IUP Women's Basketball | 2019-20

[IUPbigINDIANS]

What in the world does this mean? Most coaches like losing? VUU wouldn't be a ranked if Coach Gilbert was okay with losing a few games?

Lol ... yeah ... that's what it said.

[Golden89]

NCAA Preseason Top 25

(Atlantic Region teams represented with comments per the article)



10. Virginia Union

AnnMarie Gilbert is another DII women's basketball coach that seemingly hates to lose.

What in the world does this mean? Most coaches like losing? VUU wouldn't be a ranked if Coach Gilbert was okay with losing a few games?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

NCAA Preseason Top 25

(Atlantic Region teams represented with comments per the article)



10. Virginia Union




11. IUP

The Crimson Hawks have been to the last two Elite Eights, reaching the semifinals both times. Most of those players are gone, but intriguing transfers Justine Mascaro (Delaware) and Kiara Wade (Wheeling), as well as freshman Maria Cerro, could mesh with the experienced returners and get IUP back to the top of the rankings once again.


22. Glenville State

The Pioneers scored an absurd 102.3 points per game last season, and four of their top five scorers are back, including Emily Stoller and ReShawna Stone.


Just Missed Category: California

The Vulcans lose their top three scoring starters, including Seairra Barrett who led the team in scoring and rebounding. Still, two starters return and Cal always seems to find its way into both the win column and top 25. The Vulcans could very well be there before too long.


Teams to Watch Category: Edinboro

[CALUPA69]

Right. Big losses. But ... you can't keep them. That's reality. They are too good for this level. That's the business. In and out.

Is there a slight difference in keeping male assistants versus females. For all the traditional reasons if the rest of their lives are stable and family oriented, women seem more content to stay in a successful positions than strive to optimize their prospects. Oddly in the PSAC most WBB HC in the West are men and in the East women.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I would add Chris Fite and Lamont Paris on the men's side and Justin English and Melissa O'Neil for the women on the list.

-

Right. Big losses. But ... you can't keep them. That's reality. They are too good for this level. That's the business. In and out.

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

Mazzante is a huge loss just like Allen Payne is a huge loss. Both were probably in the discussion for best IUP assistants ever.

I would add Chris Fite and Lamont Paris on the men's side and Justin English and Melissa O'Neil for the women on the list.

-

[IUPalum]

Mazzante is a huge loss just like Allen Payne is a huge loss. Both were probably in the discussion for best IUP assistants ever.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Hmm. As a VULCANS WBB fan my greatest fear aside from losing JESS STROM is losing KATIE TETZLAW. She seems to be ready to step in with little lose of continuity should JS ever decide to move on. They've been together since '13-'14 and really seem to have a seamless style with the team. Maybe it's an XX thing.

To me it's just a matter of when they leave ... not if. On the men's side we're lucky to have an assistant two years. D2 assistant jobs are primarily resume builders for the next job. The pay is lousy and most want to take that next step.

She's a big loss but the show goes on.

[CALUPA69]

Hmm. As a VULCANS WBB fan my greatest fear aside from losing JESS STROM is losing KATIE TETZLAW. She seems to be ready to step in with little lose of continuity should JS ever decide to move on. They've been together since '13-'14 and really seem to have a seamless style with the team. Maybe it's an XX thing.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Is there a reason that the departure of KELLY MAZZANTE to Bucknell wasn't headline news ? I know I'm a bit lax in all things C'HAWK, but that is a substantial change. Isn't it ???

It was ... as much as an assistant leaving can be headline news. It got a little play on here but I think everybody knew it was just a matter of time.

[CALUPA69]

Is there a reason that the departure of KELLY MAZZANTE to Bucknell wasn't headline news ? I know I'm a bit lax in all things C'HAWK, but that is a substantial change. Isn't it ???

[IUP CRIMSON HAWKS]

IUP has officially offered Indiana High School (just turned) sophomore guard Hope Cook.

She had a monster season as a freshman. The question will be if the D1 schools come calling, too. She's the first sophomore I can ever remember IUP offering.


The IHS girls also have a freshman this season (6'4" forward) who just picked up an offer from Ohio State.

Both tore up the summer circuit.

Her father and her uncle both played ball for IHS back in the day. The uncle was actually the MVP of the one Pittsburgh postseason all-star game. I think he went on to play at Colgate at the next level. I guess it is in the DNA. She is also the granddaughter of the late and very beloved Indiana optometrist Dr. James Cook. Goodness is he missed!

But yeah, I don't ever recall any underclassmen like this being offered by IUP. Might not be a bad idea for the two players that you mentioned.

My niece was involved in elementary basketball the past four seasons and I can tell you that there are certainly some very up and coming players in this area moving on up through the ranks. I made it a point to note their names as they will be heard from real soon.

-

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP has officially offered Indiana High School (just turned) sophomore guard Hope Cook.

She had a monster season as a freshman. The question will be if the D1 schools come calling, too. She's the first sophomore I can ever remember IUP offering.


The IHS girls also have a freshman this season (6'4" forward) who just picked up an offer from Ohio State.

Both tore up the summer circuit.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Re: IUP Women's Basketball | 2019-20

The roster is published.

One new addition is Kiara Wade (formerly of Wheeling Jesuit and from Farrell High School). She's listed as a 6'3" Forward and a sophomore. She did not play last season ... not sure if that was due to an injury, etc.


Guards

Mikayla Lovelace (SO)
Maria Cerro (FR)
Courtney Alexander (JR)
Madison Kerr (JR)
Justina Mascaro (SO)
Natalie Myers (SR)


Guard/Forward

Alana Cardona (SO)
Rajah Fink (SO)
Lexi Griggs (SR)


Forward

Maura D'Anna (JR)
Josie Smith (FR)
Teirra Preston (SO)
Kiara Wade (SO)


A lot of new faces will be in larger roles ... but a wealth of depth and talent. D'Anna's return along with Griggs gives Tom a dominant inside game.

Tom's heralded freshmen class of a year ago will get a chance to shine this season. Lots of size on the roster ... guards and post players.

The starting five is complicated. Madison Kerr is back and finally healthy. She'll be in the mix.

I'd say Griggs, D'Anna and Alexander are locks to start. We'll see who wins the PG job. They have a deep, deep bench.

[Golden89]

Re: IUP Women's Basketball | 2019-20

The GU loss is more painful because they don't appear to be headed back to that spot again any time soon.

Not at the time as Gannon made the E8 in 2013. Program took a step backward with Brunelli (to say the least) but it will be interesting to see where Cleve takes things.