Play begins today at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional in Edinboro, with the IUP women slated to play the last of the four games on the schedule. The action tips off at noon with number three Seton Hill taking on number six Kutztown. At 2:30, second seed Gannon plays number seven Fayetteville State. Then at 5, top seed Edinboro meets number eight Virginia State, followed at 7:30 by IUP against Fairmont State in the 4/5 matchup.
IUP is 21-7 and Fairmont State is 27-4. It’s the ninth all-time meeting between the two schools, with IUP holding a 5-3 edge. Fairmont State won the last time they played, early in the 2023-24 season. With a win, IUP would play the winner of the Edinboro/Virginia State game at 7:30 tomorrow night.
GAME NOTES (PROVIDED BY IUP):
IUP TIPOFF NOTES
- IUP is making its 17th DII Tournament appearance and the second under third-year head coach Craig Carey.
- The winner of Friday’s matchup between IUP/Fairmont State takes on the winner of No. 8 Virginia State / No. 1 Edinboro on Saturday, March 15 in the Atlantic Region Semifinals.
- IUP is returning to action for the first time since a 66-64 setback against Edinboro on Wednesday, March 5 in the PSAC Quarterfinals.
- Nyshae’ Weaver just surpassed 1,000 career points at Edinboro, she joins Shamia Strayhorn and Grace Centrulla.
- IUP and Fairmont State will meet for the ninth time overall, with a 5-3 record. The teams last met early last season at Fairmont State but the Hawks lost 78-64.
- IUP earned two All-PSAC West First Team selections including junior forward Nyshae’ Weaver and senior guard Shamia Strayhorn. Weaver earned four PSAC weekly awards and Ellie Wilkerson earned one.
- IUP is 21-7 overall which included a 9-0 run to start the season.
- IUP is 30th nationally in rebounding margin (+6.4) and first in the PSAC for defensive rebounds per game.
- IUP is averaging 69.4 PPG, 40.3 RPG, 13.3 APG, 9.0 SPG, and 3.0 BPG.
- They are shooting .444 from the field, .296 beyond the arc, and .694 from the free throw line.
- The Hawks are holding their opponents to 59.6 PPG and .374 beyond the arc.
FAIRMONT STATE AT A GLANCE
- Fairmont State made an appearance in the 2024 NCAA DII Atlantic Regional with a win against No. 7 West Chester in the Quarterfinals but fell to No. 3 Fayetteville State in the semifinals, 70-62.
- On Sunday, Fairmont State defeated Glenville State 79-69 to be crowned the Mountain East Conference Champions in back-to-back season.
- They finished the regular season 17-3 in the conference and are 27-4 overall, currently holding a nine-game win streak.
- Fairmont State is receiving votes in the D2CSC Women’s Basketball National Poll.
- The Fighting Falcons earned two major MEC postseason awards. Junior guard Leslie Huffman was named the MEC Player of the Year and head coach Stephanie Anderson was named the MEC Coach of the Year.
- Graduate guard Alyssa DeAngelo was a first team selection and graduate forward Jalen Gibbs earned second team honors.
- Following the conclusion of the MEC Championship, three players were named to the All-Tournament team including Huffman, Madeline Huffman, and DeAngelo. L. Huffman was named the MEC Tournament MVP and senior Aaliyah Brunny was selected for Commissioner’s Heart and Hustle Award.
- The team is averaging 79.0 PPG, 37.0 RPG, 12.7 APG, 11.6 SPG, and 3.8 BPG.
- The Fighting Falcons are shooting .439 from the field, .336 beyond the arc, and .723 from the free throw line.
- Fairmont State holds their opponents to 61.6 PPG and .379 from the field.
- Gibbs leads the MEC with a .571 field goal percentage, is ranked 11th averaging 12.9 PPG, and ninth averaging 7.1 RPG.
- Both Huffman and DeAngelo rank in the MEC top five in scoring, ranking third (17.6) and fifth (15.0) respectively.
- Four of five starters have been the same throughout the 31 games this season, besides one who missed just one game, sitting with 30 starts.
- In the beginning of the 2024-25 season, Fairmont State matched up with three PSAC opponents holding a 2-1 result.
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