The IUP Crimson Hawks women’s basketball team knocked off Azusa Pacific, 73-60, to advance to the NCCA Division II Elite Eight semifinals Tuesday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio.
Carolyn Appleby led the third-seeded Crimson Hawks with 17 points, while Lauren Wolosik and Lexi Griggs contributed 16 points and Brittany Robinson scored 11. Robinson also led IUP with nine rebounds, six blocks and four steals.
Here’s Jack Benedict’s recap of the win …
No. 6 Azusa Pacific was led by Daylee Hanson with 14 points.
IUP will play No. 2 Southwestern Oklahoma in a semifinal matchup on Wednesday at 6 pm. Airtime on U92.5 FM will be 5 p.m. Southwestern Oklahoma (34-1) defeated Saint Anselm, 71-61, in the second game of the tournament.
In the other half of the bracket, top-ranked undefeated Drury beat Nova Southeastern, 91-60 and #5 Lubbock Christian drubbed #4 North Georgia 99-54
Here’s a look at the matchup today:
- Southwestern Oklahoma is 33-1, and they average 84.7 points per game to their opponents’ 67.7.
- Leading scorer Hailey Tucker is a 6-2 senior guard who averages 18.6 points per game. Second-leading scorer Hayden Priddy is a 5-9 senior guard who scores 17.4 points per game. Tyra Aska is a 5-8 junior guard averaging 12.5 points per game.
- They make 9.4 three-pointers per game and shoot 34% beyond the arc.
- They shoot a lot of threes; eight of their players have shot at least 60 three-pointers. Tucker has shot 212 (31%); Priddy has shot 216 (39%); Aska has shot 131 (39%). By contrast, IUP’s leading three-point shooters are Natalie Myers, who has launched 131 (40%); Carolyn Appleby has shot 130 (36%); and Lauren Wolosik has shot 119 (40%). No other IUPplayer has shot at least 60 threes.
- They shoot 76 % from the free throw line. IUP shoots 70%.
- Their turnover ratio is +9.7. They give it up 11.6 times per game but force 21.3 turnovers from their opponent. IUP is +4.9 (13.3 giveaways to 18.2 takeaways)
- IUP has four ladies averaging in double figures, led by Appleby’s 18.0 ppg, Wolosik and Robinson each at 12.1 ppg, and Lexi Griggs at 10.9.
