IUP Women's Basketball | 2019-20

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It's hard to come up with any rationale to what Tom did last night. I mean ... any at all.

Cal does get credit. Strom does to Tom what Manchel does to Joe. Discombobulates the heck out of them on the offensive end.

That said ...

Being frank, both teams played awful.

IUP shot 39% (poor) to Cal's 28% (awful) and IUP won the glass by a huge margin 45 to 31 -- and lost. There were long stretches that neither team could hit the side of a barn -- air balls galore, etc.

The Hawks committed a horrendous 21 turnovers -- at least half of which were self-inflicted. The lineup management was the worst I've ever seen by Tom. He was just out of it or something.

Consider Mikayla Lovelace and Maria Cerro haven't played a meaningful minute in weeks (Lovelace really all season) ... and they are both on the floor together in crunch time with 2 minutes left? Really?

The point guard situation is still a mess -- and it's Feb. 13. And, if Justina Mascaro comes off the floor ... pure chaos follows. She picked up two quick fouls last night and all hell broke loose.

IUP shooting 16% from the field in the first quarter didn't help, either.

Maura D'Anna being assigned to cover D.J. Hahn was a total mismatch for Cal -- and they exploited it all night. D'Anna is a classic low-post bruiser ... she's not geared to cover a sharp-shooter on the perimeter. That was beyond odd.

Rajah Fink, who has been one of Tom's best players the past month, was literally nowhere to be found. She played just 6 minutes and was scoreless. Lovelace and Cerro played a combined 33 minutes -- and combined for basically no stats.

Had Cal even shot a modest 43% or so Tom would have been blown out of the building. How they had a chance to win that game with 40 seconds left in itself was a small miracle.

The good news is they won't have to play down there again this year. If they meet for a Round 3, it will either be in the KCAC or the Hammermill. Also, Tom's last two tough games are both at home.

The bad news is that 3-game cushion shrunk -- and they still have Gannon and Edinboro.

Put that film in the trash, regroup and move along.

[IUPalum]

Please acknowledge that to some degree it has to do with the opponent and specifically the opposing coach. In her career versus IUP under TM, JESS STROM has had the better of it in total games 12-6. If they can't compete straight up, her teams usually have the ability to reduce the game to a grinder and win by making a few less mistakes. Also the Mon Valley has been Death Valley for the C'HAWKS offense. In the last 10 games in HAMER/ A DOME teams that probably average 75-85 PPG have been held to 57.6. These are certainly not good looking basketball games but a W is a W. Be happy that he is 3-1 versus JS in the post season.

[CALUPA69]

What Tom was doing last night made no sense. His line up, to strategy, etc. It all made no sense!

Please acknowledge that to some degree it has to do with the opponent and specifically the opposing coach. In her career versus IUP under TM, JESS STROM has had the better of it in total games 12-6. If they can't compete straight up, her teams usually have the ability to reduce the game to a grinder and win by making a few less mistakes. Also the Mon Valley has been Death Valley for the C'HAWKS offense. In the last 10 games in HAMER/ A DOME teams that probably average 75-85 PPG have been held to 57.6. These are certainly not good looking basketball games but a W is a W. Be happy that he is 3-1 versus JS in the post season.

[IUPalum]

Tom's lost 8 straight down there. He played scared out of his mind tonight.

What Tom was doing last night made no sense. His line up, to strategy, etc. It all made no sense!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Great ... Gannon women get to play IUP coming off a loss. The good news is that the number 1 seed is still barely in play for the Lady Knights. Just barely.

The biggest ramifications of the loss is that IUPs chances to host the regional took a hit.

Tom's lost 8 straight down there. He played scared out of his mind tonight.

[Golden89]

Great ... Gannon women get to play IUP coming off a loss. The good news is that the number 1 seed is still barely in play for the Lady Knights. Just barely.

The biggest ramifications of the loss is that IUPs chances to host the regional took a hit.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

He was saving his mop-up players to play the 4th quarter at Cal ... lol

WTF

[IUPalum]

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Tom's going down.

He should try not to puke watching this film tomorrow.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Cerro goes from benched to playing the whole game at Cal.

Makes sense, right?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Tom down 3 at half.

Good news they can't possibly play any worse.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Mo is out. Concussion.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Tom moved up to No. 4 in this week's national poll.

Good news is three of the top teams in the country are all in the same region.

Of course you can that is what is jacked up about D2, too.

[IUP24]

Wonder if SRU's Bobby McGraw is getting sick of IUP yet ...

Consider during his tenure:

He is 0-14 against Tom with an average score of 83 to 56. In 9 of the 14 meetings his teams have been held to 54 points or less (and 5 times 48 points or less). He's also been ejected once. The last four meetings have a combined score of 336 to 192.

Imagine if our buddy Kevin returns to Slippery Rock to patrol the women's sidelines. Oh boy.... Get your popcorn ready.

#FreeKevinReynolds

Side note... I could see Tom really putting up a big number on KR. And I mean a BIG number. He isn't calling off the dogs.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Wonder if SRU's Bobby McGraw is getting sick of IUP yet ...

Consider during his tenure:

He is 0-14 against Tom with an average score of 83 to 56. In 9 of the 14 meetings his teams have been held to 54 points or less (and 5 times 48 points or less). He's also been ejected once. The last four meetings have a combined score of 336 to 192.