PSAC-MEC Challenge
Friday, November 13 & Sunday, November 15, 2015
Walker Convocation Center
Institute, W.Va.
 
Edinboro Fighting Scots (20-8) vs. Charleston(WV) Golden Eagles (22-7)
Friday, November 13
1:00 p.m.
 
Edinboro Fighting Scots (20-8) at West Virginia State Yellow Jackets (8-20)
Sunday, November 15
2:00 p.m.
 
GAME STORY
The Edinboro women's basketball team will tip off the 2015-16 campaign in the PSAC-MEC Challenge this weekend. The Fighting Scots face Charleston(WV) on Friday, November 13 in a rematch of a 2014 Atlantic Regional playoff game.  Edinboro was 20-8 a year ago, while the Golden Eagles finished at 22-7. The matchup showcases two of the favorites in their respective conferences. Edinboro tied for second with Gannon in the PSAC West Coaches Preseason Poll. Charleston was picked to finish second in the Mountain East Conference preseason poll.  
 
On Sunday, the Fighting Scots will face the host Yellow Jackets of West Virginia State. The Yellow Jackets were 8-20 last year.
 
Edinboro returns a trio of starters in two-time All-PSAC West performer Aignee' Freeland, Lauren Hippo, and Nicole Johnson. However, the 2015-16 Fighting Scots are a young team that must try to replace former All-Americans Laurel Lindsay and Valerie Majewski. Head coach Stan Swank must incorporate five freshmen into the mix. 
 
The Fighting Scots suffered a 79-37 loss at St. Bonaventure last Saturday in an exhibition game. They struggled with their shooting, making 22.2 percent from the floor, and going 4-for-19 on 3-pointers and 9-for-22 from the free throw line. Katie Fischer was the only player in double figures with 15 points. Aignee' Freeland fell just shy of a double double with nine points and 10 rebounds.
 
THE FIGHTING SCOTS
 
Head Coach:  Stan Swank
Record at Edinboro:  513-283, 29^th year 
Career Record:  513-283, 29^th year
 
Swank enters his 29^th season as the head coach at Edinboro and ranks as the all-time winningest coach in PSAC history and is also the longest tenured. He owns a career record of 513-283 at Edinboro, and over the last five years Edinboro has a 125-27 record.  The Fighting Scots seek their seventh straight PSAC Tournament appearance and have won three PSAC championships during that span, the last coming in 2014. He enters the 2015-16 season tied for 12^th among active Division II coaches in victories.  That figure is tied for 24^th all-time in overall victories. He ranks 35^th in career winning percentage (.645).  Edinboro finished with a 20-8 record a year ago, the fifth straight season with 20-or-more wins and the 11^th in Swank's career. He guided the Fighting Scots to a 16-6 record in the PSAC West, good for fourth place. Edinboro defeated Seton Hill, 68-53, in the first round of the PSAC Tournament before suffering a 71-63 loss to Indiana(Pa.) in the quarterfinals. The Fighting Scots qualified for the PSAC Tournament for the sixth straight year and 11th time in the last 12 years.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Aignee' Freeland (F, 6'3", Sr.) – A 2015-16 preseason All-PSAC West selection, Freeland joined the 1,000-point club as a junior, and enters her final season ranked 25th in career scoring with 1,073 points and tenth in career rebounds with 714. She earned All-PSAC West honors for the second time, being selected to the second team after earning first- team accolades as a sophomore.  She led the team in both scoring (13.9 ppg.) and rebounding (6.9 rpg.), ranking 13th in the PSAC in scoring and 17th in rebounding. In addition, Freeland shot a team-high 52.1 percent from the floor (171 of 328). She ranked third in the PSAC in field goal percentage and 32nd in Division II. As a sophomore, Freeland averaged 14.1 ppg. and 9.1 rpg., ranking third in the PSAC in rebounding and 17^th in scoring.
 
