Natalie Posterivo / IUP Athletic Communications

Women's Basketball 1/7/2025 2:40:00 PM Samantha Traini, Interim Director of Strategic Communications and Ideation

PREVIEW: No.RV/19 IUP set for the No.9/10 Golden Knights at the KCAC on Wednesday

INDIANA, Pa. -- The IUP women's basketball program has a home matchup against the Gannon Golden Knights on January 8, 2024, tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. inside the KCAC.

GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP (12-1, 7-0 PSAC) vs. Gannon (14-2, 6-1 PSAC)
Wednesday, January 8 - 5:30 PM - KCAC - Indiana, Pa.
Media Coverage: Live Video (PSAC Digital Network) - Live Stats (Stat Broadcast) - Radio (U92.5FM)
Social Media Updates: @IUP_WBB on X (formerly Twitter)

COMING UP
IUP vs. UPJ
Wednesday, January 15 - 5:30 PM - KCAC - Indiana, Pa.

TIPOFF NOTES
>> IUP kicked off PSAC West play with a win over Edinboro in their first conference match-up of the new year, to increase their win streak to three games.
>> IUP is just one of two two teams that remain undefeated in conference action.
>> Nyshae' Weaver was named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on January 7 for the second time this season and received PSAC honors for the third overall time this season.
>> Ellie Wilkerson was named PSAC West Athlete of the Week on January 7 after her impressive efforts the past two games.
>> The Hawks are receiving votes in the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll and were ranked 19th in the D2CSC Media Poll. IUP sits third in the Atlantic Region behind PSAC opponents Seton Hill and Gannon.
>> The Hawks are currently averaging 71.5 PPG, 40.8 RPG, 14.2 APG, 8.8 SPG, and 2.4 BPG. IUP is shooting .459 from the field, .301 beyond the arc, and .712 from the free throw line.
>> IUP is ranked third in the conference for scoring defense, limiting their opponents to an average of 56.3 PPG.
>> The Hawks rank fifth in the PSAC for scoring offense, averaging 71.5 PPG and they lead the conference in field goal percentage, .459.
>> The lead scorers for the Hawks are Nyshae' Weaver and Shamia Strayhorn. Weaver is averaging 15.5 PPG and Strayhorn is averaging 13.7 PPG. Weaver ranks 13th in the PSAC and Strayhorn ranks 19th.
>> Grace Centrulla leads the team with 12 blocks, although she has not posted any since December 7.
>> Gannon is sixth in the PSAC averaging 71.5 PPG, third in FG percentage (.436), and fourth in free throw percentage (.755).
>> This game against Gannon will mark the 47th overall time the Crimson Hawks have faced the Golden Knights. IUP leads the series with 31 wins and has 18 losses.
>> Ganon is ranked fourth in the PSAC West with a 14-2 overall record and 6-1 record in the PSAC.
>> Both teams opened the season on nine game winning streaks before they were knocked off.

GANNON AT A GLANCE
Gannon ranks fourth in the PSAC West with an overall record of 14-2 and a 6-1 PSAC record. The Golden Knights are averaging 70.9 PG, 38.8 RPG, 13.7 APG, 7.3 SPG, and 3.7 BPG. They are shooting .436 from the field and .319 beyond the arc. They began the season 9-0 before falling to Ohio Dominican 73-62 on November 27. Since then, they have been 4-1 and dropped to Lock Haven by two, before most recently defeating California (Pa.) 71-62, on January 4.

The lead scorer for Gannon is Bri Claxon, she is averaging 16.6 PPG and ranks sixth in the PSAC. She has scored 20+ points on five occasions this season. She is the only player to start all 16 games this season. Her field goal percentage is .493 and .455 beyond the arc. She has grabbed 19 steals and posted six blocks.

Kate Ratliff is another strong player on defense. She leads the team in both steals (19) and blocks (17). Ratliff has posted two blocks in at least five games this season and grabbed a steal in every game this season. She is averaging 13.8 PPG and is grabbing 5.3 RPG.

