Next up for IUP women: The Elite Eight

The IUP women’s basketball team will be seeking a second straight trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four.

The Crimson Hawks (29-3), seeded third in the Elite Eight (national quarterfinals) will meet No. 6 Azusa Pacific (28-5) at noon on Tuesday at Ohio Dominican’s Alumni Hall in Columbus as the NCAA Tournament rolls on.

IUP won the Atlantic Region with a 68-60 win over rival Cal U.

BACK-TO-BACK REGIONAL CHAMPS! #NoLimits pic.twitter.com/T2RWYfx4Vh

— IUP Women’s Basketball (@IUP_WBB) March 19, 2019

So pretty ? #EliteEight pic.twitter.com/eai6AMG7ME

— IUP Women’s Basketball (@IUP_WBB) March 21, 2019

Azusa Pacific, which plays in the PacWest Conference, edged past Alaska Anchorage, 65-63, to take the West Region title. Freshman Lydia Nieto made a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the Cougars.

IUP and Azusa Pacific never have played each other in women’s basketball. The men’s teams met in the 2015 Elite Eight.

After defeating Stonehill in last year’s quarterfinals, IUP lost to top-seeded Ashland in the semifinals in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Scouting report

IUP (29-3) vs. Azusa Pacific (28-5)

Noon Tuesday at Ohio Dominican, Columbus, Ohio

Winner plays: Winner of Southwestern Oklahoma (33-1) and Saint Anslem (22-9) at 6 p.m. Wednesday in semifinals

Coaches: Tom McConnell, IUP; T.J. Hardeman, Azusa Pacific

Points scored/allowed per game: IUP, 76.6/54.4; Azusa Pacific, 76.4/62.4

Top players: IUP — Carolyn Appleby, Sr., PG (18 ppg), Brittany Robinson, Sr., F (12.2 ppg/7.1 rpg), Lauren Wolosik, R-Sr., G (12 ppg), Lexi Griggs, Jr., G-F (10.8 ppg); Azusa Pacific: Savanna Hanson, Jr., G, (15.4 ppg/8.3 rpg), Laura Pranger, So., F (11.8 ppg), Zoe March, Jr., G (11.4 ppg), Daylee Hanson, Jr., G (10.9 ppg), Rachel Bozlee, Jr., G (10.6 ppg)