GAME 32 NCAA ATLANTIC REGION CHAMPIONSHIP

IUP (28-3 | PSAC Champion) vs Winston-Salem State  (28-3 | CIAA Champion) 
Monday, March 16, 2026 | 7:00 p.m
Indiana, Pa | Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex

Stream: NCAA.Com with Eric Thomas and Tyler Polk 
Radio: U92.5 FM with Jack Benedict and Tony Coccagna

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
The IUP women's basketball team is back in the regional championship for the first time this decade as the Crimson Hawks look to control the pace against the up-tempo, high-pressure Winston-Salem State Rams.

IUP defeated eighth-seeded Charleston and fourth-seeded Seton Hill in the first two rounds, while Winston-Salem State advanced with wins over Glenville State and Gannon.

The Crimson Hawks have been led by Teresa Maggio and Nyshae Weaver, who have both shown the ability to score throughout the regional. Ellie Wilkerson and Marin Miller have also stepped up. Miller scored in double figures in both regional games, while Wilkerson recorded eight assists against Seton Hill.

TIP-OFF NOTES
>> At this point in his tenure, head coach Craig Carey records the third appearance of making the NCAA Tournament since being elevated to head coach in the 2022-23 season.
>> IUP has had three starters score in double figures in both games of the regional, led by Nyshae Weaver and Teresa Maggio. The fourth starter, Ellie Wilkerson, scored in double figures against Seton Hill and also recorded a season-high eight assists.
>> In three seasons at IUP, Nyshae Weaver has played in 81 games for the Crimson Hawks. After Saturday's game against Seton Hill, she has scored in double figures in 70 of those 81 games, an 84% clip.
>> IUP has three All-PSAC selections: Athlete of the Year Shae Weaver, first-team All-PSAC guard Teresa Maggio and second-team forward Ellie Wilkerson.
>> Head coach Craig Carey was named PSAC West Coach of the Year after leading the Crimson Hawks to a regional ranking for all but one week of the season. IUP spent much of the second half of the season ranked in the top five and top 10 as well.
>> Senior Nyshae Weaver of the IUP Crimson Hawks women's basketball was named First Team All-Atlantic Region by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.

WSSU AT A GLANCE
The CIAA champion Rams enter the Atlantic Regional final riding a five-game winning streak, including a dominant semifinal victory over Gannon. Winston-Salem State shot 8 of 15 from 3-point range in the semifinals, including 7 of 10 in the first half.

The Rams are led by CIAA Coach of the Year Tierra Terry, who is in her first season as head coach at her alma mater. Terry previously spent four seasons as head coach at Virginia Union. Winston-Salem State had three second-team All-CIAA selections in Mya Charles, a force in the paint, along with guards Makayla Waleed and Nevaeh Farmer. Charles leads the team with 13.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, while Farmer and Waleed each average 10.8 points per game.

SERIES HISTORY
This is the first meeting between the two programs.

D2CCA ALL-REGION
Shae Weaver was named PSAC Athlete of the Year and D2CCA All-Region. She ranks third in the nation in field goal percentage and leads the team in scoring, rebounds and assists. Weaver became a member of IUP's 1,000-rebound club on Feb. 21 against Clarion. She is just the third player in program history to reach the milestone.

PSAC WEST COACH OF THE YEAR
Head coach Craig Carey was named PSAC West Coach of the Year in his fourth season leading the Crimson Hawks. Carey has won 86 games in his first four seasons, including a season-high 24 this year. He guided IUP to a 4-1 record against ranked teams this season and a 15-1 mark at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.

ALL PSAC PERFORMERS
IUP had two more representatives on the All-PSAC teams, as Teresa Maggio was named to the first team in her first season with the Crimson Hawks. The junior transfer established herself as one of the top shooters in the conference, shooting nearly 40% from 3-point range. She recorded 15 games with multiple 3-pointers.

Ellie Wilkerson was named second-team All-PSAC, earning all-conference honors for the first time. She averaged 10.4 points per game this season while shooting 36% from 3-point range.

BALANCED ATTACK
The Crimson Hawks have three players averaging double figures in scoring: Nyshae Weaver, Teresa Maggio and Marin Miller. Maggio recorded her first career double-double in the opening-round game against Charleston, while Weaver posted a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double against Seton Hill.

Miller has had her best stretch of the season, averaging 13.5 points over two regional games, including shooting 5 of 11 from 3-point range. Miller is averaging 9.4 points per game this season.