IUP freshman guard Lacey Claar has been selected the PSAC West Rookie of the Week, marking the first time a Crimson Hawk women’s player has received the award this season.

Claar (Imler/Claysburg-Kimmel) scored 23 points, pulled down six rebounds and had four assists in IUP wins over Clarion and Edinboro last week.  She made 8 of 14 field goal attempts, including a pair of 3-pointers, and converted 5 of 6 from the free throw line.

Claar matched her season and career high with 14 points, including eight in the final 6:56, to help IUP pull away from what was just a one-point lead for an 82-67 victory over the Golden Eagles on Wednesday.  She had four rebounds and three assists in that game.  In a 67-53 win over Edinboro on Saturday, Claar contributed nine points, making four of her six field goal tries.

For the season, Claar has played in all 24 games with seven starts and is averaging 7.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.  She ranks fourth on the team with 57 total assists and 17 made 3-pointers and fifth with 25 steals.  Claar is second on the Crimson Hawks and seventh in the PSAC with a free throw percentage of .790 (49 of 62).

IUP is 22-2 overall and 7-1 in the PSAC West entering Wednesday’s game at Slippery Rock.  The Crimson Hawks are ranked first in the NCAA Division II East Region and ninth in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association national poll.

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