Edinboro Fighting Scots (9-4, 4-3 PSAC West) vs. Indiana(Pa.) Crimson Hawks (8-3, 5-2 PSAC West)DATE: Saturday, December 19, 2015
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: McComb Fieldhouse
CITY: Edinboro, Pa.
LIVE STATS:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/edinboro/wbball/RADIO: http://streamdb4web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WFSEGAME STORYThe Edinboro University women's basketball team hosts Indiana(Pa.) on Saturday for a rematch of last season's PSAC quarterfinals. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Edinboro is in ranked fifth in the latest D2SIDA Atlantic Regional Rankings, while IUP is sixth.
Saturday's game also marks Edinboro's annual "Toys for Tots" event. Fans donating an unwrapped toy will receive free admission into the contest. All donations will be taken to the U.S. Marine Corps office in Erie for distribution to needy families in the surrounding area.
Edinboro comes into the game with a 9-4 overall record and a 4-3 mark in PSAC play. The Fighting Scots have dropped two of their last three outings, most recently a 75-55 loss to Gannon on Wednesday. The Crimson Hawks, meanwhile, enter the contest riding high off an upset over 13
th-ranked and defending nation champions California(Pa.), 78-72, and enter 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the PSAC West. IUP has won three straight games.
Edinboro ranks among the leaders in Division II in several categories. The Fighting Scots are second in assists (233), 11
th in assists per game (17.9), fourth in rebounds (538), fifth in blocks (56) and 9
th in 3-pointers made (89).
Senior
Aignee' Freeland sits at 15
th place on the all-time scoring list with 1,275 points. She also recently entered the top three in career rebounds, and is currently third all-time with 813 boards. Heather Gates and Montique Wade rank first and second, respectively. Freeland is also eighth all-time in career blocks with 97. She ranks 12
th in the PSAC in scoring (15.5 ppg.) and ninth in rebounding. (8.4 rpg.)
The Fighting Scots boast two of the top five 3-point shooters in the conference in
Katie Fischer and
Michelle Jahn. Fischer has knocked down a PSAC-leading 35 3-pointers and Jahn 29, good for fifth.
Lauren Hippo, one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in Edinboro history, adds 22 threes.
First-year Fighting Scot
Katie Fischer continues her impressive start at Edinboro. In her previous two games she had a career-high 31 points and a team-high 28 points, respectively. The transfer from Mercyhurst leads the team and ranks fifth in the PSAC in scoring with 17.5 ppg. Fischer also leads the PSAC with 6.4 assists per game and is second in the nation with 83 assists. She also leads the PSAC with 35 3-pointers made and ranks fifth with a 40.7 percent 3-pt. percentage. She ranks sixth in Division II with 35 3-pt. field goals. Fischer is the reigning PSAC West Athlete of the Week.
Michelle Jahn has emerged as one of the most dangerous 3-point threats in the PSAC, ranking fourth in the conference at 44.8 percent from beyond the arc. The freshman from nearby General McLane High School also ranks fifth in the PSAC with 30 3-pointers made. After averaging 19.8 ppg. during a four-game stretch, Jahn has totaled just 19 points in the last three outings. Jahn has been named the PSAC West Freshman of the Week three times. She ranks third on the squad in scoring, averaging 12.2 ppg.
Senior
Lauren Hippo ranks among the all-time great 3-pt. shooters in program history. She is ranked first all-time in 3-pt. percentage, shooting 41.5 percent. Although she has struggled to find her shot to begin the season, shooting 29.7 percent (22-of-74) from three, Hippo has played a solid floor game for the Fighting Scots. Hippo has recorded 41 assists and just nine turnovers. She ranks second in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (4.56) and first in minutes played (468) while ranking 13
th in the PSAC with 41 assists.
Junior forward
Nicole Johnson made her season debut on the two-game swing to East Stroudsburg and West Chester. Johnson played in all 28 games a year ago with 21 starts, averaging 4.9 ppg. and 5.1 rpg. She missed the first nine games with an injury suffered during the summer, and saw limited action in her first two games. After scoring the game winning bucket against Daemen last weekend, Johnson started her first game of the season in this week's loss to Gannon. She led the Fighting Scots in rebounding, pulling down nine boards, including six offensive rebounds.
ON THE RADIOThe game will be broadcast on WFSE 88.9. Mike Fenner will handle the play-by-play duties with Josh Kaufer on color commentary.
ALL-TIME SERIESEdinboro leads 48-39. The Fighting Scots won eight in a row prior to IUP sweeping the three meetings last season.
