Playing in front of her hometown fans in North Canton, Ohio, IUP senior Katie Glaws tied her career high with 20 points as the newly-christened Crimson Hawks defeated Walsh, 78-70, in a non-conference game on Saturday.

The game was the first for IUP since the university's Council of Trustees endorsed and President Tony Atwater accepted the adoption of the Crimson Hawk nickname and mascot on Friday.

IUP won its third in a row to improve to 5-3 on the season but not before holding off a Walsh rally that saw the Cavs cut an 18-point deficit down to four twice in the final three minutes.  Walsh is now 2-8 on the year.

Glaws, a graduate of Hoover High School in North Canton, also scored 20 points against West Chester a year ago and has scored in double figures in seven of eight games this season.  She hit 5 of 9 field goal attempts, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range, and 7 of 9 from the free throw line.  Glaws added seven rebounds and four assists.

Her three 3-pointers gives her 118 in her career to move one past former teammate Kara Taylor for second place on the all-time IUP list.  Glaws is nine shy of the top mark held by Jess Conner.

Jahzinga Tracey added 16 points, a game-high eight rebounds and four steals for IUP.  Kylie Miller was the third IUP player in double figures with 12.  Staci Heberling had five steals while Kierstin Filla made three swipes.

Ingrid Brainard led all scorers with 23 points for Walsh while also contributing seven assists and six steals.  Nicole Dressler had 17 points.

Neither team was able to gain control of the game in the early stages and it was tied at 12 before IUP took a lead it would never relinquish when a jumper by Miller made it 14-12 with 11:12 left in the first half.

The Crimson Hawks still led by only four in the waning moments of the half before 3-pointers by Miller and Glaws triggered a run that gave IUP a 41-33 lead at the break.  Glaws had all three of her 3-pointers in the first half and had 12 points at intermission.

IUP quickly built a double digit lead in the second half, and a 9-0 run produced a 57-42 lead on a jumper by Tracey with 13:56 left in the game.  The teams traded points before consecutive baskets by Filla and Tracey made it a seemingly comfortable 67-49 bulge at the 7:52 mark.

However, a 3-pointer by Dressler and a basket and four free throws by Brainard got the Cavs to within 69-65 with 3:01 to play.  IUP rebuilt its lead to eight on hoops by Miller and Tracey, Walsh got it back to 73-69, and the Crimson Hawks finally put the game out of reach on a jumper by Lauren Fisher and three free throws by Glaws.

IUP brings its winning streak into a tough non-conference game at home on Monday against Fairmont State.  The sixth opponent for IUP from the WVIAC this season, the Falcons bring a 7-0 mark into the 5:30 contest at Memorial Field House. 

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