INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP women's basketball team looks to go into the postseason on a high note, hosting Clarion for Senior Day on Saturday, March 2. Tipoff from the KCAC is set for 1:00 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 (20-6, 16-5 PSAC) vs. Clarion (1-26, 1-20 PSAC)
Saturday, March 2, 2024 – 1:00 p.m. – KCAC – Indiana, Pa.     
Game Coverage: Live Video — Live Stats — Live Audio
Social Media Updates: @IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)
 
SENIOR DAY SET FOR SATURDAY

• In the team's final regular season home game, IUP will honor four seniors prior to tipoff against the Golden Eagles.
• The ceremony is expected to begin around 12:30 p.m. on the court. After the ceremony, teams will return to the floor to conclude warm-ups before starting lineups.
• The on-court ceremony will begin with a presentation for junior Grace Centrulla, who reached the 1,000-career point mark earlier in the season against Pitt-Johnstown. From there, IUP will individually recognize seniors Gina Adams, Maria Cerro, Rahmena Henderson and Teirra Preston.

 
PSAC TOURNAMENT UPDATE

• IUP has locked up the number two seed in the PSAC West heading into the final game of the regular season. The Crimson Hawks will host a PSAC Quarterfinal round matchup on Wednesday, March 6.
• Tipoff for the PSAC Quarterfinals is set for 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or in-person at the First Commonwealth Bank Box Office.
• IUP plays the winner of the No. 3/6 matchup in the PSAC Tournament. That matchup of the three and six seeds takes place Monday, March 4.
• Three of the six total seeds in the PSAC West have been locked up with Gannon as the number one seed, IUP as the number two seed and Seton Hill as the number six seed.
• All six spots have been clinched in the PSAC West going into the final day of the regular season. California (Pa.), Edinboro and Mercyhurst are all in and will determine their final seeding in the conference tournament on Saturday.
• In the PSAC East, Lock Haven and West Chester have locked up the top two seeds. Kutztown, Millersville, Mansfield and East Stroudsburg have all clinched playoff berths in the PSAC East with final seeding to be determined.

 
TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES  

• IUP saw its five-game winning streak come to an end in a disheartening 61-60 loss to California (Pa.) on February 28. The Crimson Hawks led by as many as 16 points in the matchup, unable to contain Cal U on the offensive glass in the second half.
• Cal U and IUP split the regular season series for a second straight year with the home team winning each matchup.
• Maria Cerro paced the Crimson Hawks with 17 points (9-10 FT), five rebounds, five assists and four steals against the Vulcans. Rahmena Henderson and Grace Centrulla played all 40 minutes, combining for 20 points and nine rebounds.
• IUP closed the opening half on a 20-4 run to move in front, but the Vulcans battled back in the third quarter before ultimately taking control in the fourth. The Hawks shot 46.8% from the floor, going cold in the third quarter with just 14 points on three made field goals.
• IUP was tabbed fifth in the first numerical listing of regionally ranked teams, announced by the NCAA earlier this week.
• IUP locked up its 18th straight PSAC Tournament berth and 26th overall in program history. Additionally, it marked the second consecutive PSAC Tournament berth in as many years for head coach Craig Carey.
• IUP reached 20 wins for the eighth time in the past nine seasons following a 57-42 road win at Slippery Rock on February 24. IUP locked down on the defensive end, particularly in the second half in the win at SRU.
• Grace Centrulla played in her 100th career game against California (Pa.) last time out, spanning her time at Mercyhurst and IUP. She ranks fourth in the league in blocks (32) and blocks/game (1.32).
• Nyshae' Weaver leads the PSAC and ranks 30th nationally with 9.6 rebounds/game.
• Kiera Buaghman is closing in on 1,000 career points and has an opportunity to reach the mark this season with at least two more games guaranteed. She has 969 points through 84 games, just 31 points shy of reaching the scoring milestone.
• IUP battled for a 67-58 road win at Clarion earlier this season on January 31. The Hawks have won 12 straight meetings in the series with the Golden Eagles, dating back to January 2017.
• IUP is 94-27 (.776) in PSAC games since the 2017-18 season. This season, IUP has won 12 of 13 home games and gone 54-11 in the last 65 games at the KCAC.
• IUP leads the league in steals/game (10.3) and also ranks first in field goal percentage (.447).
• Cerro is averaging 16.5 points/game, 4.2 rebounds/game, 2.5 assists/game and 2.7 steals/game over the last four outings.

 
CLARION AT A GLANCE

• First-year head coach Danielle Fleming and Clarion have been competitive this season, although some of the results and tough play have not translated into the win column.
• Clarion recently earned its only win of the season in an 82-64 victory against Slippery Rock on February 21.
• The Golden Eagles dropped their 2023-24 home finale in an 83-63 setback to Mercyhurst on February 28. Sadre'a Rougeau logged 17 points to pace Clarion in the loss.

 
—
 
 
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 155-27 (.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)
  • 38 of their last 47 (38-9)
  • 54 of their last 65 (54-11)
  • 67 of their last 80 (67-13) since 2018-19

 
COACHING TIES FOR CRAIG CAREY

• Head coach Craig Carey (38-16 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 (56.7), good for 25th nationally. Additionally, IUP is forcing opponents into an average of 18.5 turnovers per game, good for third in the league. IUP is first in the PSAC in steals/game (10.3).
• The Crimson Hawks have held six 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 14.2 per contest. 
• Maria Cerro is seventh 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 sixth in the PSAC and 57th nationally with a +4.5 rebounding margin.
• The Hawks are eighth in the PSAC in offensive rebounding (11.9) and sixth in the league in defensive rebounding (26.5).
• IUP has outrebounded its opponents in 16 of 26 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 2.4 assists/game (64 assists). She boasts 969 career points on 39.0% 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 and only season in 2023-24.
• Named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week on November 20 and February 26, 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 seventh in the league in scoring (15.7), third in minutes (36.5), second in steals (2.6). She leads the team with 69 total steals.  
• She's played all 40 minutes 11 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 +4.5, while that production has dipped slightly. 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: 100 GP, 1,089 Pts, 652 Rebs, 120 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 109 career appearances and 82 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 18 points (6-8 FG) at UPJ on January 17 and a season-high 20 points against Seton Hill on February 21.
• Cerro ranked fifth in the PSAC in steals (61) as a junior in 2022-23, boasting 129 steals in her collegiate career. Averaging 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, continually playing a larger role in the IUP lineup as the season has gone on.
• 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
14. 114 – Kiera Baughman (2021-Pres)  
15. 113 – Amy Fairman (2011-15)
16. 111 – Kylie Miller (2005-09)
17. 101 – Molly Carr (1995-99)
18. 86 – Lisa Bendick (1991-95)
19. 84 – Kiley Nadwodny (1992-96)
 
Field Goal Percentage – Season (Min. 125 Attempts)
1. 60.5 (89-147) – Karen Robatin (1991-23)
2. 59.9 (106-177) – Nyshae' Weaver (2023-24)
3. 59.0 (111-188) – Beth McDonald (2000-01)
4. 57.5 (164-285) – Lexi Griggs (2018-19)
--
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.

 

---