The PSAC playoffs begin tonight with the fourth seeded IUP women hosting fifth seeded Edinboro at the KCAC. Jack Benedict has the call of the game on 92.5 FM U92 and the U92 Sportschannel.
IUP comes into the game at 21-7, 15-7 in the PSAC. The Crimson Hawks beat Edinboro, 76-67, at the KCAC on January 26th, but the Fighting Scots won at Edinboro on February 16th, 71-61.
Coach Tom McConnell says making the playoffs is always special, and he does whatever he can to keep the team relaxed.
The IUP men, seeded number one, have a first round bye. They will open their PSAC playoff run Wednesday night at home against the winner of tonight’s game between Cal U and Slippery Rock.
IUP WOMEN’S GAME NOTES (Courtesy IUP Sports Information):
The fourth-seeded IUP women’s basketball team (21-7, 15-7 PSAC) opens PSAC tournament play Monday night as they host fifth-seeded Edinboro (13-11, 11-10 PSAC) at the KCAC. Tipoff is 7 p.m. The Crimson Hawks enter the postseason with a 3-game win streak and are coming off a 58-37 win over Pitt-Johnston on Saturday. The Fighting Scots dropped their regular season finale, losing to Seton Hill 72-60 at home. TIPOFF NOTES>> IUP is making its 24th all-time PSAC tournament appearance, including 16 straight dating back to 2006.>> The 16 straight appearances is the second longest active streak in the conference (Cal U, 21).>> The Crimson Hawks are 32-17 (.653) in the PSAC tournament, including 2-0 in the first round. IUP last played a PSAC first round game in 2014, HC Tom McConnell‘s first season, defeating UPJ 79-56 at home.>> The Hawks are looking for the program’s seventh PSAC Championship and third under McConnell in the last five seasons. A seventh title would be the most in league history.>> IUP enters the PSAC tournament sitting at No. 6 in the NCAA Atlantic Region rankings. >> The Hawks posted their seventh straight 20-win season under McConnell. The program has 14 20-win campaigns in its history with no other coach posting more than three. >> IUP and Edinboro split the regular season series, each winning on its home court. The Hawks had a combined -15 turnover margin but outshot Edinboro .495-.376 and outrebounded the Scots by +4.0 per game. >> McConnell is 13-5 against Edinboro including four straight wins at home with a +13.8 scoring margin.>> IUP is 13-3 (.813) at home this year and 96-12 (.889) over the last seven seasons under McConnell. > This year IUP has a +18.1 scoring margin at the KCAC and is limiting opponents to a 31.5 FG%. >> The Hawks are 54-11 in February and March over the last five seasons, including 26-4 at home and 28-7 away from Indiana. IUP won PSAC titles on the road in 2017 and 2019 and back-to-back regional titles in VA and WV. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIGHTING SCOTS>> Edinboro is 13-11 overall and earned the No. 5 seed in the PSAC West with a 11-10 league record.>> The Fighting Scots are making their 11th straight PSAC tournament appearance.>> EU is 1-2 since defeating IUP at home on Feb. 16, defeating SRU and falling to Mercyhurst and Seton Hill.>> Boro is 3-8 on the road with a -10.7 scoring margin.16 STRAIGHT PSAC TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES>> IUP clinched the program’s 16th straight PSAC tournament berth after the Slippery Rock win on Feb. 14. >> It’s the second longest active streak in the PSAC behind Cal U’s 21 straight. >> IUP HC Tom McConnell has a 13-5 record in the PSAC tournament including titles in 2017 and 2019.>> IUP’s 6 conference championships are tied with Cal U and Shippensburg for the most in PSAC history.HAWKS WERE NO. 6 IN LATEST SEED RELEASE>> IUP sits at No. 6 in the latest Atlantic Region seed reveal by the NCAA Selection Committee.>> The NCAA will reveal one final ranking prior to the announcement of the field of 64 on Sunday, March 6. >> IUP is looking to clinch its 7th NCAA tournament appearance since 2015. IUP IN THE POLLS>> The Crimson Hawks enter the postseason not ranked in either poll for the first time since the 2016-17 season.>> IUP had been ranked for 10 straight weeks during the regular season.>> IUP’s highest ranks this season were No. 8 by the coaches and No. 6 by the media. >> The Hawks have been ranked in the top-25 of either poll for 61 of the last 67 weeks they have been eligible dating back to the 2017-18 preseason. >> IUP has been ranked in the top-10 in 45 of those possible 67 polls. THE HAWKS HOME COURT ADVANTAGE>> IUP is 13-3 at home this season, including 5-0 in non-conference play at 8-3 against PSAC teams.