Lauren Hippo (G, 5'10", Sr.) – the 5'10" senior is one of the top 3-point threats in the PSAC, and enters her senior year ranked first at Edinboro in career 3-point field goal percentage (44.7 pct.) and ninth in career 3-pointers made (123), along with 13th in career 3-pointers attempted (275). She is also third in career free throw percentage (79.2 pct.). Hippo was the second-leading scorer at 13.4 ppg., and added 4.0 rpg. She led the PSAC and ranked ninth in Division II in 3-point field goal percentage at 44.1 percent, making 71 of 161 3-pointers. That figure ranked third in a season at Edinboro. She was second in the conference in 3-pointers made per game, and the 71 3-pointers ranks fifth in a season.
 
Nicole Johnson (F, 5'10", Jr.) – Johnson made greats strides as the season progressed in 2014-15. She averaged 4.9 ppg. and 5.1 rpg., the latter figure third on the on the team. She started 21 games as a sophomore after starting 14 games as a freshman. She averaged 3.1 ppg. and 2.7 rpg. as a freshman.
 
Katie Fischer (G, 5'7", Jr.) – the transfer from Mercyhurst is in her first season as a Fighting Scots. She played in 17 games a year ago for the Lakers, averaging 6.9 ppg. and making 17 of 35 3-pointers (48.6 percent). As a freshman, she averaged 7.3 ppg. in 26 games, with 14 starts, and made 26 of 90 three's.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
G         12        Whitney Allen                6-1       Jr.        Dudley, England
G         4          Katie Fischer                 5-7       Jr.        Ambridge, Pa.
F          13        Aignee' Freeland          6-3       Sr.        York, Pa.
F          00        Lauren Hippo                5-10     Sr.        Altoona, Pa.  
F          5          Maggie Moore               6-2       Jr.        Olean, N.Y.
or         11        Cheniya Sharpe            5-11     Fr.        Springfield, Va.
or         15       Melanie Lindsey             5-9       Fr.        Pittsburgh, Pa.           
 
 
SCOUTING CHARLESTON 
Head Coach:  Adam Collins (4^th year)
2014-15 Record:  22-7
 
The Golden Eagles comes off a 22-7 finish a year ago, losing to Notre Dame(OH) in the Mountain East Conference quarterfinals. Charleston has enjoyed back-to-back 20-win seasons under fourth-year coach Adam Collins. In 2013-14, their season came to an end in the first round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional, suffering a 64-62 loss to Edinboro. Collins must replace a pair of 1,000-point scorers but welcome back Chyress Lockhart. The 5'6" guard missed the 2014-15 season with an injury, but in 2013-14 she led the Golden Eagles in scoring (15.0 ppg.) and assists (106). She made 144 of 182 free throws (79.1 pct.). Kiara Johnson and Monet Saunders are also returning starters. Saunders was third on the team in scoring at 9.9 ppg., and was second in rebounding at 7.3 rpg. The 6'1" junior shot 54.0 percent from the floor. She was a second team All-MEC selection. Johnson, a 6'2" senior, had a team-leading 8.2 rpg. and scored 8.7 ppg. She shot 62.4 percent from the floor. They combined for 41 blocked shots. Charleston was picked to finish second in the Mountain East Conference preseason poll.
 
SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA STATE
Head Coach: David Smith (4^th year)
2014-15 Record:  8-20
 
Former Shippensburg and Bellarmine head coach David Smith is in his fourth season in charge of the Yellow Jackets. He enters the 2015-16 campaign with 615 career victories, ranking fifth among active Division II coaches in victories.  West Virginia State comes off an 8-20 finish a year ago, and feature Shealyn Shafer, a 6'0" junior who was an honorable mention All-Mountain East Conference selection last year. She was second on the team in scoring at 11.6 ppg. and had a team-leading 8.4 rpg., with 36 blocked shots.  Deyhanna Styles, a 5'4" senior, also returns. She averaged  10.2 ppg., third on the team, and had a team-high 90 assists. The Yellow Jackets were picked to finish tenth in the 12-team MEC.
 
All-Time vs. Charleston
Edinboro leads 4-3
Last Meeting:  2013-14 – Edinboro 64, Charleston 62
 
All-Time vs. West Virginia State
Edinboro leads 2-0
Last Meeting:  2004-05 – Edinboro 87, West Virginia State 74   
 
NEXT:  Wednesday, November 18 vs. Slippery Rock