IUP Erases Huge Second Half Deficit Before Falling Short Against Slippery Rock

Boxscore and play-by-play

IUP overcame a 20-point second half deficit to briefly take the lead late in the game, but Slippery Rock was able to pull out a 62-59 victory in a PSAC West game Wednesday at Morrow Field House.

The loss denied IUP (12-6, 2-1) its first 3-0 start in PSAC West play since the 1999-00 season and came on the day the Crimson Hawks debuted at No. 9 in the first Northeast Region poll of the season.  Slippery Rock improved to 8-9 and is also 2-1 in the division.

Staci Heberling led IUP with 12 points and Katie Glaws added 11.  Jahzinga Tracey, the Crimson Hawks' leading scorer at 17.6 points per game entering the contest, was held to only five points and led IUP with nine rebounds. 

IUP shot just 28 percent in the game, including 5 of 34 for 14.7 percent over the opening 20 minutes when The Rock took a 35-19 lead into intermission.  Slippery Rock won despite committing 25 turnovers but held a 51-42 advantage on the boards.

Nikki Presto was the lone Slippery Rock player in double figures, finishing with 16 points.  Nijha McNeely led all rebounders with 10.

Slippery Rock expanded its 16-point halftime lead to 41-21 with 17:34 left in the game before IUP began its comeback.  The Crimson Hawks got within seven at 49-42 on two free throws and a basket by Kierstin Filla and a steal and layup by Siarra Cornelius, the latter coming with 8:08 remaining.

Cornelius was playing her first game since December 3, missing the past 10 contests with a broken hand.  She finished with seven points and two steals.

The Rock got its lead back up to 10, but IUP put on another surge, getting to within one at 56-55 on a 3-pointer by Glaws, who was fouled on the shot with 1:45 to play. 

Glaws missed the free throw after her long distance shot, but the Crimson Hawks got the ball back and took their first lead of the game at 57-56 on a layup by Lauren Fisher with 1:09 to play.

That would prove to be the only time IUP would be in front as Presto hit two free throws with 51 seconds left, and Dana Stewart converted a layup following a Crimson Hawk turnover.  Trailing 60-57, Heberling was called for an illegal pick with eight seconds left, and Stewart hit two from the line to ice the game.

IUP returns home on Saturday for a 1 p.m. game against California.  The Crimson Hawks will be looking to snap a 12-game losing streak to the Vulcans dating back to the 2000-01 season.