SERIES HISTORY
This game against Gannon will mark the 47th overall time the Crimson Hawks have faced the Golden Knights. IUP leads the series with 31 wins and has 18 losses. Out of the past five meetings, Gannon has won three consecutive. The last time these teams met was in February of 2024, when IUP slid by, by just one point to win 53-52. Three of IUP's starters saw action in that game. Weaver led the Hawks with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Centrulla and Scott totaled 12 points. Macie Jarrett also saw some action, she played for 21 minutes.

TRIPLE HONORS FOR WEAVER
Weaver was named PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week on November 25 and most recently on January 7 and was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week on December 9.

Weaver ranks 13th in conference scoring, averaging 15.5 PPG. She is third in rebounding, averaging 10.8 per game. Weaver is shooting .667 from the field, which ranks her second in the conference. Weaver has scored double digits in ten games this season, recording a season high of 26 points against Shepherd. She also just notched her sixth double-double of the season against Daemen. Weaver has led the team in points seven times and rebounds 10 ten times throughout this season

A LOOK INTO STRAYHORN
Senior guard Shamia Strayhorn leads the team in MPG, averaging 31.8 minutes, placing her at 19th in the PSAC. Strayhorn is shooting .414 from the field and has contributed 41 rebounds, 36 assists, 22 steals, and three blocks to the team. Strayhorn has led the team in assists six times this season, followed by steals five times. Her free throw percentage ranks 16th in the PSAC (.737) from 57 attempts.

WILKERSON MAKING HER WAY
Ellie Wilkerson has started all 12 of the games she has appeared in. She just earned PSAC West Athlete of the Week after her impressive performances at Daemen and Edinboro. Wilkerson posted her best performance of the season against Daemen, scoring 20 points on .643 shooting from the field with nine made field goals. For the week, she averaged 17.5 points per game, 33 minutes, and shot better than .500 from the field.

She has totaled 18 steals so far this season, and is recording at least one in every single game. She has recorded two steals in six games this season, most recently against Edinboro. She has scored 15+ points three times this season.

FRESH OFF THE BENCH
IUP has utilized players off the bench throughout this season, including Lily Jordan, Madison Zavasky, Marin Miller, and Macie Jarrett. Leading the bench in scoring is freshman Jordan who is shooting .463 from the field and is averaging 6.4 PPG. Averaging 23.9 minutes per game, she has notched 11 steals, 3 blocks, and 4.8 RPG. Junior Millersville transfer Miller, is shooting .419 from the field and .417 beyond the arc. She is averaging 18.8 minutes per game, 5.5 PPG, and has grabbed eight steals.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Since the opening of the KCAC 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 163-28 (.852) record 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:
- 7 of 7 games in 2024-2025 (7-0)
-13 of 15 games in 2023-24 (13-2)
-13 of 17 games in 2022-23 & 2021-22 (13-4)

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

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Players Mentioned

#33 Grace Centrulla: F; 6' 1"; Fifth Year

#2 Macie Jarrett: G; 5' 6"; Senior

#1 Nyshae' Weaver: F; 6' 0"; Junior

#3 Shamia Strayhorn: G; 5' 8"; Senior

#4 Marin Miller: G; 5' 5"; Junior

#11 Ellie Wilkerson: G/F; 5' 9"; Junior

#21 Lily Jordan: G/F; 6' 0"; Freshman

#23 Madison Zavasky: F; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#33 Grace Centrulla
: 6' 1"; Fifth Year
: F

#2 Macie Jarrett
: 5' 6"; Senior
: G

#1 Nyshae' Weaver
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

#3 Shamia Strayhorn
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G

#4 Marin Miller
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G

#11 Ellie Wilkerson
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G/F

#21 Lily Jordan
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: G/F

#23 Madison Zavasky
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: F