IUP TRAVELS TO EDINBORO SATURDAY

The IUP basketball teams venture north Saturday afternoon for a PSAC West doubleheader with Edinboro.

The IUP women, winners of five straight, are in second place, a half-game ahead of Edinboro. The Scots won the first game between the two teams.

The IUP men have already wrapped the division title and are riding a 13-game winning streak.

The Crimson Hawks are 22-2 and ranked 4th in the NABC Poll.

Pre-game is at 12:45 p.m. on U92.5 FM and U92.5 Sportschannel.

For full game notes, click the Game Notes icons
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Men’s Notes	Women’s Notes

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MEN’S GAMEDAY CENTRAL (courtesy of IUP Sports Information)
No. 4/12 IUP Crimson Hawks (22-2, 17-1 PSAC)
at Edinboro Fighting Scots (6-15, 4-13 PSAC)
Saturday, February 11, 2017 | 3:00 p.m.
Edinboro, Pa. | McComb Fieldhouse

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
The 4th-ranked Crimson Hawks, PSAC West regular season champions, head to Edinboro on Saturday for a matchup against the Fighting Scots. The afternoon tipoff at McComb Fieldhouse is scheduled for 3 p.m. IUP wrapped up home court advantage throughout the PSAC tournament with Wednesday night’s win at UPJ, and looks to finish strong down the stretch. Edinboro has lost four straight games and sits at 4-13 in the division. The matchup will be televised live by American Sports Network, and will be streamed on ESPN3, WatchESPN, and the ESPN app.

The game will be broadcast on WQMU 92.5 FM with the voice of IUP Athletics, Jack Benedict, calling the action. You can also listen on u92radio.com and on the u92radio app on your smartphone.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• IUP HC Joe Lombardi is 16-7 all-time against Edinboro; He is just 6-4 at McComb Fieldhouse, but has won six of the last seven road meetings by an average of more than eight points
• The Crimson Hawks’ PSAC West regular season title is their seventh under Lombardi since the 2009-10 season
• This will be the second straight year that IUP has been featured on national television, defeating California (PA) 85-60 on the road last January 27
• This is a rematch of IUP’s 80-77 come-from-behind win on Jan. 14; Jr. G Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John’s Jesuit) hit the game-winning three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left, capping a 13-point comeback with 10 minutes left
• The Crimson Hawks are 9-0 on the road this year, defeating teams by an average score of 74.2 – 61.3
• Edinboro is 3-7 at McComb this season, dropping four straight by an average of 11 points
• IUP is averaging 78.8 points and shooting 54.1 percent (140-266) from the field over its last five games
• Edinboro is one of the worst defensive teams in the PSAC, giving up 82.6 points per game

IUP HAS DOMINATED THE PSAC WEST; 7 REGULAR SEASON TITLES IN 8 YEARS
Under HC Joe Lombardi, the Crimson Hawks have been the most successful team in the PSAC. Since Lombardi arrived in 2006, no other school has more PSAC tournament titles (three), division titles (seven), or tournament appearances (10). IUP has also earned berths in seven NCAA tournaments, including a pair of national championship game appearances in 2010 and 2015.

#4 NATIONAL RANKING IS HIGHEST UNDER LOMBARDI SINCE 2010-11 PRESEASON
The Crimson Hawks have moved up in each of the last six NABC Division II Coaches Top 25 polls, going from No. 21 at the end of December to No. 4 this week. It’s the best team ranking for IUP since being voted No. 2 in the 2010-11 preseason Top 25.

IUP BOASTS BALANCED SCORING; FIVE PLAYERS AVERAGE AT LEAST 9.5 POINTS PER GAME
The Crimson Hawks don’t have one of the top scoring offenses in the PSAC, but they do boast balance. Five players average at least 9.5 points per game, including three who are scoring more than 13. So. F Jacobo Diaz (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain/CBA Gran Canaria) leads the team with a 14.2 average, while So. G Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) averages 13.7, and Jr. G Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John’s Jesuit) scores 13.5. Jr. F Blake Danielak (Georgetown, Tex./Liberty Hill) is IUP’s highest scorer off the bench, averaging 9.5 points with 11 double-digit scoring games. All eight players in IUP’s main rotation have hit double-figures at least three times this year, and six different Crimson Hawks have led the team in scoring.

