INDIANA, Pa. – Two teams trending in the right direction are set to collide on Wednesday night as the IUP women's basketball program begins divisional play at the KCAC.
Tipoff for the January 10 matchup is set for 5:30 p.m.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (9-2, 5-1 PSAC) vs. Mercyhurst (11-2, 7-0 PSAC)
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 – 5:30 p.m. -- KCAC – Indiana, Pa.
Social Media Updates: @IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)
TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES
- IUP cracked the D2CSC Atlantic Region Rankings in the organization's first poll of 2024. The Hawks slot ninth in the latest release, while Mercyhurst is sixth.
- Wednesday features a matchup of two of the league's top three scoring defenses, each holding opponents to under 57 points/game. The Hawks have forced opponents into 20 or more turnovers in five straight outings.
- IUP and Mercyhurst are two of four current PSAC West programs with a winning streak of at least five games. The Lakers are fresh off their program-record 11th consecutive win.
- Last time out, IUP pulled away from Daemen with a strong effort on the defensive side of the ball. Limiting the Wildcats to under 20% from the floor in the fourth quarter, IUP built a double figure lead to run away with the victory.
- Teirra Preston was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week, her first weekly honor by the league this season. She averaged 8.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.3 steals across three wins for IUP since December 30.
- Rahmena Henderson continues to excel in her debut season with the Crimson Hawks, becoming arguably the best player in the conference through just 12 games. She poured in 21 points for IUP in the win against Daemen, playing all 40 minutes for the fourth time this season.
- Henderson is averaging 17.1 PPG (4th in the PSAC), 5.4 RPG and 2.8 SPG (2nd in the PSAC), all while shooting 45.2% from the floor and 38.6% from beyond the arc for IUP.
- The Crimson Hawks have received contributions from all nine of its healthy players of late, including last weekend against Daemen. With all nine seeing playing time in head coach Craig Carey's up-tempo system, eight players had at least one assist with eight players adding at least one steal against the Wildcats.
- Nyshae' Weaver continues her high level of production near the basket for the Crimson Hawks. She leads the league in rebounding (9.2) this season, logging 15.0 PPG over the last three contests.
- IUP has recorded an 82-23 (.781) record in PSAC games since the 2017-18 season.
- Grace Centrulla has a chance to reach a career milestone against her former team, entering the contest 15 points shy of 1,000 for her collegiate career. Centrulla played three seasons for the Lakers, seeing action in 73 games.
- IUP has won seven of the last eight meetings against Mercyhurst. IUP has won 22 of 26 meetings with Mercyhurst since 2011, including a 13-1 home record during that stretch.
MERCYHURST AT A GLANCE
- Mercyhurst secured a program-best 11th win in a row following a 61-53 victory against UPJ last weekend in Erie.
- Danielle Grim is the PSAC West Athlete of the Week, averaging 13.3 points per game to go along with 8.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists on the season.
- The Lakers are also a strong defensive end, ranking second in the league in points allowed (55.5) and second in field goal percentage defense (.355).
- The Lakers snapped a 13-game slide to IUP in Indiana with a 79-71 victory last season in January 2023 at the KCAC.
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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 149-26 (.849) 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)
- 32 of their last 40 (32-8)
- 48 of their last 58 (47-10)
- 61 of their last 73 (61-12) since 2018-19
COACHING TIES FOR CRAIG CAREY
- Head coach Craig Carey (27-12 record) was named the program's head coach on a full-time basis 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 five-game winning streak.
- IUP is third in the league in scoring defense (56.1), good for 18th nationally. Additionally, IUP is forcing opponents into an average of 20.91 turnovers per game, good for second in the league.
- IUP leads the PSAC in steals/game (11.6). Over the last five games, IUP is allowing an average of 54.6 points/game and no more than 63 points during that stretch.
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 3.2 assists/game (8th in the PSAC) and a team-high 33 assists. She boasts 803 career points on 40.1% 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 the first 11 games for the Crimson Hawks.
- Henderson ranks fourth in the league in scoring (17.1), fifth in minutes (35:52), second in steals (2.8). She leads the team in total steals (31).
- She's played all 40 minutes four this season and has found her touch from beyond the arc, converting at a 48.7% (19-3) 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 +7.0, good for first in the conference and 29th nationally. The interior trio of Teirra Preston, Grace Centrulla and Nyshae' Weaver all enter the week averaging at least nine points/game.
- Weaver (1st; 9.2) and Preston (7th; 8.4) are each among the top seven 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 101 games since 2018-19, boasting 576 points and 524 rebounds in her career. Preston has nine career double-doubles (two in 2023-24) and is second on the team in steals (31).
- Weaver has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in six of the last seven outings for IUP, providing a key option off the bench for the Hawks while averaging over 20 minutes per contest.
- Centrulla (Career: 85 GP, 985 Pts, 550 Rebs, 95 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 94 career appearances and 68 collegiate starts, Cerro is returned to the lineup after missing the Hawks' crossover matchups on December 1-2.
- Cerro ranked fifth in the PSAC in steals (61) as a junior in 2022-23, boasting 104 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 has stepped into the starting lineup of late 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.
