Hawks rally in fourth quarter to beat California | Indiana County Sports

The Hawks placed all five starters in double digits. Maria Cerro and Gina Adams each recorded a game-high 19 points. Teirra Preston had 12 and Alaina Cardona had 11 and Kiera Baughman had 10. Cardona had 11 rebounds and Preston had 10 for double-doubles.

Adams came up at the foul line when it counted, emptying all seven of her free throws to go with two 3-point field goals. In the second half she scored 14 points. Cerro went 5-for-5 from within 3-point range.

Rajah Fink, an all-conference performer for IUP last season before moving to California, beat the Vulcans with 17 points and 21 rebounds. Three other starters scored double digits.

The Vulcans grew cold on the track and went almost five minutes without a basket as IUP methodically fought back.

The Hawks cut steadily in the fourth and took control with 3:39 remaining during a 10-0 run. Cerro drove into the paint to lift IUP ahead 60-59, and the Crimson Hawks eventually extended their lead to nine at the foul line.

The first half was hard fought with five draws and eleven lead changes. The Hawks shot 45.8 percent from the floor in the first half while California fired just 34.3 percent from the floor. The Vulcans fired 70 shots, 20 more than IUP.

California took a 6-2 lead in the first round before IUP regained the lead with the next five points. Cardona ended the first quarter for IUP at 1:47 before Ciaira Lloyd responded with a pull-up shot, increasing the California lead to 17-14 by the end of the quarter.

Cerro equalized the game twice in the second quarter by 3 points. The Hawks ramped up defensive intensity as California endured a several-minute scoring drought. After a turnover, the Hawks converted, with Baughman taped a jumper for a 24-23 advantage. Fink scored five straight points for the Vulcans before Adams countered five straight for IUP, topped by a carving layup by contact with 36 seconds left in the second.

Herrington ended the first half with a layup for a 30-29 California lead at the break.

The Vulcans led throughout the third quarter, beating IUP 23-18, but the Hawks stayed within striking distance. California twice extended the lead to 10 points before settling on a six-point spread after three quarters, 53-47.

In the fourth, IUP quickly took a 54-53 lead, falling behind 59-56 and then continuing the game-changing 10-0 run.

IUP had 19 assists on 24 field goals, with Baughman dishing out six. The Hawks shot 48 percent from the floor for the game and went 12 to 15 from the free throw line in the second half.

The Hawks play three games this week starting tonight in Edinboro (10-6, 7-4). IUP then visits Slippery Rock (9-8, 4-7) on Wednesday before returning home to face East Stroudsburg (9-8, 5-6) on Saturday.