INDIANA, Pa. – Chatham Women's Basketball (5-1, 0-0 PAC) faced Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania (4-0, 0-0 PSAC) today in a cross-divisional exhibition game. The Crimson Hawks won the game by a final score of 88-66.
 
Senior Alyssa Laukus netted a game-high 18 points for the Cougars on 7-12 shooting. Senior Madison Nereu shot 5-8, scoring 14 points along with 5 rebounds. Senior Hannah Chenault buried 3 three-point baskets for Chatham, finishing the game with 11 points. Senior Maria Barela tallied a game-high 5 assists and 4 steals, scoring 7 points. Graduate student Jordyn Jensen had 8 points off the bench for the Cougars, and senior JaKaia Lotz pulled down a team-high 6 boards and scored 6 points.
 
IUP took an early 10-4 lead three minutes into the game. The Crimson Hawks would get out to a 19-8 advantage before Chenault's three-point basketball pulled Chatham within 8. IUP continued to control the game in the second quarter, taking a 16-point lead with six minutes left in the half. A couple of Nereu layups made the score 39-25 late in the half, but a 7-0 Crimson Hawk run would put them up 46-25.
 
The Cougars kept up with IUP in the second half, cutting their deficit to 13 midway through quarter three. Laukus scored 8 points in the quarter for Chatham, but the Crimson Hawks held on to a 70-51 advantage heading into the final frame. Back-to-back buckets from beyond the arc from Barela and Chenault brought the Cougars back within 13 with eight minutes to play, but that's as close as Chatham would get. A 14-2 IUP run solidified their matinee victory.
 
The Cougars shot 44.2% from the field, but the Crimson Hawks drained 58.1% of their attempts, including 41.2% from three. IUP's 14 steals were double the most Chatham has allowed so far in a game this season.
 
The Cougars take on Penn State Behrend next on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Athletic and Fitness Center.