Women's Basketball | 3/8/2019 10:23:00 AM

 
THE STORY
• A spot in the 2019 PSAC Championship is on the line Saturday when the Huskies square off with IUP in the conference semifinals at Kutztown University. Bloomsburg is searching for its third PSAC title in program history, and first since 2012-13, while the PSAC West's top-seeded Crimson Hawks are vying for a second championship in the last three seasons.

• With a win on Saturday, Bloomsburg would advance to the PSAC Championship for the first time since 2012-13, when the Huskies defeated Gannon to win just their second conference title in program history. Bloomsburg would face either Cal U or the East's top seed, Kutztown. Tip-off in Sunday's championship game is set for 2:05 p.m. Sunday's game will be aired LIVE on PCN.

THE HISTORY: BLOOMSBURG vs. IUP
• IUP leads the all-time series with Bloomsburg 26-18, including a 73-46 home win over the Huskies back on November 14. Emma Saxton (York, Pa./Central York) had a team-high 13 points in the loss, while Carolyn Appleby had 23 points for the Crimson Hawks. Bloomsburg shot just 36.0% (18-of-50) from the field, and had 16 turnovers. IUP was ranked 5th nationally coming into that meeting, and are currently ranked fourth in the NCAA Atlantic Region after dropping two of their last four outings. 

PSAC QUARTERFINALS RECAP
• Megan Brandt (Lebanon, Pa./Northern Lebanon) had a career-high 18 points to power Bloomsburg to a thrilling 58-52 win over West Chester in the quarterfinals of the PSAC Tournament Wednesday night. The Huskies advance to the PSAC semifinals for the first time since 2014-15 with the win and reach the 20-win plateau for the first time since head coach Alison Tagliaferri took the reins in 2016. The Huskies were a perfect 14-0 at home this season, marking the first undefeated record for Bloomsburg since the 1989-90 season.

THE HUSKIES AT A GLANCE
• Tagliaferri was named PSAC East Coach of the Year Thursday after transforming the Huskies into one of the top defensive teams in the PSAC this season. Bloomsburg ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage defense (38.2%) and three-point defense (27.6%), and third in scoring defense (60.5). Tagliaferri is believed to be the first coach in PSAC history to win a Women's Basketball Coach of the Year award and an Athlete of the Year award (2006, Mansfield).

• In addition to Tagliaferri, three Huskies earned All-PSAC honors, as Taylor Montana (Berwick, Pa./Berwick) was named to the All-PSAC first team, and Saxton and Alyssa Mack (Walnutport, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) earned Second Team honors. A Second Team selection as a sophomore in 2018, Montana has been a dominant force inside for the Huskies in 2018-19. She leads the team in rebounding (7.1), blocked shots (25), and double-doubles (5), and is tied for second on the team in scoring (12.4). Montana ranks fourth in the PSAC in field goal percentage (52.7%), 11th in rebounds per game, and 10th in blocked shots.

• Saxton is second in the PSAC in field goal percentage (56.3) and 19th in all of Division II in that category. She leads the Huskies in scoring at 12.5 points per game, and her 4.8 rebounds per contest are good for second on the team.

• Mack has been tremendous off the bench for the Huskies this season, pouring 11.4 points per game. The senior ranks third in the PSAC in free throw percentage (85.1%) and 16th in made three-pointers per game (1.7).

SCOUTING THE CRIMSON HAWKS
• Crimson Hawks head coach Tom McConnell, who was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year for the second straight season Thursday, set a new program record for career wins when he guided IUP to a 67-53 quarterfinal victory over Seton Hill Wednesday. Appleby led the way with 28 points, while Brittany Robinson added 16 points, and became just the 27th player in IUP history to reach the 1,000-point milestone for her career.

• In addition to McConnell, three Crimson Hawks earned All-PSAC honors Thursday as Appleby and Lauren Wolosik were named to the First Team, and Robinson earned Second Team honors. Appleby has been outstanding for IUP this season, ranking eighth in the PSAC in scoring (17.7), seventh in assists per game (3.8), 10th in free throw percentage (.787) and 12th in field goal percentage (.440). The senior is third on the IUP all-time scoring list with 1,596 career points, and her 472 points this season are the 10th highest in school history.

• Wolosik has been equally impressive this season, leading the PSAC in assists (6.1) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.7). The redshirt senior is second on the team in scoring (12.5), and ranks fourth in the conference in total steals with 55. Robinson has been a force inside for IUP, leading the team in rebounding (6.6) and blocked shots (39). Her 11.7 points per game are good for third on the team, while her 56.4% shooting from the field leads the PSAC this season.