INDIANA, Pa. – IUP women's basketball gears up for a short turnaround, transitioning to postseason play and hosting Pitt-Johnstown for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament on Monday, February 27. Tipoff for the First Round playoff clash is set for 7:00 p.m. at the KCAC.
IUP (18-9) is making its 17th consecutive PSAC Tournament appearance and 25th overall berth in program history. The Crimson Hawks enter this year's tournament as the number four seed in the PSAC West, following an 88-84 overtime defeat to California (Pa.) last Saturday.
The Hawks and Vulcans went back and forth, trading ties and leads in the regular season finale. IUP led by four with about five minutes left in regulation but needed a game-tying basket with just seven seconds remaining, unable to close out the potential season sweep of the Vulcans.
Meanwhile, Pitt-Johnstown wrapped up the five seed in the western division following a victory on Saturday against Slippery Rock. Monday's matchup marks the third meeting between IUP and UPJ, which split the regular season series. The winner of Monday's opening round match-up advances to the PSAC Quarterfinals at Western Division top-seeded Gannon on Wednesday.
GAME INFORMATION – PITT-JOHNSTOWN
AROUND THE LEAGUE
- PSAC Composite Schedule: Here
- 2022-23 Stats: Here
- 2022-23 Standings: Here
TIPOFF NOTES
- Kiera Baughman poured in 27 points (6-11 3FG) to go along with six rebounds and three assists, leading IUP against Cal U on Saturday. Alana Cardona added another double-double for the Hawks, which had four scorers in double figures against the Vulcans.
- The Crimson Hawks are 32-18 (.640) in the PSAC tournament, including 2-1 in the first round. IUP last played a PSAC first round game in February 2022, falling to Edinboro at the KCAC.
- Baughman (14.9 PPG) and Maria Cerro (14.6 PPG) have each been among the leading contributors on both sides of the ball for IUP. The duo also paces the team in steals and assists.
- IUP has a combined record of 58-17 in February and March over the last six seasons.
- Teirra Preston has battled through foul trouble at times this season and still ranks third in the PSAC in rebounds/game (9.2) and first in the league in defensive rebounds/game (6.7). She did not play in the first meeting against UPJ in Johnstown.
- The Hawks are looking for the program's seventh PSAC Championship.
- IUP has gone 13-3 at home this season, but enter the conference tournament on a two-game slide, which included a Senior Day setback to Slippery Rock on February 18.
- Both IUP and UPJ got wins at home during the regular season. The Mountain Cats topped the Crimson Hawks, 62-42, back on January 14. IUP bounced back with a 70-66 triumph against UPJ on February 8.
- Cerro dropped in 21 points with six rebounds and five assists in the victory against UPJ. The Hawks were strong at the foul line down the stretch, holding a slim margin throughout the fiurth quarter.
- Gina Adams and Anna Rafferty chipped in 10 points each for IUP in the victory against UPJ in early February, needing a balanced approach in the victory.
- IUP recently 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 PITT-JOHNSTOWN
- Pitt-Johnstown wrapped-up the 202-23 regular season at 16-12 overall and 13-9 in the PSAC West following Saturday's 78-69 victory at Slippery Rock.
- Ashley Norling had game-high 22 points, eight rebounds and a career-high 11 assists and Peyton Alazaus added 15 points and a game-high 11 boards. The Mountain Cats also got 14 points apiece from Hayden Taylor and Makalyn Clapper.
- Monday marks the fourth consecutive PSAC Tournament appearance for the Mountain Cats.
- Norling (14.4 ppg.), Alazaus (14.3 ppg.), and Olivia Fasick (11.2 ppg.) are all averaging in double figures in scoring, while Norling's 7.9 rebounds per game pace Pitt-Johnstown. Fasick leads the team in assist at 5.2 assists per game.
- UPJ clamped down on the defensive end against IUP in the victory back in January.
