SLIPPERY ROCK — Leave it to a freshman.

Indiana 5-foot-11 freshman forward Sarah Pastorek came off the bench to post career-highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds Saturday to lead IUP to a 65-51 women's basketball victory over Slippery Rock at Morrow Field House.

"Sarah missed most of the preseason with a broken foot," IUP coach Jeff Dow said. "She didn't play much in December. She's making her presence felt now."

And how.

SRU (4-15, 1-5) lost for the eighth time in nine games and never led after the first two minutes of play Saturday. But the Crimson Hawks never led by more than 12.

The Rock closed within 52-50 when Grove City High graduate Julie Molloy drained her fourth trey of the night with 4:11 to play.

"Thatr's when I thought we were going to make our move," SRU coach Laurel Heilman said. "The crowd was into it and we had the momentum."

Until Pastorek took it away.

She stuck back an offensive rebound and completed a three-point play in the process with 3:48 left. She stuck back another offensive board with 2:44 on the clock, then converted another three-point play with two minutes remaining.

IUP (11-7, 4-2) had a 60-50 lead and the game was over.

"Two offensive stickbacks ... Bam! Bam! Just like that," Heilman lamented.

The Rock's rebounding numbers were less than stellar, IUP had a 45-23 lead in that category. Hillary Shope had 17 points and seven boards for the Crimson Hawks. Eryn Withers had nine rebounds, Lacey Claar seven.

Tynesha Lee came off the bench to grab eight boards for The Rock. No other SRU player had more than four.

"That's been our story this year," Heilman said of the lack of rebounding. "It's not like we don't talk about it. Its not like we don't work on it. It's all about mental toughness on the floor.

"You have to box out and crash the boards. We're not doing it."

The Rock stayed in the game because of its outside shooting. Molloy had 15 points and her four treys. Chere' Marshall added 12 poiints and a trey, Bethany Caudill 11 points and two 3-pointers. SRU sank eight treys on the night.

"We knew they could shoot the ball," Dow said. "They kept hitting those 3's and we couldn't shake them.

"Sarah bailed us out tonight. She was originally a small forward for us before we moved her to the post. That's working out."

SRU is three games out of a playoff spot in the PSAC West with eight games to play. The Rock has missed out on the playoffs four straight years.

"The second half of the season, we need to win," Heilman said. "There's no magic formula. It's all about effort. I believe we're good enough. We either do it or we don't."

Notes: Nikki Presto had seven assists for SRU. ... IUP has defeated The Rock in eight of the team's last nine meetings. ... The Rock honored SRU graduates and former coaches Jodi Gault and Jan Kasnevich at halftime.

INDIANA 65Brianna Johson 1-3 1-2 3, Hillary Shope 5-7 7-10 17, Julie Lozon 0-3 0-0 0, Kierstin Filla 0-2 0-0 0, Lacey Claar 2-5 2-2 8, Kayelyn Marshall 0-3 0-0 0, Vianca Tejada 3-8 0-0 7, Eryn Withers 2-8 0-0 5, Sarah Pastorek 9-11 7-11 25.

Totals: 22-50 17-25 65.

SLIPPERY ROCK 51Grace Palucis 0-5 0-0 0, Amanda Mikatavage 1-3 3-4 5, Julie Molloy 5-12 1-2 15, Nikki Presto 2-6 0-0 5, Bethany Caudill 4-10 1-4 11, Sandra Busser 0-1 0-0 0, Chere' Marshall 5-9 1-2 12, Emilee Vitez 0-2 0-0 0, Tynesha Lee 1-1 1-2 3.

Totals: 18-49 7-14 51.

Halftime score: IUP 30, SRU 24

3-point goals: IUP 4 (Claar 2, Tejada, Withers); SRU 8 (Molloy 4, Presto, Caudill 2, Marshall).

Wednesday: SRU at California (Pa.), 6 p.m.