INDIANA, Pa. – IUP returns home on Saturday, January 20 for a 1:00 p.m. tipoff against Edinboro at the KCAC.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (11-3, 7-2 PSAC) vs. Edinboro (8-7, 6-4 PSAC)
Saturday, January 20, 2024 – 1:00 p.m. – KCAC – Indiana, Pa.
Social Media Updates: @IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)
TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES
- IUP put together a complete effort, leading by as many as 27 in the second half during a 79-62 road win at Pitt-Johnstown last time out. The Crimson Hawks were strong defensively against an outside shooting Mountain Cats squad and won the rebounding battle.
- IUP is a perfect 7-0 at home this season, including an impressive 61-41 triumph against Mercyhurst back on January 10.
- IUP used another balanced output in the win against Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday, placing four scorers in double figures and winning the rebounding battle 40-28. Maria Cerro and Teirra Preston dropped in 18 points apiece with Rahmena Henderson posting 13 points and Kiera Baughman adding 11.
- Grace Centrulla secured her 1,000th collegiate point with a first quarter basket against UPJ. Centrulla, who played three seasons at Mercyhurst prior to arriving at IUP, lifted the Crimson Hawks ahead for good with the bucket in the first quarter.
- Nyshae' Weaver leads the conference in rebounding (9.1), proving particularly effective on the offensive glass this season. Weaver logged nine rebounds and added four assists in 20 minutes against the Mountain Cats.
- As a team, IUP is second in the PSAC and 20th nationally in rebounding margin (+7.9)
- The IUP and Edinboro series has been back and forth since 2016-17. IUP won eight straight against the Fighting Scots before dropping three consecutive meetings from 2021-23. Last season, the teams split with each side winning on their home floor.
- Henderson is fifth in the league in scoring (16.5), second in the league in steals (2.6) and second in minutes (36:26).
- Cerro is fresh off her top scoring outing of the season against UPJ, firing in 11 of her 18 points in the third quarter alone. Cerro dropped in 21 points against UPJ in February 2023, part of a strong stretch of late against the Mountain Cats.
- Last season, Preston racked up a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds in a 71-52 victory against the Fighting Scots. This season, Preston is third in the PSAC in steals (2.4) and seventh in rebounding (8.1).
- IUP turned in another strong defensive performance against UPJ last time out, holding seven of its last eight opponents to 63 points or fewer.
EDINBORO AT A GLANCE
- Edinboro dropped a 79-71 contest to Mercyhurst last time out on Wednesday. The Scots used a late run to get back within striking distance before Mercyhurst closed out the contest.
- Morgan Gentile posted 23 points to pace the Scots with Haley Sims adding 19 points in 28 minutes.
- The Fighting Scots are a team that get to the line consistently, ranking second in the PSAC in free throw attempts (21.3) and second in free throws made per game (15.8).
- Edinboro also posts nearly five blocks per game (4.7) with multiple players showing the ability to block shots on the defensive end.
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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 150-26 (.852) 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)
- 33 of their last 41 (33-8)
- 49 of their last 59 (49-10)
- 62 of their last 74 (62-12) since 2018-19
COACHING TIES FOR CRAIG CAREY
- Head coach Craig Carey (28-13 record) was named the program's head coach full-time 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 the Mountaineer men's program before assisting his father with the women's squad.
IUP DEFENSE FORCING THE ISSUE
- With an aggressive style, the IUP defense has found a groove of late, playing a large role in the team's success this season that included a six-game winning streak.
- IUP is now third in the league in scoring defense (56.3), good for 19th nationally. Additionally, IUP is forcing opponents into an average of 19.3 turnovers per game, good for fourth in the league. IUP is second in the PSAC in steals/game (10.6).
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 30 minutes/game since the start of the 2022-23 season.
- Baughman has become the key facilitator for IUP in 2023-24, averaging 2.9 assists/game (12th in the PSAC) and a team-high 40 assists. She boasts 837 career points on 39.8% 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 her first 14 games for the Crimson Hawks.
- Henderson ranks fifth in the league in scoring (16.5), second in minutes (36:26), second in steals (2.6). She leads the team in total steals (37).
- She's played all 40 minutes six times this season and has found her touch from beyond the arc, converting at a 37.5% (21-56) clip from beyond during conference play.
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 +7.9, good for second in the conference and 20th nationally. The interior trio of Teirra Preston, Grace Centrulla and Nyshae' Weaver all enter the week averaging at least 8.6 points/game.
- Weaver (1st; 9.1) and Preston (7th; 8.1) are each among the top 10 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 1043 games since 2018-19, boasting 602 points and 546 rebounds in her career. Preston has nine career double-doubles (two in 2023-24) and is second on the team in steals (34).
- Weaver has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in six outings for IUP, providing a key option off the bench for the Hawks while averaging over 20 minutes per contest.
- Centrulla (Career: 88 GP, 1,006 Pts, 578 Rebs, 98 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. Centrulla handed out six assists with three steals in the win over ESU back on December 30.
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 97 career appearances and 70 collegiate starts, Cerro is returned to the lineup after missing the Hawks' crossover matchups on December 1-2. Working back into the starting lineup, Cerro posted a season-best 18 points (6-8 FG) at UPJ on January 17.
- Cerro ranked fifth in the PSAC in steals (61) as a junior in 2022-23, boasting 107 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. She scored her first points as a Crimson Hawks with a three from the right win against ESU on December 30.
- 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.
- Meanwhile, Scott stepped into the starting lineup for several games and helps anchor an aggressive defensive approach for the Hawks.
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 X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.
