IUP Clinches PSAC West Title Behind Stellar Performance from Jahzinga Tracey

Boxscore and play-by-play

Jahzinga Tracey scored 36 points, just two shy of the IUP single game record, and tied the school mark with 15 field goals, leading the Crimson Hawks to a thrilling 83-82 overtime win over Shippensburg and their first PSAC West title since the 1998-99 season.

IUP, ranked fifth in the East Region, improved to 19-7 overall and 9-2 in the PSAC West and won its third division title in school history.  Shippensburg dropped to 17-10 and 7-5 in the West.  IUP will host an opening round game of the PSAC playoffs Tuesday at 7 p.m. against an opponent to be determined.

Tracey scored 27 of her points in the second half and overtime period to help the Crimson Hawks erase a 38-31 halftime deficit.  She hit 15 of 25 field goal attempts, including a 3-pointer, and 5 of 6 from the line to fall two points shy of the school record set by Cindy Davies against Clarion on February 13, 1985.

The 15 field goals tied the record set three previous times, most recently by Cathy Torchia against Clarion on January 18, 1992.

Three other Crimson Hawks scored in double figures, with Katie Glaws and Staci Heberling scored 11 each and Lauren Fisher finishing with 10.  Tracey had her ninth double-double of the season with 14 rebounds.

Lauren Beckley led Shippensburg with 24 points, followed by Shanna Oaddams and Phylicia Bessick with 11 and Michelle Metz with 10.  Jenny Cunningham paced the Red Raiders on the boards with 11.

The game was tied five times and neither team was ahead by more than two points over the final 6:28 of regulation.  Heberling gave IUP its final lead of the second half when she put back a miss by Kierstin Filla to make it 75-73 with 35 seconds left.

Beckley hit two free throws 11 seconds later to tie it for the 12th time in the contest, and IUP turned the ball over on an inbounds play with 20 seconds remaining.  But Cunningham missed a jumper and the game went into overtime.

Tracey, who scored 21 points in the second half, continued her red hot play in the extra session, hitting the first two baskets of the stanza to give the Crimson Hawks an 79-75 lead.  IUP never gave up the lead as a basket by Glaws and two free throws by Tracey kept Shippensburg at bay.

Metz hit a 3-pointer with nine seconds left to get the Red Raiders within 83-82, and Glaws missed two free throws with four ticks remaining.  But Shippensburg was only able to get off a desperation bomb at the buzzer which did not come close.

Down by seven at intermission, IUP went on a 20-6 run over the first 5:23, taking its biggest lead at 51-44 on a jumper by Tracey with 14:37 remaining in regulation.  But Shippensburg battled back and eventually tied the game at 64 on a layup by Oaddams at the 5:43 mark.

IUP will wrap its regular season on Saturday at Lock Haven with a 1 p.m. tipoff.