INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP women's basketball team opens its 2024-25 season with the IUP Opening Weekend Tournament featuring Bloomsburg, Virginia State, and Salem. IUP begins the weekend with a game against Salem on November 9 followed by a game against Virginia State on November 10, both tip offs are set for 2:00 p.m.
 
The opening weekend tournament will also include a game against Bloomsburg and Virginia State on November 9. On Sunday, November 10, the other game will be against Bloomsburg and Salem, both tip offs set for 12:00 p.m.
 
GAMEDAY CENTRAL  
IUP (0-0) vs. Salem (0-0)   
Saturday, November 9 – 2:00 p.m. -- KCAC –Indiana, Pa. – 2024 IUP Opening Weekend
Game Coverage: Live Video (PSAC Digital Network) – Live Stats 
Social Media Updates: @IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)
 
IUP (0-0) vs. Virginia State (0-0)
Sunday, November 10 – 2:00 p.m. -- KCAC –Indiana, Pa. – 2024 IUP Opening Weekend
Game Coverage: Live Video (PSAC Digital Network) – Live Stats 
Social Media Updates: @IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)
 
IUP NEWS AND NOTES  

• Head coach Craig Carey is set for his third season at IUP. Carey was hired just before the 2022-23 season but had an opportunity to have a full offseason and recruiting cycle under his belt ahead of 2023-24.  
• IUP finished second in the PSAC West last season in scoring margin (+11.8), also ranking fourth in the league in scoring offense (69.0).
• IUP has won its last five regular season openers with the last setback coming in the 2016-17 season. The Hawks have not lost a home opener at the KCAC since the building opened.
• Coach Carey welcomes back four returners and eight newcomers onto his squad.
• The six transfers are Shamia Strayhorn (Wheeling), Marin Miller (Millersville), Kamiya Dambreville (Monroe), Ellie Wilkerson (Georgetown), Chimera Iloanya (Portland), and Naomi Zulueta from Delaware.
• The two freshman who joined the team are Lily Jordan and Madison Zavasky.
• IUP welcomes a new assistant coach to their staff, Molly Bauer.

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 156-28 (.847) mark in home games since the venue opened, not losing more than four home games in a single season during that span. Last year they posted a 13-2 home record, with one of the loses coming from the PSAC quarterfinals.
• At the KCAC, the IUP women have won:
  • 13 of 15 games in 2023-24
  • 13 of 17 games in 2022-23 
  • 13 of 17 games in 2021-22
  • 16 of 18 games in 2019-2020
  • 68 of their last 82 since 2018-19

NONCONFERENCE EXCELLENCE FOR IUP  

• The Hawks have gone near undefeated in nonconference play each of the last two seasons, posting a combined 11-1 mark during that span since 2021-22. Dropping to Fayetteville State in the Atlantic Region Tournament.

SERIES HISTORY  

• IUP boasts a 7-1 all-time record in their eighth meeting with Salem, recently winning last years matchup in November at the KCAC, 55-54.
• IUP is fairly new with Virginia State as they have only squared off once, being in 2021 when the Hawks defeated the Trojans 51-42.

SALEM / VIRGINIA STATE AT A GLANCE

• Salem opened their 2024 season with an exhibition game against Southern Virginia and wont 77-72.
• The Tigers finished the 2023-24 season 7-24 overall, averaging 63.5 points per game and a -7.4 scoring margin.
• Virginia State finished the 2023-24 season 23-5 overall and were picked third in this year's CIAA preseason poll.

Follow 
For up-to-date information, visit IUPathletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUP_WBB and on Instagram @IUPWBB