IUP shot 70 percent in the second half and scored 52 points, blowing open a close game for a 78-54 win over Cheyney in a PSAC crossover game Wednesday afternoon at Memorial Field House.

The win was the fifth in a row for IUP (7-3), which now breaks for the holidays before resuming play at home on January 3 against Pitt Johnstown.  Cheyney fell to 2-5.

Jahzinga Tracey scored 18 points and Katie Glaws finished with 15 to lead the Crimson Hawks.  Tracey also had eight rebounds and five steals while Glaws dished out four assists.  All 10 IUP players who saw action found their way into the scorebook.

After shooting just 18 percent from the field in the first half and leading by only four at the break, IUP hit 21 of 30 shots over the final 20 minutes, with Tracey and Glaws combining to make 9 of 11 shots. 

The defense played a large role in the big second half surge, making 12 steals during the stanza, including 10 in the first 7:39 that triggered a 26-6 run.  A steal and layup by Lauren Fisher ended the surge with ended with IUP ahead 52-28. 

Fisher had four steals in the game to go along with seven points, seven rebounds and five assists.  Kierstin Filla had eight points and three steals, Staci Heberling had nine points, and Kylie Miller had eight.

Ebony Twiggs led Cheyney with 16 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots.  IUP forced 28 Cheyney turnovers and held the Wolves to 35.5 percent shooting.

After the game against Pitt Johnstown, IUP will host two more PSAC crossover games against Kutztown on January 6 and East Stroudsburg the following day.  Both of those games begin at 1 p.m.

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