Box Score (New/Sortable Format) EDINBORO, Pa. (March 9, 2014) – Head coach Stan Swank and his Edinboro women's basketball team will be able to hoist another championship banner this year. The Fighting Scots rode an outstanding performance from Tournament MVP Valerie Majewski to an 86-76 win over third-ranked Gannon on Sunday afternoon in the 2014 PSAC Championship game. It marked the third win this season for 25th-ranked Edinboro, now 24-5, over Gannon, and the eighth in the last nine meetings. The Lady Knights fall to 27-3.

Edinboro has now won three of the last four PSAC Championships, with titles in 2011 and 2012 interrupted by Bloomsburg's win a year ago. The Fighting Scots also claim the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional set for next weekend and will head to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year. Gannon was first in the Atlantic Region and Edinboro third at the start of the week.

Majewski was named the Most Valuable Player of the championships after scoring a career-high 33 points, tied for the sixth-highest single-game total in the PSAC playoffs. She added eight assists one day after tying the school record and breaking the PSAC playoff record for assists with 16 against West Chester on Saturday, along with five rebounds.

The junior guard scored 23 of her points in the second half, including 19 of the team's final 28 points. That coincided with the game-deciding run for Edinboro. Gannon cut the lead to 56-54 midway through the second half on Jen Papich's driving layup. The Fighting Scots followed with an 11-3 run that built the lead to 67-57 with 7 minutes, 6 seconds remaining.

Gannon had one last run in it, as Brittany Batts hit her lone three of the game and Papich scored on another layup to close the gap to 72-68 with 4:02 remaining. The Lady Knights still trailed by just four points at 80-76 with 44 seconds to play, but they would not score again.
Majewski made a pair of free throws, and following a pair of Gannon misses Lauren Hippo went to the line and made a pair. Majewski would come up with a steal and drop in two more free throws with eight seconds left for the final margin.

All told, the lead changed hands eight times and was tied on seven occasions. Gannon never led by more than two points, but trailed by just two at the half at 43-41. The Lady Knight shot a sizzling 64.3 percent (18 of 28) over the first twenty minutes, and Edinboro was almost as hot, hitting at a 58.1 percent (18 of 31).

Both teams shot extremely well from the floor. In fact, each made 32 of 58 shots, good for 55.2 percent. Edinboro sizzled from beyond the 3-point line, making 10 of 16 three's, while Gannon was 6 of 16. The Scots went 12 of 17 at the line, Gannon 6 of 10. The Lady Knights held a 32-26 advantage on the glass.

The real difference came on turnovers. Edinboro was guilty of five turnovers while forcing 12 Gannon miscues. It led to a 14-5 advantage in points off turnovers.

Majewski ended the day making 12 of 18 field goals, including 5 of 6 3-pointers, and was 4 of 6 from the line. She was one of four Fighting Scots in double figures. Laurel Lindsay had 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds, while Aignee' Freeland also scored 16 points, with 14 in the first half. Lindsay moved into eighth place in career assists (328). Hippo added 11 points.

Papich turned in an outstanding performance in defeat for Gannon. The senior forward had 23 points and 11 rebounds, along with three assists and a pair of blocks. Mollie Sebald added 16 points and Kelley Sundberg 11.

Edinboro will now await word this evening on the Atlantic Regional. The NCAA will announce the Division II tournament field this evening at 10 p.m. on NCAA.com. The tournament is set for March 14, 15 and 17.