KIAC WBB Game of the Week: IU East at Point Park, Saturday 12 pm

1/23/2016 12:00:00 AM

Pictured: Alexa Xenakis (PPU), Tia King (IUE)

PITTSBURGH -- A key matchup in a crowded KIAC Colonial Division race is the KIAC Women's Basketball Game of the Week -- Indiana East at Point Park (Pa.) on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 12 p.m.

Point Park (14-6, 7-2 KIAC) and IU East (10-9, 5-2 KIAC) are in second and third place in the division, respectively, and they will battle to stay within one game in the loss column of division leader Rio Grande (13-5, 6-1 KIAC).

It is the second of two meetings between the teams this year, and it was IU East that came away with a 65-54 home win Jan. 11 thanks to a big rebounding advantage. Since that meeting, Point Park has won its last two conference games to gain ground in the standings. Conversely, IU East has lost its last two contests to drop from first to third place.

Full coverage of the KIAC Game of the Week includes live video on Point Park's Stretch Internet portal. Live Audio is available on the Red Wolves Live Network. Live Stats provided via PointPark.edu.

Follow the KIAC Game of the Week on Twitter @KIACSports with hashtags #KIACgotw and #KIAC. Twitter score updates available at @KIACScores.

The following is a game preview courtesy of IU East:

LAST TIME OUT

IU East is coming off of an 80-79 loss at the WVU Tech on Jan. 19. Point Park won at Carlow, 69-54, Jan. 19. IU East is 1-2 all-time against Point Park, including a 65-54 win against the Pioneers on Jan. 11 in Richmond.

IU EAST STORYLINES

* This is the first appearance in the KIAC Game of the Week for the IU East women's basketball team.

* The winner will claim sole possession of second place in the KIAC Colonial Division heading into the final month of the regular season.

* IU East looks to snap a two-game losing streak.

* Rebounding made the difference for the Red Wolves in the first IU East-Point Park game this season. The Red Wolves enjoyed a 65-36 rebounding advantage. Sophomore guard Bailey Dreiman (Vincennes, Ind./Rivet High School) set a school single-game record with 18 rebounds.

* The Red Wolves seek their first road win in more than a month.

* Sophomore guard Tia King (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central High School) leads IU East and is seventh in the nation with 20.1 points per game.

* Bailey Dreiman is one of two players in the national top 50 in rebounds and assists per game.

RED WOLVES IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS

IU East is 21st in the nation with a .736 free throw percentage, 25th in the nation with 74.5 points per game and 27th in the nation with 14.5 offensive rebounds per game.

Sophomore forward Keragan Niehoff (Rushville, Ind./Rushville Consolidated High School) is 10th in the nation with an .845 free throw percentage.

Tia King is 33rd in the nation with 2.4 3-point field goals per game and 35th in the nation with an .808 free throw percentage.

Bailey Dreiman is 38th in the nation with 3.7 assists per game and 49th in the nation with 8.1 rebounds per game.

Sophomore guard Kristen Miller is 42nd in the nation with 3.6 assists per game.

POINT PARK STORYLINES

Point Park has won five of its last six, with the lone blemish the setback at IU East on Jan. 11. The Pioneers' most recent game was a 69-54 win at Carlow University on Jan. 19.

Point Park is 15th in the nation in defensive field goal percentage allowed (.354), 16th in the nation in blocks per game (4.10) and 20th in the nation in turnover margin (+3.80). The Pioneers have one of the top defenses in the conference ranking second in the KIAC in scoring defense (61.2 ppg) and field-goal defense (.354). The Pioneers' offense is fifth in the KIAC at 69.4 ppg.

Baylee Buleca, a 6-0 sophomore center, is 10th in the nation with 2.3 blocks per game. Buleca also is Point Park's top scorer (10.0 points per game) and rebounder (7.7 rebounds per game). The Pioneers have a balanced attack with six players averaging between 8.5 ppg and 10.0 ppg.

Alexa Xenakis, a 5-4 senior guard, led the Pioneers with 11 points in the first IU East-Point Park contest.

Point Park is 7-2 at home this season.