INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP women's basketball team continues its push towards the conference tournament, welcoming Pitt-Johnstown to the KCAC on Wednesday, February 14. Tipoff is set for 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 (16-5, 12-4 PSAC) vs. Pitt-Johnstown (14-9, 9-8 PSAC)
Wednesday, February 13, 2024 – 5:30 p.m. – KCAC – Indiana, Pa.
Game Coverage:
Live Video —
Live Stats —
Live Audio
Social Media Updates:
@IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)
TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES
- IUP jumped to six in the latest D2CSC Atlantic Region Poll release earlier this week following a 53-52 home victory against No. 2/3 Gannon last weekend.
- IUP held Gannon to its second-lowest scoring output of the season in the bounceback victory. The Hawks held Gannon scoreless over the final 2:59 of the contest, breaking a 52-52 tie with a foul shot from Mara Cerro at the 1:29 mark of the fourth.
- The Crimson Hawks enter the week second in the PSAC standings with a 12-4 mark in league play. Meanwhile, UPJ is just on the outside looking in of the PSAC Tournament picture at 9-8, only one game behind Seton Hill (13-10, 10-7).
- The Hawks snapped Gannon's 21-game winning streak that dated back to November. Nyshae' Weaver recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes in leading the Hawks, while Cerro posted 15 points of her own.
- IUP HC Craig Carey is set to coach his 50th career game for IUP on Wednesday night, going 34-15 (.694) in his second season at the helm.
- IUP ranks fourth in the league and 21st nationally in scoring defense (56.7). The Hawks continue to lead the league in steals (10.5) and rank fifth in field goal percentage defense (.367).
- IUP is 90-26 in PSAC games since the 2017-18 season.
- Rahmena Henderson had her streak of 20 consecutive games in double figures snapped against Gannon. Despite posting four points, her basket came in a timely situation as she chipped in five rebounds, one assist and a steal.
- Henderson is eighth in the PSAC ins coring average (15.8) and second in steals (2.5).
- IUP put together one of its top performances of the season in a 79-62 road victory at UPJ on January 17. The Hawks went 14-for-16 at the line and held a 40-28 margin on the glass.
- While UPJ had an off night shooting in the first meeting, the Mountain Cats are a senior-laden team that lead the PSAC in three-point field goal percentage (.356; 16th in DII).
- Cerro dropped in a season-high 18 points (6-8 FG) in the first meeting with UPJ, one of four scorers in double figures.
- The teams have traded wins since 2022, splitting the last six head-to-head meetings.
- IUP is 10-1 inside the KCAC this season, going 65-13 at home since the 2018-19 season.
PITT-JOHNSTOWN AT A GLANCE
- UPJ boasts eight seniors on its roster this year, including the entire starting lineup.
- The Mountain Cats fell behind early to Edinboro and could not dig out of a 20-point halftime deficit, falling 81-50. Kylah Franklin paced the squad with a team-high 15 points and Cassidy Crawford added 12.
- Crawford is sixth in the PSAC in scoring average (16.0) and eighth in rebounding average (7.5).
- Peyton Alazaus, Olivia Fasick and Hayden Taylor are all among the top 15 in the league in three-point field goals per game. As a team, UPJ shoots just over 42% from the floor (4th in the PSAC).
- Fasick is second in the league in assists/game (4.7), while Crawford is fifth in total blocks (24).
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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 153-27 (.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)
- 36 of their last 45 (36-9)
- 52 of their last 63 (52-11)
- 65 of their last 78 (65-13) since 2018-19
COACHING TIES FOR CRAIG CAREY
- Head coach Craig Carey (34-15 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 earlier in the year.
- IUP is now fourth in the league in scoring defense (56.7), good for 21st nationally. Additionally, IUP is forcing opponents into an average of 19.3 turnovers per game, good for third in the league. IUP is first in the PSAC in steals/game (10.5).
- The Crimson Hawks have held five 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 14.8 per contest.
- Maria Cerro is 8th in the league with 3.1 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 four contests this season.
A TEAM EFFORT IN THE REBOUNDING DEPARTMENT
- IUP is fourth in the PSAC and 37th nationally with a +5.5 rebounding margin.
- The Hawks are fifth in the PSAC in offensive rebounding (12.8) and fifth in the league in defensive rebounding (26.0).
- IUP has outrebounded its opponents in 14 of 21 games this season, including a double-figure edge in rebounds six 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 2.6 assists/game (55 assists). She boasts 917 career points on 38.9% 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 20 games for the Crimson Hawks. Her streak was snapped against Gannon on February 10.
- Henderson ranks sixth in the league in scoring (15.8), third in minutes (36.0), second in steals (2.5). She leads the team with 54 total steals.
- She's played all 40 minutes 10 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 +5.5, good for fourth in the conference and 37th nationally. The interior duo Grace Centrulla and Nyshae' Weaver both enter the week averaging at least 7.9 points/game.
- The Crimson Hawks are missing veteran forward Teirra Preston (injury), who left the game in the second half at Clarion on January 31. IUP has a tall task in replacing Preston's production, who's played in a team-high 109 games since 2018-19, boasting 647 points and 586 rebounds in her career.
- Weaver leads the PSAC in rebounds/game (9.0), making her first start at IUP at Mercyhurst in February. A key contributor off the bench averaging 22.8 minutes, Weaver boasts five double-doubles this season and 10+ rebounds in nine contests.
- Centrulla (Career: 95 GP, 1,051 Pts, 623 Rebs, 110 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 and is continuing to provide an all-around level of consistency.
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 104 career appearances and 77 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 117 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. 599 – Megan Smith (2014-18)
17. 586 – Teirra Preston (2018-Pres)
18. 579 – Adriene Douglas (1981-84)
19. 569 – Lisetta Boccella (1982-86)
20. 567 – Jacqui Martin (2000-04)
Career Three-Pointers Made
15. 113 – Amy Fairman (2011-15)
16. 111 – Kylie Miller (2005-09)
17. 108 – Kiera Baughman (2021-Pres)
18. 101 – Molly Carr (1995-99)
19. 86 – Lisa Bendick (1991-95)
20. 84 – Kiley Nadwodny (1992-96)
FOLLOW
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.
