From IUP Sports Information:
WOMEN:
No. 8 Crimson Hawks close out December with challenging home weekend
The No. 8 IUP women’s basketball team (9-0, 3-0 PSAC) closes out its December schedule with a pair of challenging home conference crossover matchups with Shepherd (9-0, 3-0 PSAC) and Shippensburg (6-3, 2-1 PSAC) this weekend. The Crimson Hawks will play Shepherd Saturday and Shippensburg Sunday, with both games starting at 1 p.m. at the Kovalchick Complex. IUP has won nine straight to start the year and is coming off a 70-40 home win over Millersville Tuesday. The Rams were also last in action Tuesday, defeating Pitt-Johnstown on the road 71-51 while the Raiders defeated Clarion 67-48 in Clarion. TIPOFF NOTES>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro scored a game-high 18 points on an efficient shooting night (6-7 FGs, 6-7 FTs) in the win over Millersville. It was a season-high for Mascaro, who is averaging a team-best 13.9 PPG. >> IUP held Millersville to a 27.8 FG%, the fifth time this year the Hawks held a team below 30 pct. from the floor. >> It was the third 30-point win this year and the 36th victory of that nature in the Tom McConnell era (since 2013).>> The Hawks are now 6-0 at home this season. They are 89-9 (.908) at home since the 2014-15 season and 60-6 (.909) against PSAC opponents in Indiana during that same span. >> IUP last met each of these teams on the weekend of Dec. 20-21, 2019, winning both – 91-76 at Shepherd and 69-61 at Shippensburg. Mascaro averaged 27.5 PPG and 8.0 RPG in those two wins. >> IUP HC Tom McConnell is 3-1 against Shepherd, the only loss coming in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Championships (68-60) at Cal U. McConnell is 6-0 against Shippensburg. >> The Shepherd game will be IUP’s first game against a ranked opponent since Cal U on 1/18/20 (W 76-61).>> The Hawks have an 80-10 (.889) regular season record against conference foes since 2016-17. They are 27-0 against PSAC East teams in the regular season during that stretch.WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RAMS>> Shepherd is 9-0 overall and 3-0 in the PSAC.>> They are receiving votes in the WBCA Coaches’ Poll and ranked No. 20 in the D2SIDA Media Poll.>> The Rams have the top scoring offense in the PSAC at 74.3 PPG, winning games by an average of 16.6 PPG.>> Abby Beeman and Marley McLaughlin are both tied for 3rd in the PSAC with 19.2 PPG. >> The Rams lead the PSAC and rank 19th in Division II with a 36.5 3FG% (57-156).WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RAIDERS>> Shippensburg is 6-3 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC.>> The Raiders are tied with Shepherd with the top scoring offense in the PSAC at 74.3 PPG. >> SU has been playing without 2020 PSAC East Athlete of the Year Ariel Jones (21.0 PPG) since the third game.>> Destiny Jefferson is averaging 19.1 PPG with five 20-point games this season.IUP IN THE POLLS>> The Crimson Hawks moved up to No. 8 in the WBCA Coaches’ Poll and No. 6 in the D2SIDA Media Poll.>> It’s the 56th time in the last 57 polls the Hawks have been eligible for that they rank in the top-25, dating back to the 2017-18 preseason poll. >> IUP has been ranked in the top-10 in 45 weeks of those 57 possible polls. IUP OFF TO ANOTHER UNBEATEN START>> The Crimson Hawks finished their non-conference schedule in November with a 6-0 record.>> This is the third time in the last four seasons the Hawks went unbeaten in regular season non-league play.>> IUP has PSAC crossover wins over Kutztown, West Chester and Millersville to improve to 9-0.>> The best start in program history was 16 straight wins to open the 1999-00 season. >> IUP also opened the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons with 15 straight wins. IUP DEFENSE HAS BEEN KEY>> IUP is 3rd in Division II in points allowed (49.1) and 4th in defensive FG% (.310). >> The Hawks have held opponents under 60 points seven times and to 40 or less three times. >> IUP has 3+ blocks in a game seven times, including a season-high 9 against UDC back in November.>> IUP had a season-high 18 steals against Mount Aloysius, the most since 19 against Shippensburg in Dec. ’18.WINNING THE BATTLE OF THE BOARDS>> The Hawks lead the PSAC and rank 2nd in Division II with a +13.7 rebound margin. >> IUP has won the battle of the boards by at least +11 eight times, including +30 (50-20) against Mount Aloysius.>> IUP’s 42.3 rebounds per game is 2nd in the PSAC.>> Sr. F Maura D’Anna leads the team with 7.4 RPG, Fr. F Gina Adams is 2nd at 6.2 RPG and Jr. F Teirra Preston is 3rd at 5.3.ALWAYS LOOKING TO HELP>> IUP leads the PSAC and ranks 42nd in Division II with 16.1 assists per game (145 total)>> IUP has assisted on 58.7 pct of its 247 made buckets.