INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP women's basketball team hosts their penultimate home game of the 2023-24 regular season on Wednesday, February 21 with a 5:30 p.m. matchup against Seton Hill.  
 
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 (18-5, 14-4 PSAC) vs. Seton Hill (13-11, 10-8)   
Wednesday, February 21, 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)
 
VETERANS AND MILITARY APPRECIATION GAME
All veterans and military personnel will receive one (1) complimentary ticket with proper ID at the First Commonwealth Bank Box Office. We thank you for your service. 
 
TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES  

• Winners of three straight, IUP looks to clinch a spot in the PSAC Women's Basketball Tournament with a win against Seton Hill on Wednesday.
• A tournament berth would be the 18th straight for the IUP women's program and 26th overall berth in program history. Additionally, it would mark the second consecutive in as many years for head coach Craig Carey.
• IUP moved to fifth in the latest D2CSC Atlantic Region Poll released this week. The first set of NCAA Atlantic Region Rankings, which determine the teams that make it into the NCAA Tournament, come out February 21 in the afternoon.
• Rahmena Henderson drove along the right block for a game-winning shot with just 0.1 seconds left, helping IUP hold on for a 55-53 triumph against Edinboro. The combined margin of victory in the two games between IUP and Edinboro was three points.
• The Fighting Scots had a tipin play toward the hoop go down, but the shot was eventually waved off with only 0.1 on the clock and not enough time for the Fighting Scots to convert.
• Nyshae' Weaver became the third IUP student-athlete this season to earn a weekly honor from the league, named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week on February 19. Weaver averaged a double-double in two divisional wins last week for the Crimson Hawks, stepping into the starting lineup. She posted 10.0 points, 15.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals while shooting 61.5% from the field.
• Weaver leads the conference at 9.6 rebounds/game and 211 total rebounds. She is second on IUP's single season list for overall shooting percentage (min. 125) attempts, converting 59.6% from the floor.
• Wednesday features a matchup of two of the top rebounding teams in the PSAC, both among the top five in the conference in rebounding margin.
• IUP is 92-26 in PSAC games since the 2017-18 season.
• The Hawks lead the league with 10.2 steals/game, while Henderson ranks second in the conference at 2.4 steals/game.
• IUP has won five of the last six meetings against Seton Hill, including a 75-66 victory in Greensburg on January 24. Shooting 27 for 40 from the foul line for the game, IUP buckled down in the second half, owning a +17 margin at the foul line and a 21-2 margin in the second half alone.

 
SETON HILL AT A GLANCE

• The Griffins are led by Christiane Frye, who ranks second in the PSAC in scoring (18.1) and first in steals (2.7).
• SHU leads the league in scoring offense at 74.6 PPG. The Griffins are also second in rebounding average (41.9) and third in rebounding margin (+5.4)
• After a week off, Seton Hill fell short Mercyhurst in a 82-64 setback last weekend. Abby Makins paced SHU with 19 points.

 
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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 154-27 (.850) 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)
  • 37 of their last 46 (37-9)
  • 53 of their last 64 (53-11)
  • 66 of their last 79 (66-13) since 2018-19

 
COACHING TIES FOR CRAIG CAREY

• Head coach Craig Carey (36-15 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 fifth in the league in scoring defense (56.8), good for 22nd nationally. Additionally, IUP is forcing opponents into an average of 18.8 turnovers per game, good for third in the league. IUP is first in the PSAC in steals/game (10.2).
• 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 14.3 per contest. 
• Maria Cerro is 7th in the league with 3.0 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 fifth in the PSAC and 47th nationally with a +5.2 rebounding margin.
• The Hawks are seventh in the PSAC in offensive rebounding (12.4) and sixth in the league in defensive rebounding (26.3).
• IUP has outrebounded its opponents in 15 of 23 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 2.5 assists/game (56 assists). She boasts 935 career points on 38.7% 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 eighth in the league in scoring (15.7), third in minutes (36.3), second in steals (2.4). She leads the team with 57 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 +5.2, good for fifth in the conference and 47th nationally. The interior duo Grace Centrulla and Nyshae' Weaver both enter the week averaging at least 7.6 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 (9.6), making her first start at IUP at Mercyhurst in February. A key contributor that has stepped into the starting lineup, Weaver boasts seven double-doubles this season and 10+ rebounds in 11 contests.
• Centrulla (Career: 97 GP, 1,060 Pts, 635 Rebs, 112 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 106 career appearances and 79 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 118 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. 110 – Kiera Baughman (2021-Pres)  
18. 101 – Molly Carr (1995-99)
19. 86 – Lisa Bendick (1991-95)
20. 84 – Kiley Nadwodny (1992-96)
 
Field Goal Percentage – Season (Min. 125 Attempts)
1. 60.5 (89-147) – Karen Robatin (1991-23)
2. 59.6 (96-161) – Nyshae' Weaver (2023-24)
3. 59.0 (111-188) – Beth McDonald (2000-01)
4. 57.5 (164-285) – Lexi Griggs (2018-19)
5. 57.2 (178-311) – Lexi Griggs (2018-19)
6. 56.6 (258-456) – Jahzinga Tracey (2008-09)
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T9. 56.0 (84-150) – Teirra Preston (2023-24)
 
FOLLOW  
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB. 
 

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