INDIANA, Pa. – Following a bye on Saturday, the IUP women's basketball team returns to the floor for the stretch run of the season, beginning with a trip to Mercyhurst on Wednesday, February 7. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. from Erie.
 
Live coverage will be provided on the PSAC Digital Network, courtesy of the Mercyhurst athletic communications office. Additionally, the game will be aired live on U92.5FM and u92radio.com with the Voice of the Hawks, Jack Benedict.
 
GAMEDAY CENTRAL  
IUP (15-4, 11-3 PSAC) at Mercyhurst (14-7, 10-5 PSAC)
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 – 5:30  p.m. – Mercyhurst Athletic Center – Erie, Pa.  
Game Coverage: Live Video — Live Stats — Live Audio
Social Media Updates: @IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)
 
TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES  

• With a four-game winning streak, IUP elevated to eighth in the latest D2CSC Atlantic Region Poll.
• The Crimson Hawks are set to begin the second half of conference play, taking the floor each Wednesday and Saturday for the remainder of the regular season.
• IUP held on for a 67-58 road win last time out on January 31 against a pesky Clarion squad. The Hawks deployed a somewhat patchwork lineup throughout the second half, missing Nyshae' Weaver (illness) throughout and Teirra Preston (injury) in the low post.
• Kiera Baughman posted her fifth career- double-double and first of the 2023-24 season last time out with 15 points and 12 boards against the Golden Eagles. Baughman was one of three IUP scorers in double figures during the road win.
• Rahmena Henderson is sixth in the PSAC in scoring (16.4), posting at least 12 points in all 19 games this season for IUP. Additionally, she is second in the league in steals (2.6).
• IUP looks to create some separation in a log-jammed PSAC West division. The Hawks are second in the West at 11-3 in conference play, with Mercyhurst entering tied for third at 10-5.
• Overall, six teams are separated by just three games in the PSAC Western division.
• Grace Centrulla has seen an uptick in her production across the board of late, posting a combined 12 blocks in the last five games since January 20. She ranks fourth in the PSAC in blocks/game (1.16).
• The Crimson Hawks rolled to a 61-41 victory against Mercyhurst at the KCAC on January 10. Baughman had 14 points in the win for IUP, which used a strong fourth quarter to knock off the Lakers.
• Maria Cerro is averaging 4.8 assists over the last five games for the Crimson Hawks, handing out seven in consecutive games at home against Slippery Rock (Jan. 27) and California (Pa.) (Jan. 29).
• IUP is 89-25 in PSAC games since the 2017-18 season.
• The Hawks have won four straight meetings against Mercyhurst in Erie since 2019, going 8-2 against the Lakers over the last 10 contests overall.
• IUP is fourth in the league in scoring offense (71.4) and third in scoring defense (56.4), continuing to receive a well-rounded scoring output and strong team defense.

 
MERCYHURST AT A GLANCE

• The Lakers are looking to bounce back from a 67-46 road setback at Pitt-Johnstown last weekend.
• Mercyhurst has relied upon Bailey Kuhns and Danielle Grim to carry the load, both offensively and defensively. Bailey Kuhns averages 14.7 points a game and clogs up the paint on the defensive end. Danielle Grim does a little bit of everything, averaging 12.0 points a game to go along with 7.5 rebounds.
• The Lakers are 12th nationally in three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to 24.5% from beyond the arc.

 
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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 152-27 (.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)
  • 35 of their last 44 (35-9)
  • 51 of their last 62 (51-11)
  • 64 of their last 77 (64-13) since 2018-19

 
COACHING TIES FOR CRAIG CAREY

• Head coach Craig Carey (30-14 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.
• IUP is now third in the league in scoring defense (56.4), good for 21st nationally. Additionally, IUP is forcing opponents into an average of 19.3 turnovers per game, good for fourth in the league. IUP is first in the PSAC in steals/game (10.9).
• 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 15.4 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 32nd nationally with a +6.3 rebounding margin.
• The Hawks are fifth in the PSAC in offensive rebounding (13.4) and fifth in the league in defensive rebounding (26.3).
• IUP has outrebounded its opponents in 13 of 19 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 2.7 assists/game (51 assists). She boasts 895 career points on 39.1% 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 19 games for the Crimson Hawks.
• Henderson ranks sixth in the league in scoring (16.4), third in minutes (35.7), second in steals (2.6). She leads the team with 51 total steals.  
• She's played all 40 minutes nine 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 +6.3, good for fourth in the conference and 32nd nationally. The interior trio of Teirra Preston, Grace Centrulla and Nyshae' Weaver all enter the week averaging at least 7.4 points/game.
• Weaver (1st; 9.1) and Preston (5th; 8.1) are each among the top 10 in the conference in rebounding average.
• Preston is the veteran of the team, returning as a graduate student in 2023-24. She has played in a team-high 109 games since 2018-19, boasting 647 points and 586 rebounds in her career. Preston has nine career double-doubles (two in 2023-24) and leads the team in steals (38).
• Weaver has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in eight outings for IUP, providing a key option off the bench for the Hawks while averaging over 20 minutes per contest.
• Centrulla (Career: 93 GP, 1,046 Pts, 614 Rebs, 1110 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 102 career appearances and 75 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 115 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. 104 – Kiera Baughman (2021-Pres)  
18. 101 – Molly Carr (1995-99)
19. 86 – Lisa Bendick (1991-95)
20. 84 – Kiley Nadwony (1992-96)
 
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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