Lady Hawks Triumph Over Edinboro
EDINBORO, Pa. — The IUP women’s basketball team celebrated their first PSAC West victory of the season, defeating Edinboro 83-70 this afternoon. This notable win improved IUP’s record to 12-1 overall, with a strong 7-0 in the PSAC, while Edinboro fell to 11-3 overall and 5-1 in the conference.
Starting strong, IUP built a commanding 22-10 lead by the end of the first quarter and continued to gain momentum in the latter half. With a shooting percentage of .558 from the field and a remarkable 18 out of 20 free throw conversions, the Lady Hawks showcased their offensive efficiency. Defensively, they dominated the boards, securing 27 defensive rebounds, almost 10 more than Edinboro.
Nyshae’ Weaver notched her sixth double-double of the season with an impressive 17 points and 14 rebounds. Fellow teammate Ellie Wilkerson contributed significantly, scoring 15 points while both players excelled from the free throw line, going a perfect 13-for-13. In addition, Shamia Strayhorn added 14 points and led the team with four steals and six assists. Marin Miller also made her mark with 11 points, shooting an impressive .833 from the field.
The game began with Edinboro taking a quick 4-0 lead. IUP quickly responded with a 5-0 run powered by a three-pointer from Janeira Scott and a layup from Grace Centrulla. A defensive rebound by Weaver set up Wilkerson for consecutive layups, allowing the Lady Hawks to surge ahead 15-8. Miller’s three-pointer extended the lead to 10 points, capped by Strayhorn’s floater at the 1:15 mark to end the first quarter with a solid 22-10 advantage.
Edinboro regrouped in the second quarter, narrowing the gap with back-to-back three-pointers. However, Lily Jordan’s layup at 5:30 halted IUP’s scoring drought. Although Edinboro briefly gained a 30-29 lead, IUP’s resilience shone through in the final moments of the half, reclaiming the lead at 34-30 with five successful free throws.
In the third quarter, Scott opened strong with her second three-pointer, boosting the lead to 40-34. She continued to shine, hitting a step-back jumper that brought her into double figures. As Strayhorn and Wilkerson added their names to the scoreline, the Lady Hawks maintained a 10-point lead heading into the last quarter, leading 56-50.
The fourth quarter saw Jarrett nailing a three-pointer followed by consecutive layups from Jordan. Miller continued her offensive impact, going 5-for-6 on the day. With crucial three-pointers from Strayhorn and Centrulla, IUP solidified their lead at 77-68 and ultimately secured the 83-70 victory with six made free throws in the closing moments, upholding their undefeated conference record.
Next Game
IUP will return to the KCAC on Wednesday, January 8, to face Gannon, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 PM.
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This rewritten article maintains all relevant team performance information while incorporating a reader-friendly format with appropriate headings and paragraphs.