INDIANA, Pa. – The IUP women's basketball team looks to make a run in the conference tournament, hosting California (Pa.) on Wednesday, March 6 for the PSAC Quarterfinals. Tipoff from the KCAC is slated for 6:00 p.m.
 
Live coverage will be provided on the PSAC Digital Network. Additionally, the game will be aired live on 101.1 FM (WCCS).
 
GAMEDAY CENTRAL  
IUP (21-6, 17-5 PSAC) vs. California (Pa.) (22-7, 16-6 PSAC)
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 – 6:00 p.m. – KCAC – Indiana, Pa.     
Game Coverage: Live Video — Live Stats —Live Audio
Social Media Updates: @IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)
 
PSAC TOURNMAENT OVERVIEW

• Wednesday's PSAC Quarterfinal matchup features the No. 2 seed IUP and the No. 3 seed California (Pa.). Wednesday's matchup is the second meeting between the two teams in a week, also the third meeting this season.
• As the two seed, IUP earned a bye into the PSAC Quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Cal U held off Seton Hill in the final minute on Monday night.
• Elsewhere in the PSAC Women's Basketball Tournament, Edinboro, Millersville and Kutztown also advanced in the opening round on Monday night.
• Following the PSAC Quarterfinals, the semifinal and championship rounds will be contested on March 9-10 at the highest remaining East seed.

TIPOFF NEWS AND NOTES  

• IUP is seeking its first win in the PSAC Tournament since the 2020 season, where the Crimson Hawks advanced to the conference championship.
• The Crimson Hawks are making their 26th appearance in the PSAC Tournament, including 18 consecutive playing seasons. IUP boasts a 32-19 (.627) mark in the PSAC Tournament since 1984.
• IUP is 15-8 (.652) all-time in the PSAC Quarterfinals, owing a 5-3 record against Cal U.
• IUP is 17-5 all-time in home PSAC Tournament games, going 9-4 at the KCAC in the conference tournament.
• Last season, IUP had its season end in heartbreaking fashion with a 68-66 defeat against Pitt-Johnstown.
• IUP finished the regular season in style with a runaway 82-56 victory against Clarion on March 2 at the KCAC. Rahmena Henderson poured in a game-high 20 points for the Hawks in the victory.
• Nyshae' Weaver leads the PSAC in rebounding average (9.9), pulling down 17 boards in the win against the Golden Eagles. Weaver was named the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week for the Crimson Hawks on Monday.
• IUP has earned a weekly honor from the conference in each of the final three weeks of the regular season.
• Kiera Baughman is 14 points shy of reaching 1,000 in her IUP career. Baughman is averaging 11.6 points/game in 85 career appearances with the Hawks.
• With 986 career points, Baughman would become the 29th IUP player to reach the scoring milestone.
• IUP and Cal U have split four meetings over the past two seasons, with the home team winning each matchup. The Hawks were impressive in a 61-51 victory against the Vulcans on January 29.
• The Vulcans responded with a 61-60 win against IUP last week, erasing a double digit deficit to battle back in the second half.
• Both IUP and Cal U were listed in last week's NCAA DII Atlantic Region rankings. This listing ultimately determines the field for the 2024 NCAA DII Women's Basketball Tournament.
• The Hawks lead the league in steals/game (10.2) and field goal percentage (44.8).

 
CAL U AT A GLANCE

• The Vulcans scored the final five points over the last minute of play on Monday evening to earn a 70-65 victory over Seton Hill.
• Cal led by as many as 26 points on Monday night against the visiting Griffins, holding on and extending the team's winning streak to eight consecutive games.
• The Vulcans and Crimson Hawks have met in the post-season six times since 2016, most recently the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
• The Vulcans rank 13th nationally in offensive rebounds/game (15.8), using a big advantage on the boards in the last meeting against IUP.
• Dejah Terrell, who reached 1,000 career points last week against IUP, ranks seventh in the PSAC with 15.5 points/game.

—
 
 
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 156-27 (.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)
  • 39 of their last 48 (39-9)
  • 55 of their last 66 (55-11)
  • 68 of their last 81 (68-13) since 2018-19

 
COACHING TIES FOR CRAIG CAREY

• Head coach Craig Carey (39-16 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 fifth in the league in scoring defense (56.7), good for 23rd nationally. Additionally, IUP is forcing opponents into an average of 18.4 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 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 14.3 per contest. 
• Maria Cerro is ninth 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 sixth in the PSAC and 55th nationally with a +4.5 rebounding margin.
• The Hawks are eighth in the PSAC in offensive rebounding (11.8) and sixth in the league in defensive rebounding (26.7).
• IUP has outrebounded its opponents in 17 of 27 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 (67 assists). She boasts 986 career points on 39.2% 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 posted double digits in each of her first 20 games for the Crimson Hawks. Her streak was snapped against Gannon on February 10.
• Henderson sixth seventh in the league in scoring (15.9), third in minutes (36.2) and first in steals (2.6). She leads the team with 71 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 (9.9), making her first start at IUP at Mercyhurst in February. A key contributor that has stepped into the starting lineup, Weaver boasts eight double-doubles this season and 10+ rebounds in 12 contests.
• Centrulla (Career: 101 GP, 1,095 Pts, 655 Rebs, 123 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 110 career appearances and 83 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 131 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
13. 127 – Jess Conner (200-04)
14. 117 – Kiera Baughman (2021-Pres) ; Kara Taylor (2002-06)
16. 113 – Amy Fairman (2011-15)
 
Field Goal Percentage – Season (Min. 125 Attempts)
1. 60.5 (89-147) – Karen Robatin (1991-23)
2. 59.0 (108-183) – Nyshae' Weaver (2023-24); 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)
 
Rebounds – Season
8. 273 – Michelle Guin (1981-82)
9. 262 – Julie Kibler (1981-82)
10. 258 – Adriene Douglas (1981-82)
11. 257 – Nyshae' Weaver (2023-24)
12. 254 – Sherri Leysock (1990-91)
13. 247 – Julie Kibler (1980-81)
 
Steals – Season
13. 77 – Leah Simmons (1989-90)
14. 74 – Four players
18. 73 –Molly Carr (1996-97)
19. 71 – Cathy Tochia (1992-93); Lauren Wolosik (2018-19); Rahmena Henderson (2023-24)
 
Blocked Shots – Season
17. 40 – Beth McDonald (1998-99)
18. 39 – Kim Shaw (1993-94)
19. 36 – Maura D'Anna (2021-22)
20. 35 – Jodi Fredrick (1997-98); Grace Centrulla (2023-24)
 
FOLLOW  
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.
 

---