From IUP Sports Information
The IUP women’s basketball team had arguably one of the best defenses in the country this season, and the stats backed that up. In the final 2019-20 statistical rankings, the Crimson Hawks ranked in the top-10 in NCAA Division II in four different defensive categories.
IUP led the nation in defensive 3-point field goal percentage at 23.7 percent, and was ranked fourth with a 32.5 field goal percentage defense, eight with 53.3 points allowed per game, and 10th with 5.3 blocks per game.
The Crimson Hawks held opposing offenses under 60 points 24 times in 31 games, including 12 of the final 14 contests to wrap up the year. Opponents failed to score 50 points in 11 of those games and were held in the 30s three times.
IUP locked opponents down from outside the arc, as just six teams shot better than 30.0 percent from 3-point range this year. Just five times in 31 games did opposing offenses shoot 40 percent from the field as the Hawks racked up six or more blocks in a game 13 times, including a season-high 12 in a win over Edinboro and 10 in the PSAC semifinals against East Stroudsburg.
More rankings
In addition to its defensive rankings, IUP ranked in the top-20 of Division II in four more statistical categories.
The Hawks finished 10th in 3-point field goal percentage, 13th in rebounding margin, 18th in field goal percentage and 20th in scoring margin.
IUP shot 37.7 percent from beyond the arc, the third highest percentage in program history. The Hawks also shot 46.1 percent from the field, had a +9.5 rebounding margin and defeated opponents by 16.8 points per game.
More team achievements
The Crimson Hawks finished the year as the PSAC finalists with a 28-3 overall record. They won the PSAC West regular season title with a program record 21 league wins and entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed and host of the Atlantic Region.
IUP also set a new program record with 19 straight wins from November 20 to February 12, starting the conference schedule at 16-0.
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