The IUP women's basketball program is gearing up for an exciting stretch of games. With a remarkable 9-0 record and a 5-0 standing in the PSAC, they are set to face the Ashland Eagles on Thursday, December 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Kates Gymnasium in Ashland, Ohio. This non-conference matchup promises to be a thrilling encounter.

Game Highlights and Team Stats

Offensive Prowess

The Hawks are averaging an impressive 73.4 points per game, shooting at a.470 clip from the field and.301 from beyond the arc. Their lead scorers, Nyshae’ Weaver and Shamia Strayhorn, are averaging 16.8 PPG and 12.8 PPG respectively. Weaver ranks 9th in the PSAC, while Strayhorn is 20th. Grace Centrulla leads the team with 12 blocks and shoots.425 from the field. Ellie Wilkerson is right behind with 12 steals and four blocks.

Defensive Dominance

On the defensive end, the Hawks are holding their opponents to an average of 52.6 points per game,.333 from the field, and forcing 15.1 turnovers per game. They notched a season high of 16 steals against Shippensburg and 13 against Goldey-Beacom. Junior forward Weaver is a force to be reckoned with, ranking 9th in conference scoring with 15.8 PPG and second in rebounding with 11.3 per game. She shoots.689 from the field, placing her second in the PSAC.

Ashland Eagles at a Glance

The Ashland Eagles have an overall record of 9-3 and a conference record of 3-1 this season. Their only conference loss was against Northwood. Zoe Miller is leading the team in PPG, shooting.548 from the field,.427 from the arc, and.625 from the line. She has also accumulated 82 rebounds, 25 assists, 15 steals, and one block. Senior forward Hayley Smith is the top rebounder with 129 rebounds (10.8 per game) and has a high FG% of.596.

Home Court Advantage

Since the opening of the KCAC in the 2011-12 season, IUP has had an outstanding home court advantage. They have a 163-28 (.852) record in home games during this period, not losing more than four home games in a single season. At the KCAC, the IUP women have won 7 of 7 games in 2024-2025, 13 of 15 games in 2023-24, and 13 of 17 games in 2022-23 & 2021-22.

Player Performances Off the Bench

IUP has utilized players off the bench effectively this season. Madison Zavasky is sixth on the team in scoring with an average of 6.0 PPG, third highest among bench players. Lily Jordan is a key off-bench player, averaging 22.4 minutes and shooting.458 from the field with 4.6 RPG. Marin Miller has posted six steals, 15 assists, 3.8 RPG, and shoots.750 from the line.

Upcoming Contests

After facing the Ashland Eagles, the Hawks will end their busy week with a contest against Millersville on December 21 at 1:00 p.m. Fans can stay updated by visiting IUPAthletics.com and following IUP women’s basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.