INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP women's basketball team used several big runs to pull away, shooting 54.8% for the game and placing four scorers in double figures, all part of an 87-65 victory on Wednesday night against Seton Hill at the KCAC.
 
IUP (19-5, 15-4) secures its 18th straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament berth with the win and 26th overall berth in program history. Maria Cerro (7-7 FG) and Rahmena Henderson (8-14 FG) posted 20 points apiece, while Henderson added eight rebounds and five steals in an all-around showing.
 
Kiera Baughman dropped in 15 points for the Hawks and Grace Centrulla finished with 14 points, five rebounds and four blocks. Overall, IUP combined to outscore Seton Hill by a 54-35 margin in the second and third quarters combined to pull away.
 
IUP went 9-for-15 from beyond the arc and forced 20 turnovers on the night. Additionally, the Crimson Hawks swiped 14 steals in the contest.
 
Hallie Cowan paced the Griffins with 18 points, while Christiane Frye logged 17 points and six rebounds. The Crimson Hawks are among the hottest teams in the PSAC, winning their fourth straight and leading by as many as 29 in the blowout victory.
 
In an up and down first half, IUP stretched its lead out to double figures heading into the intermission. Henderson dropped in a game-high 16 points in the first half for the Hawks, which shot 54.8 percent for the half.
 
IUP led for over 14 minutes in the opening half, knocking down five triples and converting 18 points off turnovers. Tightly contested in the first frame, the Hawks scored the final eight points of the stanza for a 23-15 margin.
 
Janeira Scott and Henderson each converted from distance as IUP continued building its first half advantage. Baughman canned an IUP trey off a Seton Hill turnover for a 33-12 margin, all part of a larger 15-2 spurt for the hosts.
 
The Griffins whittled the deficit back down to single digits in a fast-paced stretch. Henderson capped the scoring in the first half with a driving basket for the 44-33 edge. A 14-0 third quarter spurt ballooned the IUP advantage to 20 midway through the third quarter.
 
The Hawks continued outshooting Seton Hill and limited chances from the Griffins, zipping ahead 27 (77-50) on a kickout triple from Baughman. With a comfortable cushion, the Hawks slowed the pace and churned the clock in securing a season sweep of the Griffins.
 
Up Next
IUP heads to Slippery Rock for a 1:00 p.m. tipoff on Saturday, February 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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