INDIANA, Pa. – IUP women's basketball rode its aggressive team defense for large stretches on Saturday, particularly in the fourth quarter while clamping down for a 73-56 win in the nonconference finale against Daemen at the KCAC.
IUP (9-2) has won five games in a row, posting an impressive victory against a surging Daemen (8-4) squad. The Hawks led for about 30 minutes of the game, keeping the Wildcats at bay in the second half with their strong defensive play despite some inconsistencies on the offensive end.
Overall, IUP limited Daemen to just 17.6% (3-17) from the floor in the fourth quarter and 21.4% (3-14) from beyond the arc in the contest. While the Hawks endured some shooting droughts from the field and the foul line at times, the balanced approach carried over to the fourth period.
IUP shot 44.4% from the floor for the game, charging out of the gate by going 8-for-13 from the field across the opening 10 minutes.
Rahmena Henderson racked up a game-high 21 points with six rebounds, while
Nyshae' Weaver chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds, just missing out on another double-double.
From there, IUP was balanced across the board in the scoring department and in other statistical categories.
Maria Cerro and
Elena Benito logged nine points apiece with
Teirra Preston and
Grace Centrulla adding seven each. The Crimson Hawks forced 21 Daemen turnovers and posted 15 steals throughout the lineup, attempting nine more field goal attempts with a 30-10 edge in bench points.
The Wildcats entered the game with a five-game winning streak of their own that included a 61-56 triumph against fifth-ranked Ferris State on December 30. Daemen, which shot 37.0% for the game and 26.7% in the second half, erased a double-digit deficit in the third to get back within one point before the Hawks took control over the final 10 minutes.
Benito had the best game of her brief collegiate career for IUP with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting, adding two assists in 20 minutes. She converted a key triple with 4:10 left in the game, lifting IUP ahead by double figures for good.
Meanwhile, Preston posted a game-high +27 rating, grabbing 11 boards, just three shy of matching a season high. IUP had eight of its nine players record at least one assist and one steal.
The hosts took a 39-32 lead in a well-played opening half that saw both teams shoot at least 50% from the floor. The Hawks used a 10-0 spurt to regain the advantage in the second quarter over a three-minute span.
The game saw eight ties and 13 lead changes, many coming in the first half with each side trading scores. Both sides opened the game efficiently on offense with strong ball movement, unable to separate during the first quarter. Cerro beat the first quarter buzzer with a jumper, knotting the score at 19.
The trio of Cerro, Weaver and Benito helped IUP to a 30-10 advantage in bench scoring.
In the second quarter, Centrulla converted a stickback to open the run that included several one-and-done possessions for the Wildcats. Another second-chance hoop, this time from Preston at the 3:05 mark pushed the Hawks to a 35-28 edge.
Kiera Baughman, who finished with eight points on the day, stepped into a feed from Henderson to round out the first half scoring at 39-32.
Henderson secured double-figures for her 11th straight game in an IUP uniform before halftime, while Benito contributed a meaningful 10 minutes in the opening half. Daemen chipped away throughout the third quarter, eventually trimming the IUP lead to one (50-49) after the second of two free throws from Alahna Paige.
Paige, who entered the game fifth in the nation in scoring average (20.6), fired in eight of her team-high 17 points from the foul line. The Wildcats used a 15-6 surge that spanned most of the third quarter to get back within one before Weaver converted late in the stanza to hand IUP a 52-49 edge going into the fourth.
The Hawks used a game-clinching 12-3 spurt in building a 64-52 lead with just 3:30 remaining in the contest. Gabby McDuffie converted a triple for Daemen at the 7:27 mark of the fourth, the only field goal for the visitors until a Claire Pikett jumper at the 3:13 mark. Both McDuffie and Pikett logged 13 points each for the Wildcats.
Layups from Henderson, who played all 40 minutes for the fourth time this season, extended the IUP lead to 17 points over the last 1:28. The Hawks have won all six home games during the 2023-24 season, going 32-8 in their last 40 games at the KCAC overall.
Up Next
IUP begins PSAC West play, closing out a three-game homestand on Wednesday, January 10 against Mercyhurst. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.
