M/W SWIMMING
February 14-17
The IUP men's and women's swimming teams head back to Carlisle this week for the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships. The Keystone Aquatics center will once again serve as host for the four-day event, running February 14-17, 2024.
Luke Mikesell is a four-time PSAC champion and boasts nine All-PSAC honors (top-three finish) is his accomplished career. Mikesell is the top seed in the 200 free and is also slated to compete in the 500 free (No. 3 seed), 1000 free and 100 free during the championships. Kasha Stokes enters as the top overall seed in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes, taking place Friday and Saturday this week. Stokes was named the PSAC Women's Swimming Athlete of the Week on November 21.
Athanasios Diamantidis is seeded first in the 100 and 200 breast this season. He earned All-American honors in the 200 breast last season at the NCAA DII Championships.
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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (16-5, 12-4 PSAC)
Wednesday, February 14
Saturday, February 17
Following a standout defensive effort, IUP is looking to build momentum after a 53-52 victory of No. 2/3 Gannon last weekend at the KCAC. The Hawks will spend Valentines Day at the KCAC, welcoming nearby UPJ on Wednesday night before heading north to Edinboro on Saturday afternoon.
IUP maintained its second-place positioning in the PSAC West standings, while both UPJ and Edinboro are firmly in the playoff picture with three weeks remaining in the regular season.
Maria Cerro scored the final point of the game for either side with a foul shot at the 1:29 mark of the second half, pushing IUP to the 53-52 margin against the Golden Knights.
Nyshae' Weaver recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes. Weaver leads the PSAC in rebounding at a clip of 9.0 boards/game.
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MEN'S BASKETBALL (14-8, 11-5 PSAC)
Wednesday, February 14
Saturday, February 17
After a pair of comeback attempts were thwarted last week late in the game, the IUP men's basketball team looks to refocus with a home matchup against Pitt-Johnstown and a weekend road trip to Edinboro. The Crimson Hawks nearly erased a 20-point deficit in the second half, only to fall 91-89 last weekend to No. 8/4 Gannon.
Despite the loss, IUP secured its 16th straight berth in the PSAC Tournament since 2008 and 38th overall. IUP enters the week third in the league standings, coming up a play or two short over the last few losses.
Ethan Porterfield poured in a career-high 31 points against Gannon last time out, moving to third on the school's all-time scoring list (1,736). Porterfield and
Garvin Clarke accounted for 57 points on the night, posting 42 combined points after halftime to fuel the comeback effort.
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SOFTBALL
Thursday, February 15
vs. Wheeling (DH) -- 1:00 p.m. -- 3:00 p.m. -- Podbielski Field – Indiana, Pa. --
Live Video (subject to change; weather) -- Live Stats (Game One) -- Live Stats (Game Two)
IUP softball opens the 2024 season at home on Thursday afternoon, welcoming Wheeling for a doubleheader at Podbielski Field. Head coach
Shawna Bellaud and the Crimson Hawks welcome back the bulk of their starting lineup from last season, paced by reigning PSAC West Freshman of the Year
Delaney Patella and junior OF
Paige Truax.
IUP opens the season with consecutive home doubleheaders, coming against MEC opponents Wheeling and West Liberty (Feb. 21) before heading to the Glenville State tournament on Feb. 24-25.
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BASEBALL
February 9-10
at UNC Pembroke – Friday (DH): Noon, 3:30 p.m. -- Saturday: Noon – Live Stats – Live Video (Saturday)
IUP opens the curtain on the 2024 campaign this weekend with a three-game series at UNC Pembroke that features a doubleheader on Saturday before a single game on Sunday. The Crimson Hawks hpe to continue the upward trend of the program under the direction of former major leaguer
Steve Kline.
Picked third in the PSAC West preseason coaches' poll, IUP welcomes back its fair share of returning talent. Headlining that returning group is fifth year
Harrison Pontoli, a preseason NCBWA honorable mention with a .324 batting average and 100 RBI.
Kline also bolstered the roster with several newcomers and transfers, including veteran infield/outfield transfer Blaise Zeiders (Lock Haven), utility player
Ethan Schimony (Akron) and
Mateo Cepullio (Akron).
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WOMEN'S TENNIS (2-1)
Saturday, February 17
vs. Ashland – 2:45 p.m. -- Greensburg Racquet Club – Greensburg, Pa.
IUP looks to continue the momentum from a successful weekend in Ohio that included a pair of 4-0 clinching victories against Ferris State and Walsh.
Veronica Sirci locked up the match for IUP in her second singles competition at the collegiate level, adding depth to an already loaded IUP squad.
Head coach Andy McGlashen picked up the first dual match victory at IUP, arrving in Indiana last fall. Meanwhile,
Dani Ramos picked up two wins for IUP against Walsh, joining
Ming Deewajee for a 6-1 victory in doubles action before locking up a 6-2, 6-3 triumph in singles play.
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M/W INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
February 18-19
With heat sheets and start lists pending until later in the week, the IUP indoor track & field teams gear up for the 2024 PSAC Indoor Championships on February 18-19 at Lehigh.
Among the highlights for IUP last weekend were Kendall Branan's victory in the 600m (1:22.03), four PSAC qualifying marks and 10 top-20 individual finishes across the lineup at the SPIRE Collegiate Indoor Games. More information on qualifiers and links will be released by the league later this week.
Last season, IUP was ninth in the men's standings and 13th in the women's event.
