IUP women’s basketball coach Cindy Martin has announced the signing of guards Tiffany Corle from Union High School and Julie Lozon from Hathaway Brown School in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, bringing to four the total number of incoming freshmen for next year.

In November, Martin inked guard Lacey Claar from Claysburg-Kimmel High School, who was recently named the Pennsylvania Class A Player of the Year, and guard/forward Lauren Kukic from East Allegheny High School.

“We are extremely excited about the depth that Tiffany and Julie will bring to our backcourt.  We plan to take our already fast-paced tempo and turn it up another notch next season,” Martin said.  “Both of these ladies can handle the ball, hit the 3-point shot and play pressure defense.” 

Corle joined Claar on the Class A all-state first team and was named the District 9 Player of the Year after averaging 17.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.8 steals during her senior season at Union and a berth in the PIAA quarterfinals. 

She was also selected the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference MVP, the Western Pennsylvania Youth Basketball Club Player of the Year and the MVP of the Kozel District 9 all-star game after scoring 20 points, grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out five assists and making six steals.

Corle finished her career with 1,108 points, 533 rebounds, 322 assists and 281 steals.  She helped her team win the KSAC and District 9 titles all three seasons and a trip to the Final Four in 2006.

Corle was also a standout in volleyball and track and Union.  In volleyball, she was first team all-conference and all-state and the District 9 Player of the Year as a senior and first team all-district and conference MVP as a junior.  In track, she was the conference and district MVP in 2006 and attended the state meet for cross country and in the high jump and javelin during her prep career.

Corle is a member of the National Honor Society and student council and will graduate from Union with honors.  She plans on majoring in health and physical education at IUP.

Lozon was the point guard for a Hathaway Brown team that reached the state championship game her senior year and she was named to the Private School League first team and honorable mention all-district.  A well-rounded player, she averaged 7.3 points, 4.8 assists, 4.4 steals and 3.6 rebounds per game in her high school career.

Lozon also stood out in soccer, earning three berths on the Private School League first team and was twice selected honorable mention all-district.  She was a team captain her final two seasons.

In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Lozon held the post of treasurer and vice president of the student council and was a three-time member of the Honors Academic List.  She plans on majoring in sports management at IUP.

“Tiffany is a very aggressive player who is a natural scorer and driver.  She is feisty and a floor general,” Martin said.  “Julie is fundamentally sound and terrific at setting up the half court offense.  She will be an asset as we hope to run more out of a 4-out, 1-in next season.”

Also joining the active roster next season will be center Marcia Mpfumo, who came to IUP from Frank Phillips (Texas) Junior College last year but suffered a season-ending knee injury prior to the start of the 2006-07 campaign.

“Marcia has looked great in our spring workouts and we are looking forward to having her play a key role on our team next season,” Martin said.  “With the players we have returning, the new freshmen we are bringing in and Marcia coming back from her injury, we feel the future at IUP is very bright.”

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