ABOUT THE GAME

• The Crimson Hawks of Indiana (Pa.) are currently undefeated and lead the PSAC West with a 4-0 record. Millersville will host IUP, looking to bounce back after two road losses from Clarion and Pitt-Johnstown before the Christmas break. The Marauders enter Friday’s contest with a 6-4 overall record, going 1-3 in PSAC play. Millersville hasn’t reached six wins in their first 10 games since the 2015-16 season.  
• Millersville has already faced three PSAC opponents, all from the Western division. The Marauders sole conference win was over Edinboro on Dec. 2 and the team’s last victory was against the University of the District of Columbia, defeating the Firebirds 68-52.  
• In the most recent D2SIDA Poll, Indiana (Pa.) broke the top-ten, landing at the No.7 spot after ranking within the top-25 since week four. IUP is ranked No.1 in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region for a third straight week. IUP’s offense is averaging a 20.7 scoring margin against opponents. The Crimson Hawk’s closest game was against Kutztown on Dec. 18, beating the Golden Bears by four-points.  
• The last time out, Millersville fell to Indiana (Pa.) by a 30-point deficit early in the season. The Marauders have already seen a change of pace compared to the 2021-22 season, currently compiling six wins compared to their seven total wins last season. 

SCOUTING THE MARAUDERS

• The Marauder's starting line-up has seen familiar faces through their first 10 games. Taylor Langan, Makiah Shaw, La’Shyra Williams, and Brenna Ortwin are amongst the starting five, and freshman Marin Miller is running the point, starting in nine of 10 contests for the Marauders.  
• Despite ranking sixth in the Eastern division, Millersville ranks fifth in the 18-team league in scoring, averaging 73.7 points per game. Defensively, the Marauders are fifth, allowing opponents to score an average of 55.8 points. Millersville ranks behind IUP at No. 2 in field goal percentage (0.447) and allows teams to shoot an average of 34% from the floor.  
• Scoring double-digits in seven of 10 games, Taylor Langan leads the team with an average of 15.7 points and 31.2 minutes per game. Langan also ranks eighth in the conference in scoring leaders. Miller is shooting the best from the three with a .393 percentage and averages 24.8 minutes per game. Sophomore, Ortwein, shows impressive efforts on the court by averaging 2.3 steals and 5.1 rebounds per game.  

SCOUTING THE CRIMSON HAWKS

• The interim head coach, Craig Carey, has led the Crimson Hawks to an impressive 9-0 start. IUP’s offense is shooting .448 from the floor which leads the conference. Indiana (Pa.) is averaging 75.8 points per game and holds opponents to scoring 55.1. IUP’s defense forces opponents to shooting 34% from the floor and 28% from the three.  
• IUP’s starting five all average double-digits in scoring and total at least 30-minutes per game. The team’s top scorers include Keria Baughman, Maria Cerro, and Alana Cardona. The sophomore guard, Baughman, leads the teams with 15.3 points per game and shoots 90% from the free throw line. Cerro has totaled double-digits in 8-of-9 games for the Hawks while also dishing out 4.1 assists per game. Senior, Cardona, averages 13.1 points per game and was awarded PSAC West Athlete of the Week on Dec. 5, the first of this recognition in her career. 
• The Hawk’s defense is forcing opponents to double digits in turnovers, IUP forced a minimum of 20 turnovers in their first six games of the season. The team also is offensively producing 14.1 assists per game, totaling double-digits in 8-of-9 contests.  

THE LAST TIME OUT

• Millersville: Pitt-Johnstown 60, Millersville 54 (Dec. 19, 2022) - The Marauders trailed the Mountain Cats by one-point at the end of the first and were able to regain the lead 25-24 enter halftime. Pulling away in the third quarter, Millersville created distance from UPJ with a 7-2 run to lead by nine-points entering the fourth. The Mountain Cats generated 10-points within the final two minutes to defeat the Marauders on the road.  
• Indiana (Pa.): IUP 73, West Chester 63 (Dec. 19, 2022) - The Golden Rams led throughout much of the first half over the Crimson Hawks. IUP went on an early second-half run to put them back over West Chester. Strong efforts at the free throw line in the final minutes of regulation allowed IUP to pull away for a 10-point league victory. 

SERIES HISTORY VS. IUP

IUP currently holds a two-game win streak over Millersville and leads the overall series 12-25. The Crimson Hawks have won seven of 10 games in Pucillo Gymnasium and hold a 12-3 advantage over the Marauders on the road. Millersville’s last win over IUP was in a triple overtime thriller on Mar. 3, 2018, where the Marauders defeated the Hawks 89-86.  

• The Last Meeting IUP 70, Millersville 40 (Dec. 14, 2021): The Crimson Hawks jumped out to a 22-9 lead after the first quarter of play. Lauren Lister would score to bring Millersville within 12. However, The Crimson Hawks would expand their lead to 19 before the half and would turn on the gas midway through the third and enter the fourth with a 20-point lead, which the Marauders couldn't return from.