>> Six players have double-digit assists, including three with 22+ led by So. G Maria Cerro with 28 (3.1 APG).>> IUP also leads the PSAC in assist-turnover ratio (1.01-1). MASCARO BRINGS CONSISTENCY>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro is IUP’s top scorer at 13.9 PPG and has led the Hawks in scoring four times. >> She has eight double-figure scoring games, including a season-high 18 against Millersville.>> Mascaro is 7th in the PSAC with a 53.8 FG% (49-91) and has shot better than 50 percent six times.>> She has scored in double-figures 29 times in 39 career games at IUP, including nine 20-point games. ALEXANDER LOOKS TO CONTINUE BREAKOUT>> After averaging 6.5 PPG over the first four games, Sr. G Courtney Alexander has scored double-figures five times and is averaging 18.0 over the last five games.>> She had back-to-back career-highs – 24 points at Ohio Dominican and 28 points at Kutztown.>> Alexander is shooting 51.7 pct. (29-56) in the last four games while making 19 3-pointers. >> She tied an IUP single game record with 8 threes (8-14) in the Hawks’ win at Kutztown.>> Alexander leads the PSAC and ranks 17th in Division II with 27 3FGs made. She’s also tops in the league and 11th in the nation with 3.00 made 3s per game. CERRO STEPPING UP IN SECOND SEASON>> So. G Maria Cerro has proven to be an effective scorer from her point guard position, ranking 3rd in the team with 8.1 PPG through nine games.>> She averaged 13.3 PPG over a 4-game stretch after scoring 4 combined points in the opening two games.>> Cerro had a career-high 23 points on 7-12 FGs and 7-9 FTs in the win over the Dist. of Columbia.>> Cerro also leads the team with 28 assists.D’ANNA PROVIDES EXPERIENCE IN THE POST>> Sr. F Maura D’Anna is tied for 4th on the team with 7.2 PPG and has a team-best 7.4 RPG. >> She tallied her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds vs. Livingstone.>> She ranks 5th in the PSAC with 1.56 blocks per game, including a career-high 4 against Virginia State. FRESHMEN GETTING IT DONE>> After sitting out last season due to the pandemic, Fr. F Gina Adams and Fr. G Kiera Baughman have impressed early in their first seasons.>> Adams is averaging 7.1 PPG and 6.2 RPG in nine starts.>> She had her first career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Ohio Dominican.>> Kiera Baughman is averaging 14.3 MPG and is IUP’s top bench scorer at 8.1 PPG. >> The point guard scored a season-high 16 points in the win over Mount Aloysius.
MEN
No. 6 Hawks host pair of PSAC crossovers this weekend
The No. 6-ranked IUP men’s basketball team (8-0, 3-0 PSAC) plays host to conference crossover action this weekend as Shepherd (5-4, 1-2 PSAC) and Shippensburg (5-3, 2-1 PSAC) make the trip to Indiana. The Crimson Hawks play Shepherd Saturday and Shippensburg Sunday, with both tipoffs at 3 p.m. at the Kovalchick Complex. IUP is coming off an 81-58 home win over Millersville on Tuesday, its first game playing without the injured Shawndale Jones. Shepherd has dropped three of its last four, including a 65-64 defeat at Pitt-Johnstown Tuesday. The Raiders have won three straight and is coming off a 70-61 win at Clarion. TIPOFF NOTES>> Jr. G Armoni Foster scored a game-high 27 points in just 28 minutes against Millersville. >> Soph. F Ethan Porterfield had a career-high 23 points and 5th yr. F Tommy Demogerontas had his third double-double of the year with 15 points and 12 rebounds. >> Several Hawks fought through foul trouble as IUP accumulated 24 personal fouls. MU finished 17-30 at the line. >> IUP’s 81 points against Millersville is its lowest output of the season. The Hawks have scored 90 points in five of their eight games, breaking the 100-point mark twice. >> It was announced Dec. 13 that Sr. G Shawndale Jones will miss the remainder of the season due to an injury he suffered in the win at West Chester. Jones was leading the PSAC and ranked 5th in Division II with 25.0 PPG.>> IUP HC Joe Lombardi is 1-0 against Shepherd, winning 76-62 in 2019. He has a 9-4 lifetime record against Shippensburg, including a 4-3 mark against former assistant and current SU coach Chris Fite. >> The Hawks have won 23 straight home games dating back to the start of the 2019-20 season. >> IUP is 203-35 (.853) at home under Lombardi since he took over in 2006-07.>> IUP leads the PSAC in scoring (93.5), field goal pct. (.536), 3FG pct. (.388), and assists/game (19.5). The Hawks are also 2nd in 3FGs made/game (8.9) and scoring margin (+25.2), and third in steals/game (11.0). WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RAMS>> Shepherd is 5-4 overall and 1-2 in the PSAC.