CRIMSON HAWKS AMONG TOP FREE THROW SHOOTING TEAMS IN THE NATION
IUP is once again converting consistently from the foul line, leading the PSAC and ranking 8th in the nation at 78.9 percent (321-407). Over the last six games, the Crimson Hawks have hit an impressive 83.9 percent (73-87) from the charity stripe, including a 13-15 performance against Slippery Rock. Lombardi is one of five players shooting over 80.0 percent, leading the team and ranking seventh in the PSAC at 82.8 (72-87) percent.

IUP PERFORMING WELL IN THE FINAL FIVE MINUTES, SHOOTING 83 PERCENT FROM THE LINE IN THE CLUTCH
Not only are the Crimson Hawks one of the top free throw shooting teams in the nation, but they’re even better in the clutch. In the last five minutes of games this season, IUP’s free throw shooting skyrockets to 83.3 percent (105-126). Out of the seven players who have attempted a free throw in that time frame, none are converting below 70.0 percent, while Lombardi leads the way with an 88.6 (39-44) conversion rate.

CRIMSON HAWKS ALSO EFFICIENT FROM BEYOND THE ARC
IUP is hitting 43.5 percent (87-200) from three-point range over its last seven games, knocking down a season-best 16 triples on 36 attempts (44.4 pct) on Wednesday at UPJ. The Crimson Hawks are second in the PSAC with 9.4 made threes per game, and have knocked down at least 10 in a game 11 times.

JACOBO DIAZ NAMED TO WATCH LIST FOR BEVO FRANCIS AWARD, GIVEN TO TOP PLAYER IN DII, DIII, NAIA
Diaz is considered one of the best players in Division II, as he was named to the Watch List for the Bevo Francis Award. The award is given to the top player from Division II, Division III, or the NAIA, with the season’s first Watch List made up of 100 players. Diaz has averaged a double-double for all but three games this season, and averages team-bests of 14.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. He also ranks ninth in the PSAC with a 52.7 field goal percentage.

DEVON COTTRELL THE TOP SHOT BLOCKER IN SCHOOL HISTORY
R-Sr. F Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway) ranks second in the PSAC with 44 blocks, a number that is currently seventh in IUP single season history. Already the program’s career leader with 195 blocks, he’s on pace to have three of the top four shot blocking seasons in program history. Cottrell is also looking to become the eighth player in PSAC history with 200 career blocks.

DANTE LOMBARDI ONE OF THE TOP THREE-POINT/ASSIST MEN IN THE PSAC
Lombardi is one of only two players in the PSAC with 50 three-pointers and 100 assists this season, ranking eighth in the league with 57 threes and 5.0 assists per game. He has a three-pointer in 29 straight games dating back to last season and has nine games this year of at least six assists, including a career-high 11 at Seton Hill.

COBO’s NINE DOUBLE-DOUBLES ARE SECOND IN PSAC, MOST FOR IUP PLAYER SINCE WEBB IN 2010-11
Diaz’s nine double-doubles this year are second most in the PSAC behind Shippensburg’s Dustin Sleva (14). They’re also the most for an IUP player since Darryl Webb posted 16 during his senior season of 2010-11, when he averaged 17.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Diaz had a run of four straight double-double performances at the start of the season, and has 18 double-figure scoring and 12 double-figure rebounding games.

WOMEN’S GAMEDAY CENTRAL
IUP Crimson Hawks (17-5, 15-3 PSAC)
at Edinboro Fighting Scots (18-5, 14-3 PSAC)
Saturday, February 11, 2017 | 1:00 p.m.
Edinboro, Pa. | McComb Fieldhouse

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
With second place in the PSAC West on the line, the Crimson Hawks head to Edinboro to take on the Fighting Scots this Saturday. Tipoff at the McComb Fieldhouse is 1 p.m. IUP brings a five-game win streak into the matchup and seeks to avenge its 10-point home loss to Edinboro from January. The Fighting Scots trail IUP by a half-game in the division standings and have won just two of their last five games overall. The matchup will be televised live by American Sports Network, and will be streamed on ESPN3, WatchESPN, and the ESPN app.

