INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP women's basketball program is back home for a pair of divisional matchups over three days, hosting Slippery Rock (January 27) and California (Pa.) (January 29) at the KCAC. Tipoff for Saturday's matchup is 1:00 p.m. before the Hawks face the Vulcans on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
 
Live coverage will be provided on the PSAC Digital Network, courtesy of IUP-TV Sports. Additionally, the game will be aired live on U92.5FM and u92radio.com with the Voice of the Hawks, Jack Benedict.
 
GAMEDAY CENTRAL  
IUP (12-4, 8-3 PSAC) vs. Slippery Rock (2-12, 2-9 PSAC)    
Saturday, January 27, 2024 – 1:00 p.m. – KCAC – Indiana, Pa.
Game Coverage: Live Video (IUP-TV Sports) — Live Stats — Live Audio
Social Media Updates: @IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)
 
IUP vs. California (Pa.) (13-4, 8-3 PSAC)
Monday, January 29, 2024 – 5:30 p.m. – KCAC – Indiana, Pa.
Game Coverage: Live Video (IUP-TV Sports) — Live Stats — Live Audio
Social Media Updates: @IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)
 
TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES  

• IUP is 49-11 in its last 60 home games, welcoming Slippery Rock and Cal U for a Saturday-Monday stretch at the KCAC.
• The Crimson Hawks are coming off a 75-66 road victory against a stout Seton Hill squad, keeping pace in third place among PSAC West teams.
• IUP went to the foul line 28 times in the second half, converting 21 of those attempts. Seton Hill went to the foul line just two times in the second half as IUP used some timely makes down the stretch in the victory.
• The Hawks placed four scorers in double figures in another well-rounded victory. Rahmena Henderson led the way with 18 points, 10 rebounds and five steals, also playing all 40 minutes for the seventh time this season.
• Nyshae' Weaver, ranked second in the conference in rebounding, posted her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds at Seton Hill. Kiera Baughman (8-8 FT) and Maria Cerro also posted double figures with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
• Cerro is expected to play in her 100th collegiate game on Saturday against Slippery Rock.
• The Hawks lead the PSAC with 10.8 steals/game and are second in the league in turnover margin (+3.4). IUP enters the weekend fourth in the PSAC in both scoring offense (71.5) and scoring defense (57.8) as a well-balanced team.
• IUP is 16th in NCAA DII with a rebounding margin of +7.6.
• IUP has won 22 of the last 24 meetings with Slippery Rock since 2011. However, SRU swept IUP last season, including a 70-57 victory at the KCAC in February 2023.
• Cal U has claimed four of the past five meetings with IUP since 2022. The Crimson Hawks snapped a three-game skid to the Vulcans with a 71-65 win last season at the KCAC in January 2023.
• Henderson has scored in double figures in all 16 games this season for the Crimson Hawks, entering at 16.3 points/game (7th in the PSAC). She's also second in the league and 38th nationally with 2.6 steals/game.
• Teirra Preston cracked the school's all-time rebounding list at number 20 earlier this season, With 561 career boards, Preston is seven rebounds shy of moving into 19th place in program history.

 
SLIPPERY ROCK AT A GLANCE

• Slippery Rock erased a double-digits deficit in a 620-60 home victory last time out against Clarion on January 24. Regan Atkins posted a career-high 23 points in the victory, shooting 8-of-16 (.500) from the floor.
• Head coach Ryen Micaletti is tasked with rebuilding the SRU women's program, named the 17th head coach in program history back in May 2023. In her first season at The Rock, Micaletti had a brief stint as an assistant at IUP under head coach Tom McConnell from 2013-14.
• Slippery Rock is the second-worst scoring offense in the league, averaging 52.8 points/game.

 
CAL U AT A GLANCE

• The Vulcans placed four in double figures and held on for an 89-86 victory against Pitt-Johnstown last time out at the Convocation Center. Dejah Terrell led the team with 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting while playing only 23 minutes due to foul trouble.
• Terell is an all-around threat for the Vulcans, averaging 13.5 points (19th in the PSAC), 8.5 rebounds (3rd in the PSAC) and 1.8 blocks (2nd in the PSAC).
• The Vulcans boast a well-balanced approach with six players averaging 8.4 points/game or higher. Nina Shaw ranks fourth in the league in assists (4.5) and sixth in steals (2.1).
• The Vulcans pace the PSAC in offensive rebounds/game (15.5) and turnovers forced/game (20.6).

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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 150-27 (.847) 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 42 (33-9)
  • 49 of their last 60 (49-11)
  • 62 of their last 75 (62-13) since 2018-19

 
COACHING TIES FOR CRAIG CAREY

• Head coach Craig Carey (30-14 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, playing a large role in the team's success this season that included a six-game winning streak.
• IUP is now fourth in the league in scoring defense (57.8), good for 33rd nationally. Additionally, IUP is forcing opponents into an average of 19.4 turnovers per game, good for fourth in the league. IUP is first in the PSAC in steals/game (10.8).
• The Crimson hawks have held four opponents to 50 points or less in 2023-24.

 
HOW MAY I ASSIST YOU?

• IUP is third in the conference in assists/game, handing out an average of 15.2 per contest. 
• Kiera Baughman is 10th in the league with 2.9 assists/game, while seven players have 20+ assists this season for the Hawks.
• As a team, IUP has dealt out 20 or more assists in three contests this season.

 
A TEAM EFFORT IN THE REBOUNDING DEPARTMENT

• IUP is third in the PSAC and 16th nationally with a +7.6 rebounding margin.
• The Hawks are fourth in the PSAC in offensive rebounding (13.5) and sixth in the league in defensive rebounding (26.1).
• IUP has outrebounded its opponents in 12 of 16 games this season, including a double-figure edge in rebounds five times.

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 (10th in the PSAC) and a team-high 47 assists. She boasts 858 career points on 39.4% 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 16 games for the Crimson Hawks.
• Henderson ranks seventh in the league in scoring (16.3), third in minutes (36.1), second in steals (2.6). She leads the team with 42 total steals.  
• She's played all 40 minutes seven times this season.

 
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 +7.6, good for third in the conference and 16th nationally. The interior trio of Teirra Preston, Grace Centrulla and Nyshae' Weaver all enter the week averaging at least 7.4 points/game.
• Weaver (2nd; 9.2) 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 106 games since 2018-19, boasting 621 points and 561 rebounds in her career. Preston has nine career double-doubles (two in 2023-24) and leads the team in steals (38).
• Weaver has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in seven outings for IUP, providing a key option off the bench for the Hawks while averaging over 20 minutes per contest.
• Centrulla (Career: 90 GP, 1,019 Pts, 591 Rebs, 103 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 99 career appearances and 72 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 110 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. 

 
RECORD BOOK WATCH
Career Rebounds
16. 559 – Megan Smith (2014-18)
17. 579 – Adriene Douglas (1981-84)
18. 569 – Lisetta Boccella (1982-86)
19. 567 – Jacqui Martin (2000-04)
20. 561 – Teirra Preston (2018-Pres)
 
Career Three-Pointers Made
15. 113 – Amy Fairman (2011-15)
16. 111 – Kylie Miller (2005-09)
17. 101 – Molly Carr (1995-99)
18. 97 – Kiera Baughman (2021-Pres)
19. 86 – Lisa Bendick (1991-95)
20. 84 – Kiley Nadwony (1992-96)
 
FOLLOW  
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB. 
 

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