IUP Women’s Basketball

[IUPalum]

I am willing to guess people don't realize IUP is the 6th best 3 point shooting team in the country....

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketbal...rrent/team/118

Yes, this team is efficient at the 3 but that's not this teams bread and butter. This team goes through Weaver!

[EyeoftheHawk]

Agreed. At the beginning of the season, I mentioned my concern about the point guard situation and the fact that Cleve didn't recruit any help. One poster wrote that he thought Wright had a lot of faith in Cernuto and Pepple to cover for Tory Mays offensive shortcomings. Well, both Cernuto and Pepple are injured and who knows if they will return this season. Credit Edinboro as they are a very good basketball team, but could not believe that Gannon would go 2 for 17 (11%) from the three point range with pretty good looks. Guess it happens.

Cernuto has spent more time in sweats than in a uniform. When I saw her as a freshman, I thought she’d emerge as one of the best guards in the region. She was super quick and showed a lot of toughness. The next time I saw her she was a full step slower and wearing a giant knee brace. I don’t think she’s ever been the same since and you feel bad for the kid. Saying that, they shouldn’t have counted on her to be available given her history. I don’t know if that was the thinking but that position isn’t a strength for Gannon, and that particularly hurts playing teams with good guards.

[Bballfan]

Yes, this team is efficient at the 3 but that's not this teams bread and butter. This team goes through Weaver!

Of course. She is one of the best forwards in the country. Should be a first-team All-American.

[Tdobson]

I see that the women have one loss. I can't help, but wonder, how will they do in the tournament, if they get there?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I see that the women have one loss. I can't help, but wonder, how will they do in the tournament, if they get there?

As of today, IUP has one of the top teams in the country. So, it's not 'if' they make the tournament.

That said, they have two giant games upcoming against Seton Hill and Gannon (both at the KCAC). Not to mention, they host Clarion this Saturday. The Golden Eagles pulled a major upset earlier this year and handed IUP its only defeat.

The 'race before the race' is to determine which team gets to host the Regional. I'd say there are fairly good odds IUP and Gannon will play again in the PSAC Tournament (in the Final). But, you never know. Teams can have bad days, and other West teams like Edinboro and Seton Hill are more than capable.

What's that beat-to-death coach-speak cliche? One game at a time.

[Bballfan]

I was surprised Gannon handled Seton Hill at Seton Hill pretty easily. You basically have three tiers in the PSAC west.

Tier 1 - IUP and Gannon
Tier 2 - Edinboro and Seton Hill
Tier 3 - Everyone else.

[Bballfan]

Saw IUP was down 10 after 1 quarter. But dominated from there. Why the slow starts lately?

[EyeoftheHawk]

Saw IUP was down 10 after 1 quarter. But dominated from there. Why the slow starts lately?

I think it’s just something most teams go through at some point during a season. It used to be they had trouble putting teams away when they had a big lead. Last night was another example of how dominant this team can be though. After falling way behind early and ending the first quarter with just 12 points and being down 10, they won the next three quarters 73-47. I think what stands out to me most regarding the slow starts is the lack of defensive intensity. The let UPJ’s Margolis hit a bunch of open 3’s to start that game and fell way behind, and last night one of the Cowan sisters did the same thing. Eventually the long distance shots stop falling though and after Seton Hill went 4-8 from distance in the first quarter, they went 2-20 the rest of the way.

IUP also ran the legs of Seton Hill, a team that prides itself on playing fast. The better way to compete with this IUP team in my opinion is to make it a half court game. Seton Hill is a nice team, but not deep enough to handle IUP or Gannon on most nights.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I think it’s just something most teams go through at some point during a season. It used to be they had trouble putting teams away when they had a big lead. Last night was another example of how dominant this team can be though. After falling way behind early and ending the first quarter with just 12 points and being down 10, they won the next three quarters 73-47. I think what stands out to me most regarding the slow starts is the lack of defensive intensity. The let UPJ’s Margolis hit a bunch of open 3’s to start that game and fell way behind, and last night one of the Cowan sisters did the same thing. Eventually the long distance shots stop falling though and after Seton Hill went 4-8 from distance in the first quarter, they went 2-20 the rest of the way.

IUP also ran the legs of Seton Hill, a team that prides itself on playing fast. The better way to compete with this IUP team in my opinion is to make it a half court game. Seton Hill is a nice team, but not deep enough to handle IUP or Gannon on most nights.

Don't forget, that final was 'only' 16 because IUP essentially went into clock mode the final 5 minutes of the game.

I can't freaking stand that. For one, the team doing it usually stinks at it and turns the ball over 5-6 times. Nobody practices clock mode.

Add to it if Seton Hill was going to continue pressing while down 20-24 points with minutes to go ... screw it. Keep scoring. If they want to press, keep taking easy baskets. If their HC couldn't realize that press was doing nothing but tiring out her own team ... that's her fault.

Years ago Clarion's men's coach (Williams) just about wanted to fight Lombardi after a game IUP won by about 55 points in the KCAC. He was mad Joe kept scoring yet never called off his useless press for 40 minutes and IUP just took gimme layup after gimme layup all night. Joe yelled back at him something along the lines of if you want us to pull it back call off the press.

[IUPalum]

Don't forget, that final was 'only' 16 because IUP essentially went into clock mode the final 5 minutes of the game.

I can't freaking stand that. For one, the team doing it usually stinks at it and turns the ball over 5-6 times. Nobody practices clock mode.

Add to it if Seton Hill was going to continue pressing while down 20-24 points with minutes to go ... screw it. Keep scoring. If they want to press, keep taking easy baskets. If their HC couldn't realize that press was doing nothing but tiring out her own team ... that's her fault.

Years ago Clarion's men's coach (Williams) just about wanted to fight Lombardi after a game IUP won by about 55 points in the KCAC. He was mad Joe kept scoring yet never called off his useless press for 40 minutes and IUP just took gimme layup after gimme layup all night. Joe yelled back at him something along the lines of if you want us to pull it back call off the press.

All great points!

[Bballfan]

Looks like all but one berth in the conference championship tournament has been filled. With 3 games left, that shows a pretty big gap in competition levels.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUP has lost once.


I wonder if they'll be ready to play tomorrow.

Kidding, obviously.

Just a hunch they've been awaiting Clarion's visit.

[Bballfan]

I watched some of the Clarion game. Wasn't really one. I think IUP took their feet off the gas a little at the end.

Last week of the regular season is now here!

[EyeoftheHawk]

I watched some of the Clarion game. Wasn't really one. I think IUP took their feet off the gas a little at the end.

Last week of the regular season is now here!

They were up 31 at one point and almost seemed to be bored with it. Clarion is an odd team. They obviously have the huge win over IUP and then took Gannon to OT shortly thereafter before losing a bunch.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

They were up 31 at one point and almost seemed to be bored with it. Clarion is an odd team. They obviously have the huge win over IUP and then took Gannon to OT shortly thereafter before losing a bunch.

It sure appeared they are pretty banged up. They had 3 players on crutches and only 8 dressed. That said, it seemed they did have most of their core group.

It looked like IUP was kind of done at the end of the third quarter. As you said, the lead was huge and they seemed to get disinterested. Carey started playing some new lineups, etc. Clarion got a lot of what you'd call 'garbage points' in the final quarter.

I kept wondering how on Earth they lost to that team but that's basketball. It's a long, long season. Those days happen. Clarion has enough that if you no-show the game and take them lightly ... that's what happens.