Amherst, NY – The IUP women's basketball program picked up their first win of 2025 after a late fourth-quarter push fueled by Ellie Wilkerson to defeat Daemen, 77-74 Friday evening. 
 
Despite a hot start, Daemen battled back in the second and third quarters before IUP closed out the fourth with a 25-14 point advantage that secured the win. 
 
Wilkerson had her best night this season after she led the Hawks with 20 points, made nine field goals, and played for 33 minutes. She also added two assists, had a block, and a steal. Nyshae' Weaver had a double-double after contributing 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. She added two steals and five assists alongside Marin Miller, who also marked five. Shamia Strayhorn added 12 points, Janeira Scott added 11, and both recorded two steals. 
 
IUP began with a 9-2 lead, scoring on their first four possessions, Wilkerson contributed five of those points. Weaver recorded an early steal that Strayhorn converted at 9:19. Strayhorn's two free throws at 6:30 extended the Hawks' lead to 10 points. At 5:13, Wilkerson hit a jumper, making her 3-for-3 from the field. The Wildcats fought back, cutting the deficit to three points with under a minute left in the quarter. However, Jordan and Centrulla hit back-to-back three-pointers from the right corner in the final two possessions, giving IUP a 28-22 advantage.
 
In the second quarter, Scott opened the scoring for the Hawks at 7:42 with a basket assisted by Weaver. IUP regained an eight-point cushion after Weaver added two layups, and Scott hit a jumper at the three-minute mark. Miller then assisted Weaver on another layup at 0:54, bringing Weaver to 11 points, the game-high at that point. The teams went into halftime with IUP holding the lead 41-35. 
 
IUP started hot, shooting .733 from the field in the first quarter and hitting all three of their three-point attempts. By halftime, they had shot .515 overall, collected 17 rebounds, recorded five steals, and blocked one shot. Each starter contributed with at least one steal.
 
Early in the third quarter, Strayhorn reached 10 points with a layup, but Daemen tied the score at 43-43 by the 8:01 mark. A minute later, the Wildcats claimed their first lead of the game. Miller ended IUP's three-minute scoring drought with her first basket of the night, a three-pointer. Strayhorn then sank two free throws at 4:11 to tie the game at 48-48. Wilkerson responded with back-to-back baskets in the paint, but IUP trailed 57-52 heading into the fourth after scoring just 11 points in the third quarter compared to Daemen's 25.

In the fourth, Miller went on a personal 5-0 run, bringing the Hawks within three points. Wilkerson and Scott each hit three-pointers around the four-minute mark. Wilkerson then reclaimed the lead for the Hawks with two consecutive baskets, both assisted by Miller, putting IUP ahead 71-70. Wilkerson added another layup along with two made free throws and a jumper from Scott to secure the 77-74 win over the Daemen Wildcats. 
 
Up Next 
IUP returns to conference action against Edinboro on Monday, January 6, tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m. inside McCombs Fieldhouse.
 
Follow 
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.