>> The Rams had a 4-game win streak snapped Dec. 3 against Gannon and have lost three of four since. >> SU is 17th in the PSAC in scoring at 68.7 PPG but 2nd defensively allowing just 63.6 PPG. >> The Rams lead the PSAC in 3FGs made per game (9.0), total made (81), and total attempted (232). WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RAIDERS>> Shippensburg is 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC.>> The Raiders have won three straight games by an average of 8.3 points per game. >> SU is 16th in the PSAC in scoring at 69.1 PPG but 3rd defensively allowing just 66.5 PPG. >> The Rams lead the PSAC in 3FGs made per game (9.0), total made (81), and total attempted (232). IUP IN THE POLLS>> The Crimson Hawks remained at No. 6 in the NABC Coaches’ and No. 3 in the D2SIDA Media Polls.>> It’s the 38th time in the last 40 polls the Hawks have been eligible for that they rank in the top-10, dating back to the 2019-20 preseason poll. >> IUP spent the entire 2018-19 season in the top-5 of the media poll and all of 2019-20 in the top-10.IUP OFF TO ANOTHER UNBEATEN START>> The Crimson Hawks won their first five non-conference games and three straight to open the PSAC slate.>> This is the fifth time since the 2009-10 season that IUP has opened a season with at least 8 straight wins. >> IUP’s best start under Lombardi was 14-0 to open the 2017-18 and 2013-14 seasons.>> IUP started the 2019-20 season 9-0 and the 2009-10 season 11-0.HAWKS HOT OFFENSE PROVIDES FIREWORKS>> IUP leads the PSAC and is 4th in DII with 93.5 PPG.>> The Hawks have scored at least 81 points all eight games, including two 100-point games – 106 vs. Le Moyne and 103 at West Chester.>> IUP also leads the nation with a 53.6 FG%.>> IUP leads the PSAC with 9.0 made 3s per game. >> The Hawks’ 19.5 assists per game are 5th in Division II.>> IUP shot 67.8 pct (40-59) from the field, 52.4 pct. from 3 (11-21) and dished out 28 assists in the 97-45 win over Virginia State.>> Four of IUP’s starters are averaging double-figures.MAKING PLAYS ON DEFENSE>> IUP is 6th in Division II with 11.0 steals per game. >> Jr. G Dave Morris is among the national leaders with 24 steals and 3.4 per game.>> The Hawks’ 4.4 blocks per game is 4th in the PSAC, getting at least 6 blocks in a game four times. >> IUP has won the rebound battle is seven of eight games and is 3rd in the PSAC with a +7.9 margin.IUP SUCCESSFUL AT HOME>> The Crimson Hawks have won 23 straight home games dating back to the 2019-20 season.>> IUP’s longest home win streak during the Lombardi Era is 30 straight victories. That streak ran from the 2008-09 to the 2010-11 seasons.>> IUP is 42-2 (.954) at home since 2018-19 and 128-16 (.889) since the 2012-13 season. >> IUP has two undefeated home seasons under Lombardi – 18-0 in 2009-10 and 16-0 in 2019-20. JONES WILL NOT RETURN IN 2021-22>> Sr. G Shawndale Jones will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season after suffering an injury at West Chester.>> At the time of his injury, Jones led the PSAC and ranked 6th in Division II with 25.0 PPG. >> He had five 20-point games, including a career-high 37 points at Bowie State.>> He’s one of four IUP players this century to score at least 37 points in a game. >> He was also 9th in the PSAC with a 57.4 FG%, 4th with an 86.8 FT%, and 4th with 33 free throws made. FOSTER GETTING IT DONE ALL OVER THE COURT>> Jr. G Armoni Foster is averaging 20.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 5.6 APG, to go along with 13 steals and 6 blocks.>> Foster earned back-to-back PSAC West Athlete of the Week honors (Nov. 29, Dec. 6).>> He’s one of four players in Division II with a triple-double, going for 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds against Virginia State. >> Foster also has two double-doubles this year: 17 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists against Concord and 17 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds against Le Moyne.>> Foster went over 1,000 career points during the win at Kutztown. He’s currently tied for 31st with 1,064 points.DEMOGERONTAS A DOUBLE-DOUBLE THREAT>> 5th yr. F Tommy Demogerontas is averaging 14.0 PPG and a team-best 8.6 RPG this year.>> He posted his 3rd double-double of the year with 15 points and 12 boards against Millersville. >> He has five double-doubles in 15 games at IUP.>> Demogerontas is 5th in the PSAC and 47th in Division II with a 60.3 FG%. >> He’s a threat from 3-point range with a 54.5 3FG% (12-22), going 4-4 against Bowie State.PORTERFIELD IS MR. INSIDE AND MR. OUTSIDE>> So. F Ethan Porterfield is averaging 16.0 PPG and 5.9 RPG, has 17 3-pointers and 15 blocks.>> He leads the PSAC with a 51.5 3FG% (17-33).>> He’s tied for 3rd in the PSAC with a 62.5 FG% (50-80).>> Porterfield’s 1.88 BPG is 4th in the PSAC.>> He’s hit career-highs in back-to-back games: 21 points vs. West Chester and 23 vs. Millersville.
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