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Women's Basketball Josh Hill, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

PREVIEW: Women’s Hoops Open 2019 with PSAC West Road Clash at No. 2/6 IUP (Game Notes)

 GAMEDAY CENTRAL – Gannon (6-6, 2-3 PSAC) at #2/6 IUP (9-0, 4-0 PSAC)
 Game Details  Wednesday, January 2 | 5:30 PM | Kovalchick Complex | Indiana,   Pa.
 Game Coverage  Live Video – PSAC Digital Network
 Live Audio – Click Here
 Live Stats – Click Here
 Twitter Updates - @GUKnights
 Tickets  $6-$11 (depending on section/row)
 Buy Tickets | KCAC Directions
 Watch Party  Molly Brannigan's – Golden Ticket Holders
 506 State Street – Erie, Pa.
 Gannon Links  Game Notes (PDF) | Roster | Schedule | Stats
 IUP Links  WBB Homepage | Roster | Schedule | Stats
 
 
IUP BROADCAST INFORMATION
  • Gannon Combined Stats (PDF): Click Here
  • IUP Combined Stats (PDF): Click Here
  • Live Video: IUP Athletics Stretch Portal (IUP-TV)
    • Broadcasters: TBA
  • Live Audio: Fox Sports Radio 1330 AM (Erie)
    • Broadcaster: Alex Womer
  • Live Audio: WQMU 92.5 FM (U92 – Indiana)
    • Broadcaster: Jack Benedict
 
AROUND THE LEAGUE  
JIM BRUNELLI WEEKLY RADIO SHOW
  • Courtesy Sports Radio 1330 The Fan - Erie, Pa. – Will return in 2019
 
IUP SERIES INFORMATION
  • All-Time Series: IUP leads 23-16
  • First Meeting: 1979-80 – at Indiana (Pa.) 77, Gannon 56
  • Last Meeting: February 12, 2018 – Indiana (Pa.) 71, at Gannon 38 | Box Score
  • How It Happened: The Gannon Lady Knights couldn't overcome a strong second half from the No. 12-ranked Indiana (Pa.) Crimson Hawks as Gannon fell 71-38 at the Hammermill Center.

GANNON STORYLINES/NOTES:
  • Gannon returns to action following the holiday break, opening PSAC West division play with a road clash against No. 2/7 IUP on Wednesday evening. The Lady Knights have had an up and down run during crossover play, posting a 2-3 record through their first five conference games.
  • Gannon concluded a three-game homestand prior to break and will play its first road game since December 2 at Mansfield (W, 77-62). The Lady Knights are 3-1 in road games thus far.
  • The Lady Knights have used the same starting lineup configuration for all 12 games this season.
  • Nicole LaCava (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) has emerged as a top statistical threat for Gannon with double digit points in seven consecutive games (dating back to 11/23/18) and a season-high 18 points her last time out against Kutztown on December 19. LaCava has become the most efficient player in the conference from the floor and leads the league in field goal percentage (.646).
  • Chelsea Rourke (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) has done a little bit of everything for Gannon this season. She is second on the team in scoring average (12.1), second in rebounding average (5.8), third in assists/game (2.5) and ranks first in the PSAC with 18 total blocked shots in 12 games.
  • Tori Obenrader (Fryburg, Pa./North Clarion) just missed out on a pair of double-doubles in the Lady Knights' last two home contests against Shippensburg and Kutztown. Obenrader leads the team with 7.1 rebounds/game and Gannon is third in the conference with a +5.3 rebounding margin.
  • Boston McKinney (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) is a threat from beyond the arc, converting 45% of her three-point attempts this season. McKinney has put down two or more three-pointers in seven games this season.
  • Gannon has not defeated IUP since December 1, 2015 when the Lady Knights posted an 81-66 home victory inside the Hammermill Center. The Crimson Hawks have won each of the past five meetings with Gannon.
 
SCOUTING IUP:
  • IUP (9-0, 4-0 PSAC) is under the direction of head coach Tom McConnell and ranks among the top-10 in both major polls (#2 in WBCA and #6 in D2SIDA). IUP is also the top-ranked team in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll, receiving all first-place votes in the most recent release.
  • The Crimson Hawks lead the PSAC in scoring offense (84.2), points allowed (48.6), scoring margin (+35.7), field goal percentage (.473), field goal percentage defense (.320) and rebounding margin (+14.2), among other categories.
  • Carolyn Appleby (17.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 3.9 APG) and Brittany Robinson (10.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG) power the Crimson Hawks on both ends of the floor and have each started multiple years at IUP.
  • Wednesday's matchup with Gannon will be the first game action for IUP since December 18, an 87-69 home win over West Chester.
  • Lexi Griggs (9.4 PPG), Maura D'Anna (9.2 PPG) and Natalie Myers (8.6 PPG) are also viable scoring threats for the Crimson Hawks, with all three chipping in about 10 points per contest.
  • IUP is a sharpshooting squad that can score points in a hurry. Currently four players on the roster (Anna Hollen, Myers, Appleby and Griggs) are shooting 40% or better from three-point range with at least 10 attempts this season.
  • Last season the Crimson Hawks rebounded from an 89-86 3OT defeat to Millersville in the PSAC Semifinals by winning the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship over Bowie State (75-60). IUP advanced to the 2018 Final Four, eventually falling against Ashland (92-68) to cap a historic 30-4 season in 2017-18.
 
UP NEXT:
  • Gannon returns home, continuing a tough stretch against top-caliber competition in the PSAC West with a matchup against California (Pa.) on Saturday, January 5 at 1:00 p.m.
  • Live stats, live video and live audio will be available from the Hammermill Center.
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Players Mentioned

Nicole LaCava

#31 Nicole LaCava

C/F
6' 0"
Senior
Physician Assistant
Chelsea Rourke

#13 Chelsea Rourke

G/F
5' 10"
Junior
Nursing
Boston McKinney

#15 Boston McKinney

G
5' 4"
Freshman
Early Childhood Education/Special Education
Tori Obenrader

#25 Tori Obenrader

G/F
5' 11"
Freshman
Sport and Exercise Science/Pre-Med

Players Mentioned

Nicole LaCava

#31 Nicole LaCava

6' 0"
Senior
Physician Assistant
C/F
Chelsea Rourke

#13 Chelsea Rourke

5' 10"
Junior
Nursing
G/F
Boston McKinney

#15 Boston McKinney

5' 4"
Freshman
Early Childhood Education/Special Education
G
Tori Obenrader

#25 Tori Obenrader

5' 11"
Freshman
Sport and Exercise Science/Pre-Med
G/F