SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – IUP women's basketball gained the lead at 3:30 in the first and maintained it, to defeat Slippery Rock 64-48 Wednesday evening inside Morrow Field House. 
 
With this win, IUP improved to 14-3 on the season and 9-2 in the conference, while Slippery Rock dropped to 7-11 overall and 4-8 in the PSAC.
 
The lead scorer for the Hawks was Shamia Strayhorn who scored 16 points. She grabbed six rebounds, two steals, and had three assists. Nyshae' Weaver grabbed a double-double with 13 rebounds and 12 points, she also had four assists. Grace Centrulla grabbed 12 rebounds, added nine points, made a block, and had two steals.
 
IUP shot .385 from the field, grabbed 46 rebounds, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities with 18 points.
 
In the first quarter, Slippery Rock got a 5-2 lead right before Ellie Wilkerson's three-pointer tied the score at 5. A three-pointer from Marin Miller tied the score at 10 each at the 4:03 minute mark. 
 
The Hawks opened the second quarter with another Miller three-pointer to extend IUP's lead to 22-10 while on a 15-point run. The Hawks extended their run to 18-points before Slippery Rock ended their drought with a basket at 8:22. Strayhorn made a jumper at 2:26 followed by a three-point play by Wilkerson giving IUP a 32-20 lead at halftime, with all five starters contributing at least five points each.
 
In the third, the teams traded baskets and Slippery Rock closed out with a layup, Hawks stayed in control 51-36. Consecutive baskets from Centrulla and Miller midway through the quarter pushed their respective totals to nine and eight points. A layup by Lily Jordan at the 3:09 mark gave IUP its largest lead of the game, a 20-point advantage.
 
Weaver's layup ended IUP's three-minute scoring drought which also secured her double-double. Slippery Rock pulled within nine points, but baskets by Strayhorn and Jordan rebuilt the lead to 59-46. Free throws from Strayhorn and another three-point play by Wilkerson sealed the victory for the Hawks at 64-48.

Up Next 
IUP returns home on Saturday, January 25 for a 1:00 p.m. matchup against Clarion. 

Follow 
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.