>> The Hawks have a +18.1 scoring margin at home this season, with seven wins coming by at least 20 points.>> IUP had a 66-point win over Mount Aloysius (101-35) and a 51-point win over Clarion (92-41). >> IUP is 96-12 (.889) at home over the last seven seasons, including 26-4 (.867) in February and March. EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES>> 10 players on the roster have played in 22 of the 28 games while all 15 have played multiple contests.>> Three Hawks average double-figures while five averaging 6.5 PPG for for the PSAC’s 2nd-ranked scoring offense. >> Seven players have led IUP in scoring this season.>> Eight players have scored in double-figures at least once this season.IUP DEFENSE HAS BEEN KEY>> The Crimson Hawks are 3rd in the PSAC and rank 17th in Division II with 55.2 points allowed this season.>> They have held opponents to 60 or fewer points 18 times in 28 games, including four times under 40. >> Opponents are scoring just 44.0 points with a 29.9 FG% and a 27.4 3FG% against IUP over the last three games.>> IUP gave up a season-low 35 points to Mount Aloysius on Nov. 17. The Hawks also allowed 37 points to UPJ, 38 to Livingstone, 40 to Millersville and 41 to Clarion.>> The Hawks are 2nd in the PSAC and rank 18th in Division II in defensive field goal percentage (.349). >> IUP has held opponents under 40.0 pct. shooting 11 times in the last 13 games. >> Seven times IUP has forced an opponent to shoot less than 30 percent, with UDC shooting a season-low 24.4 pct. on Nov. 21. >> The Hawks are 11th in the PSAC with 7.7 steals per game. They’ve had double-digit steals seven times, including a season-high 18 against Mount Aloysius. WINNING THE BATTLE OF THE BOARDS>> The Hawks lead the PSAC and rank 16th in Division II with +8.2 rebound margin.>> They’ve won the battle of the boards 22 times in their 28 games, including 16 times in 22 PSAC games.>> They are 19-3 when winning the rebound battle.>> IUP’s 39.2 rebounds per game is 4th in the PSAC.>> Seven players have led IUP in rebounding this year.ALWAYS LOOKING TO HELP>> IUP is 2nd in the PSAC with 14.9 assists per game.>> IUP has assisted on 56.8 pct of its 732 made buckets.>> The Hawks have dished out double-digit assists in 26 of 28 games this year, including five games of 20+.>> They tallied a season-high 25 assists against Mount Aloysius and 23 against Clarion.>> 10 players have double-digit assists, including five with 52 or more helpers.KNOCKING THEM DOWN>> IUP is 1st in the PSAC and 15th in Division II in field goal percentage at 45.2 pct. >> The Hawks have knocked down half their shots in a game five times, including a season-best 54.7 pct. (35-64) against Clarion.>> IUP is 20-4 this year when shooting better from the field than its opponent. 1-3 when shooting worse.>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro leads the team with a 54.8 FG%.FROM WAY DOWN TOWN>> The Hawks are 2nd in the PSAC with a 32.5 3FG%.>> IUP’s 6.2 made 3FGs per game is 5th in the PSAC.>> IUP is coming off its best two back-to-back performances from deep this year, hitting 12-24 against Clarion and 8-19 against UPJ. >> IUP also made 12-34 3FGs against Shippensburg. >> Despite missing six games, Sr. G Courtney Alexander still leads IUP with 61 made 3FGs. >> The trio of Alexander, Sr. G Justina Mascaro and Fr. G Kiera Baughman have combined for 138 of IUP’s 174 made 3-pointers (79.3 pct.)ALEXANDER HAVING BREAK OUT SENIOR SEASON>> Sr. G Courtney Alexander has a team-best 61 3-point field goals and is 2nd on the team with 12.3 PPG. >> Her 2.8 made 3-pointers per game leads the PSAC and ranks 14th in Division II.>> Alexander missed six games in January with an injury. >> She scored in double-figures in seven straight games before her injury on Dec. 19, averaging 18.9 PPG. >> Alexander is averaging 10.2 PPG in 11 games since returning from injury, including 15.4 in the last five.>> Alexander has five 20-point games this year, including a career-high 31 points against Shippensburg.>> She set an IUP single game record with 9 3-pointers in the win over Shippensburg on Dec. 19.