average at 14.5 points/game.
- IUP enters the weekend ranked sixth in the latest set of NCAA DII Atlantic Region rankings.
- IUP has a combined record of 58-16 in February and March over the last six seasons.
- Teirra Preston was named the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, averaging a double-double over the last two games for IUP.
- The Hawks are looking for a regular season sweep against Cal U, picking up a 71-65 victory in late January at the KCAC. IUP locked down on the defensive side of the ball before battling back for the victory.
- Cerro and Gina Adams fired in a game-high 19 points against the Vulcans in the first meeting. Alana Cardona added a double-double in the victory as IUP utilized a balanced effort in the conference victory.
- Regardless of the result, IUP appears in position for a home playoff game on either Monday or Wednesday next week based off tiebreakers.
- Preston is third in the league in rebounding average (9.2) and first in the conference in defensive rebounds/game (6.7).
- The Hawks are fifth in the league in scoring offense (71.0) while the scoring defense (62.7) has dipped to eighth in the league.
- IUP had four student-athletes named to the College Sports Communicators All-District team for their combined academic and athletic prowess: Adams, Baughman, Cerro and Preston.
SCOUTING CAL U
- While IUP is strong on the defensive glass, Cal U leads the league in offensive rebounding average (13.4)
- Ciara Lloyd ranks third in the nation in both assists (186) and assists/game (6.9).
- Rajah Fink enters the weekend as the league's leading rebounder, posting 12 double-doubles on the season for the Vulcans.
- Fink had 17 points and 21 rebounds against IUP in the opening meeting between the two squads in January. Halle Herrington poured in 15 points, while Lloyd was close to a double-double of her own with 11 points and eight assists.
