INDIANA, Pa. – The Clarion women's basketball team tangled with a nationally-ranked opponent for the second time this week, falling 87-42 to the consensus second-ranked IUP Crimson Hawks at the Kovalchick Center on Saturday.  The Golden Eagles (7-12, 2-11 PSAC) return home to start a three-game homestand on Wednesday when they host Seton Hill at Tippin Gymnasium.
 
The Crimson Hawks entered tonight's game ranked second in the nation in both the coaches' and media polls, and it showed as the Golden Eagles battled but were ultimately not able to clip their opponents' wings.  IUP jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter, and though Clarion played them much tighter in the second and third quarters, the Crimson Hawks pulled away for the win.
 
Tracy Wiehe and Amesha Harden-Pullium tied for the team lead with nine points apiece, while Wiehe also led all Golden Eagles with six rebounds.  Tynita White also came off the bench and chipped in seven points.  One of the biggest differences was in points off turnovers, with IUP outscoring Clarion 28-9 in that regard, and the Crimson Hawks outrebounded Clarion 36-23.
 
IUP opened the game on a 9-2 run, though Clarion was able to pull within 9-5 after Marina Kelly drained a three-pointer at the 6:02 mark of the period.  The Crimson Hawks went on an 11-0 run in response, though, and eventually took a 31-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.  Clarion played things much tighter in the second, although IUP still managed to outscore them 16-10.  Wiehe sank a jumper early in the second period to make it 35-17, and added another bucket with under five minutes to go to make it 39-21. 
 
The Crimson Hawks carried a 47-22 lead into halftime, but Taylor Moltz cut the lead back down to 20 points midway through the third quarter with a three-pointer.  Wiehe tipped in a putback with 1:38 left in the third quarter as Clarion tried to cut back into the lead, but IUP closed the fourth quarter strong in rolling to the win.