>> Alexander tied the previous record of 8 in the win over Kuztown on Dec. 3. >> She is 7th in IUP history with 157 career 3-pointers made (Carolyn Appleby, 6th, 168). MASCARO BRINGS CONSISTENCY>> Sr. G Justina Mascaro is averaging 13.3 PPG and 4.9 RPG with 52 assists and 31 steals. >> In addition to leading the team in scoring, she ranks 2nd in the PSAC with a 54.8 FG%. >> She’s led IUP in scoring 11 times and has reached double-figures 21 times in 28 games.>> Mascaro has three 20-point outings, including a season-high 24 points, 10 made FGs and 4 made 3FGs against Gannon on Jan. 16.>> She’s shot at least 50.0 pct. in a game 17 times in 28 games, including a season-best 8-10 performance against Cal U (Jan. 31).>> Mascaro heads into Saturday’s game with 971 career points, including 800 scored (13.8 PPG) at IUP over the last two seasons (58 games).>> Mascaro has scored in double-figures 42 times in 58 career games at IUP, including 12 20-point games.>> She was a first team All-PSAC West performer in 2019-20, her first season at IUP.FINK STANDING OUT>> Jr. G Rajah Fink ranks 3rd on the team with 10.9 PPG and 4.7 RPG, and is 2nd with 63 assists.>> Since moving into the starting lineup on Jan. 16 (17 starts), she has been the team’s leading scorer (14.8 PPG) and 2nd leading rebounder (6.1 RPG).>> She was named PSAC West co-Athlete of the Week on Jan. 31 after averaging 19.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 4.7 APG with a 56.4 FG% in three games. >> Fink tallied her first two career double-doubles against Edinboro (Jan. 26) and Mercyhurst (Jan. 29). >> She’s reached double-figures in scoring 14 times in her last 16 games.>> Fink has four 20-point games this year, including 21 points against Mercyhurst, Slippery Rock, and UPJ.>> Fink had a career-high 11 rebounds against Edinboro.>> She came on at the end of her sophomore season of 2019-20, averaging 10.9 PPG with six double-figure outings in the final 11 games. D’ANNA PROVIDES EXPERIENCE IN THE POST>> Sr. F Maura D’Anna is 5th on the team with 6.5 PPG and has a team-best 7.4 RPG. >> She’s averaging 11.0 RPG over her last three outings and has four double-digit games in the last eight.>> She has seven games of 10+ boards on the year.>> She has five double-figure scoring games including a season-high 14 points against Virginia State.>> D’Anna posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards against Livingstone.>> She’s converted at least half her shots in 15 of her 27 games, including 7-8 against Virginia State.>> D’Anna leads IUP in both blocks (34) and steals (33).>> She is 6th in IUP history with 117 career blocks (Sherri Leysock, 5th, 130)>> Her 1.2 blocks per game is 10th in the PSAC, getting a career-high 4 blocks against Virginia State.KB MOVES INTO THE STARTING LINEUP>> Fr. G Kiera Baughman is putting together one of the top freshman seasons in program history.>> She has a team-best 70 assists and is 4th on the team in scoring at 9.4 PPG. >> Her 262 points is the most by an IUP freshman since Cathy Torchia’s 369 (13.7 PPG) in 1989-90. >> She made her first start at Lock Haven (Feb. 2), hitting a career-high 19 points on 7-12 FGs and 5-5 FTs.>> She’s averaging 9.8 PPG in nine starts and 9.1 PPG in 19 games off the bench.>> Baughman posted back-to-back double-doubles: 15 points and 10 rebounds at Slippery Rock (Feb. 5); 16 points and 12 rebounds at Mercyhurst (Feb. 7).>> She’s scored in double-figures 14 times this season, including 12 times in the last 19 games.>> She’s 3rd on the team with 30 3-pointers and a 34.1 3FG%. ADAMS IS ANOTHER VALUABLE FRESHMAN>> Fr. F Gina Adams started the first 19 games and has played in all 28 in her first year. >> She’s averaging 5.3 PPG and had a season-high 16 points in the win at Clarion on Jan. 22.>> Adams is 4th on the team with 4.3 RPG. >> She had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Ohio Dominican.>> She’s shooting 46.4 pct. (58-125) from the field and has converted at least half her shots in 13 games. A NEW ADDITION IN 2022>> Grace Mangapora joined the team on Jan. 4. She made her debut against Gannon on Jan. 16.>> She’s played in 8 games and is shooting 54.5 pct (6-11), including 4-8 from 3-point range.>> Mangapora just finished her sophomore season on the IUP women’s volleyball team where she started 10 matches this fall.>> She was a 4-year starter, 1,000-point scorer, an Division I All-Ohio selection Canfield HS.
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