INDIANA, Pa. – IUP women's basketball had a chance for the go-ahead basket with under 10 seconds remaining, falling just short in a 68-66 setback to Pitt-Johnstown in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) First Round on Monday.
IUP (18-10) resiliently whittled a five-point deficit to just one point with 35 seconds left.
Teirra Preston hustled for a key tie-up, providing IUP the ball on the alternating possession with 16 seconds remaining. On the ensuing offensive possession,
Kiera Baughman's potential game-winner was waived off after being whistled for a contentious offensive foul near the left block, sealing the victory for Pitt-Johnstown (17-12).
IUP attempted to extend the game by fouling, but could not get another quality look with under .5 seconds left. The game was back and forth throughout, with each team posting runs well into the second half and not able to muster a lead greater than six points.
Alana Cardona had a spirited effort in potentially her final outing as a Crimson Hawk, pouring in a game-high 22 points (9-14 FG) with 12 rebounds for a double-double.
Maria Cerro posted 16 points with six rebounds and three assists, while
Kiera Baughman and
Gina Adams chipped in 10 points each.
Peyton Alazaus logged 21 points for the Mountain Cats, which advance to the PSAC Quarterfinals against top-seeded Gannon on Wednesday evening. Ashley Norling posted 19 points and seven rebounds as Olivia Fasick notched 13 points for the visitors.
UPJ shot 40.4% for the game, compared to IUP's 50% shooting clip, but went 16-for-18 at the foul line and attempted eight more free throws than the Hawks on Monday night.
Despite a 25-15 scoring margin for the Hawks in the third, the Mountain Cats answered back with a 17-12 advantage over the final 10 minutes.
UPJ closed the opening half on a 13-3 run over the last 5:30, which put them in front heading into the intermission. The duo of Fasick (11) and Norling (10) were each in double digits for the Mountain Cats in the initial 20 minutes.
Neither side could stretch the lead beyond two possessions in the first stanza. Cardona finished underneath for an early 6-2 edge before the Mountain Cats countered with the next seven points. The Hawks took a narrow one-point edge into the second quarter before UPJ answered back with another spurt.
Another quick 7-0 run pushed the visitors ahead at 21-17 at the 7:46 mark. IUP responded with a 6-0 outburst of its own, which included a steal and score through contact for Cerro to push the advantage back in favor of the Crimson Hawks.
The third quarter had several momentum swings, turning on IUP's 15-4 surge that lifted the Hawks to a 51-45 lead. Cardona registered two and-one sequences in the surge before the Mountain Cats battled back to level the ballgame at 51. Cardona closed out the third with a triple for a 54-51 IUP lead.
UPJ eventually expanded its fourth quarter lead to five points before the Hawks clawed back over the final two minutes. A go-ahead feed from Preston to Cerro sliced the IUP deficit to one at 68-67, the slimmest margin over the chaotic final minutes.
IUP drops to 32-19 overall in the PSAC Tournament, now 1-1 all-time against UPJ in the postseason.
Elsewhere around the league, Kutztown, Millersville and Edinboro joined UPJ in advancing to the PSAC Quarterfinals with victories on Monday.
Up Next
IUP awaits a potential at-large bid to the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament. The DII Selection Show airs on Sunday, March 5.
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.
