INDIANA, Pa. -- The IUP women's basketball team held off California (Pa.) in the final seconds to secure a 58-57 win to advance to the PSAC Quarterfinals on Wednesday. 

With the win, IUP improved to 21-6 overall, while Cal U fell to 16-12. Despite dropping both regular-season matchups against the Vulcans, the Hawks came out on top when it mattered most. The victory also marked head coach Craig Carey's first PSAC Tournament win. 

Shamia Strayhorn led the charge with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Nyshae' Weaver recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while also tallying five of IUP's 13 steals. 

IUP started the scoring on consecutive possessions, including a triple from Ellie Wilkerson. Grace Centrulla added a jumper, followed by another Wilkerson three, giving the Hawks an 8-2 lead. Cal U responded to tie the game and took a 12-9 lead at the 4:00 mark. Madison Zavasky's second-chance layup in the final moments of the first quarter brought IUP within three, 14-11. 

Weaver's basket at the 8:23 mark in the second quarter put IUP back in front, 14-13. Weaver then grabbed a steal and Strayhorn finished with a layup. Lily Jordan made a jumper at 5:38, 23-21. IUP's final basket of the half came with just under a minute on the clock from a pull up jumper from Marin Miller that put the Hawks ahead by five. The Vulcans made the final basket of the half that limited IUP's lead to 30-28.  

Strayhorn opened the third quarter for the Hawks with a three pointer, 33-30. Around the seven-minute mark Weaver made both free throws to put the Hawks ahead by five. The Vulcans went on a 6-0 run to finish the third before Weaver added a free throw to put her point total at 13 on the night.  

Strayhorn's fast-break layup at 7:44 kept IUP in control, but Cal U surged ahead with an 8-0 run to take a 51-48 lead around the five-minute mark. Strayhorn's pull up jumper at 3:57 put the Hawks back in the lead by one, 52-51. Strayhorn's three pointer at 1:59 put her at nine points in this quarter alone, 56-52. Cal U scored five points to put them within one but IUP's defense held strong to secure the 58-57 win over the Vulcans to advance to the quarterfinals on Wednesday. 

Up Next
IUP will travel to No. 1 seed Edinboro for the PSAC Quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 3 with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m.

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