The game will be broadcast on WQMU 92.5 FM with the voice of IUP Athletics, Jack Benedict, calling the action. You can also listen on u92radio.com and on the u92radio app on your smartphone.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• IUP HC Tom McConnell is 5-4 in his IUP career against Edinboro; McConnell and the Crimson Hawks swept the regular season series with the Fighting Scots last year
• The Crimson Hawks held a 43-36 third quarter lead in this year’s first meeting, before a 24-6 Edinboro run propelled the Fighting Scots to a 10-point win
• Since IUP’s three-game losing streak, the Crimson Hawks are 5-0 while averging nearly 78 points per game; They are shooting 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range during that span
• IUP is 8-1 this year in true road games, outscoring opponents by nearly 14 points on their home court
• The Crimson Hawks are giving up 57 points per game on the road, allowing 60 points just three times
• Edinboro is 10-1 at home this season and is coming off of a 83-74 loss to Seton Hill at McComb on Wednesday
• The Fighting Scots are seventh in Division II with 12.52 steals per game, swiping 14 in their first meeting with IUP
• IUP So. G Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Central Catholic) is averaging more than 18 points and four assists over the last five games

CRIMSON HAWKS ARE 8-1 IN TRUE ROAD GAMES THIS YEAR
The Crimson Hawks have had success on the road this year, going 8-1 with a scoring margin of +13.8. They’ve gone for more than 70 points on four occasions, including a 95-point output at Slippery Rock on January 6. IUP’s key road win came at Mercyhurst, winning 64-54 back on January 9. Four Crimson Hawks are scoring in double-figures on the road, led by Jr. F Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) at 14.5 points per game.

CRIMSON HAWKS ONE OF TOP THREE-POINT SHOOTING TEAMS IN PSAC
IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 16th in Division II with a 36.8 three-point field goal percentage. The Crimson Hawks have drained 35 treys with a 43.8 percentage during their five-game win streak, including a 14-21 performance last Saturday against Slippery Rock. R-So. G Lauren Wolosik (Pittsburgh, Pa. /North Catholic) is the team-leader with 42 threes made and a 42.4 three-point percentage.

IUP RANKS EIGHTH IN DIVISION II WITH 5.64 BLOCKS PER GAME
Led by So. F Brittany Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin East), the Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC and rank eighth in the country with 5.64 blocked shots per game. Robinson is putting together one of the best blocking seasons in program history with 43 through 22 games, while Jr. F Megan Smith (Blain, Pa./West Perry) has added 26. Four more players have at least 11 this year for a team that has performances of 14 blocks vs. Shippensburg (Dec. 3) and 10 blocks vs. UPJ (Jan. 3).

BRITTANY ROBINSON IS ONE OF THE TOP SHOT BLOCKERS IN ATLANTIC REGION
Robinson is second in the PSAC, third in the Atlantic Region, and 35th in Division II averaging 1.95 blocked shots per game. She’s posted at least one block in 18 of 22 games, and is currently on a streak of nine straight games with a swat. Robinson has performances of seven blocks (vs. Shippensburg) and six blocks (at Millersville), and is on pace to have one of the top individual seasons in IUP history.

CAROLYN APPLEBY LEADING IUP’s RECENT OFFENSIVE SURGE
IUP is averaging nearly 78 points during its current five-game win streak, and So. G Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg, Pa. /Greensburg Central Catholic) has led the way by averaging 18.4 points per game. She scored a career-high 24 points at Seton Hill, and has shot 50.0 percent (31-62) from the field and 87.0 percent (20-23) from the foul line over the last five. Appleby has even been getting teammates involved, dishing out 4.6 assists per game during the same span.

LAUREN WOLOSIK ADDING A SCORING TOUCH OVER THE LAST WEEK
Wolosik has also scored at a high pace over the last week, averaging 23.5 points in the last two games. She scored a career-high 29 points in last Saturday’s 105-73 win over Slippery Rock, and followed that up with 18 points at Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday. Wolosik also hit a career-best five three-pointers last weekend, and is averaging 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.0 steals over the last two.

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IUP TRAVELS TO EDINBORO SATURDAY

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