IUP MEN AND WOMEN BOTH NET SATURDAY WINS

FROM IUP ATHLETICS:

MEN

Shawndale Jones scored 23 points to lead five Crimson Hawks in double-figures as the No. 18 IUP men’s basketball team defeated Concord, 98-78, Saturday night at the Kovalchick Complex. It was the second day of the IRMC/Hilton Garden Inn Classic.

Jones shot 9-17 from the field and 3-4 from the foul line in 34 minutes of work as he finished off a successful 2021-22 opening weekend.

Armoni Foster posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, adding seven assists, three steals and two blocks.  Dave Morris scored 16 points and had six steals, Ethan Porterfield had 14 points and Tommy Demogerontas had 12 points and seven rebounds.

IUP led by as many as 19 points in the first half, using an early 13-2 run to get out to a quick lead. Concord played it closer in the early going of the second half but the Crimson Hawks mostly kept their lead in the 20s and cruised to the easy win.

The Crimson Hawks shot 46.4 percent from the field, made 28-36 from the free throw line, and held a +8 rebounding advantage in the win.

Up next
The Crimson Hawks face Le Moyne Tuesday night at the Kovalchick Complex. Tipoff of 7:30 p.m.

WOMEN

Justina Mascaro scored a game-high 16 points as the IUP women’s basketball team defeated Virginia State, 51-42, in its 2021-22 season opener Saturday afternoon at the Kovalchick Complex.

The Crimson Hawks held off a second half comeback by the Trojans, who outscored IUP, 26-24, in the second half.

The IUP defense limited Virginia State to just 15-57 shooting – 26.3 percent – and forced 12 turnovers. The Trojans managed just 16 points in the first half.

Mascaro’s 16 points came on 7-15 shooting with five rebounds in 37 minutes.  Maura D’Anna also scored in double-figures, finishing with 14 points, nine boards, and four blocks in 26 minutes.

The Crimson Hawks led by double-digits at halftime and built a 20-point lead at 40-20 on a Mascaro bucket with 4:25 left in the third quarter. The Trojans cut their deficit to single digits in the fourth quarter but buckets by Courtney Alexander and Mascaro in the final 1:35 sealed the victory.

Up next
The Crimson Hawks will play Livingstone Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.