Last Meeting: 2014-15 – Edinboro 63, at #7 Indiana 71 (PSAC Quarterfinal)
The Fighting Scots saw their quest for back-to-back PSAC titles come to an end in the PSAC quarterfinals against Indiana (Pa.). After sweeping the regular season series, seventh ranked IUP also scored a victory over the Fighting Scots in the quarterfinals of the PSAC tournament at the Kovalchick Complex. Despite leading Division II in 3-point percentage coming into the contest, Edinboro shot just 4-of-16 from beyond-the-arc. The Crimson Hawks made 12-of-28 3-pointers to defeat the Fighting Scots at their own game. After taking a 28-25 lead into the half, IUP opened the second half with an 18-8 run, that included four 3-pointers. Trailing 50-38 with 11:01 remaining, Edinboro fought back with a 16-5 run of its own over the next four minutes to cut the deficit to just one point at 55-54. IUP answered back with back-to-back 3-pointers by Leslie Stapleton and Lindsay Stamp to build the lead back to 61-54 with just over five minutes remaining. The closest Edinboro would get the rest of the way would be five points as IUP held on to win and advance to the PSAC semifinals. Three Fighting Scots scored in double-digits, led by
Laurel Lindsay's double-double with 17 points and 11 assists.
Lauren Hippo totaled 15 points, while
Nicole Johnson added eight. Stamp led the Crimson Hawks with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Stapleton had 14 points on 4-of-12 shooting and Ashley Stoner added 13 points and grabbed seven boards.
LAST TIME OUT12/16/15 - Gannon 75, at Edinboro 55Edinboro saw its six game home winning streak against the Lady Knights snapped on Wednesday night, 75-55. Gannon led from start to finish as the Lady Knights jumped out to a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the opening quarter. The Fighting Scots answered with 10-4 run, with
Katie Fischer scoring all 10 points, to cut the deficit to 11-10. The Lady Knights closed out the opening period with a 13-2 run and continued to build their lead throughout the game, leading by as many as 25 points in the third quarter.
Katie Fischer accounted for over half of Edinboro's 55 points, totaling 28 points on 11-of-28 shooting. In addition, Fischer added four assists and four rebounds and recorded just one turnover. The Fighting Scots struggled to get anything going on offense, shooting a season-low 32.8 percent (20-of-61) from the field. Gannon, meanwhile, shot 58.0 percent (29-of-50) from the field and 10-of-20 from beyond-the-arc; both season highs for an Edinboro opponent.
12/16 at Indiana(Pa.) 78, #13 California(Pa.) 72The Crimson Hawks upset the 13
th-ranked Vulcans at home on Wednesday night. IUP took a 35-34 halftime lead and opened the second half with a 10-2 run to take a 45-36 lead with just under seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. Megan Smith sparked a 10-0 run, scoring eight of the ten points, to give IUP a 17-point lead with 2:55 in the third and the Crimson Hawks held on to win, 78-72. Smith recorded her first career double-double with career-highs in both points (18) and rebounds (10). Marina Wareham and Leslie Stapleton totaled 17 and 15 points, respectively. IUP limited the Vulcans to 34.3 percent (24-of-70) shooting from the field while the Crimson Hawks shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the floor.
The Head Coaches Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 522-287, 29th year)Swank is in 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 522-287 at Edinboro, and over the previous five seasons Edinboro had a 125-27 record. The Fighting Scots seek their seventh straight PSAC Tournament appearance and have won three PSAC championships during that five-year span, the last coming in 2014. Swank entered 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.
Indiana(Pa.): Tom McConnell (Point Park '84, 51-17, 3
rd year; Career Record: 134-122, 10
th year)
Head coach Tom McConell is in his third season at Indiana(Pa.). McConell has recorded PSAC postseason appearances in each of his first two years as well as an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014-15. The Crimson Hawks were 25-4 last season and ranked as high as fifth in the Division II national rankings. McConell led the Crimson Hawks to their first PSAC West title since 2008. Prior to IUP, McConell spent seven seasons as the head coach of St. Francis University's (Pa.) men's basketball team.
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING SCOTS
PROBABLE STARTERSTOP RESERVESPLAYERS TO WATCHAignee' Freeland (F, 6'3", Sr.) – a two-time All-PSAC West selection, Freeland joined the 1,000-point club as a junior, and ranks 15
th in career scoring with 1,275 points and third in career rebounds with 813. Freeland leads Edinboro in rebounding and is second in scoring on the team in scoring, averaging 15.5 ppg. and 8.4 rpg. She ranks 12
th in the PSAC in scoring and ninth in rebounding. Freeland also leads the Fighting Scots and ranks 11
th in the PSAC in field goal percentage (51.5 percent). She has recorded four double-doubles this year, tied for fifth-most in the PSAC.
Lauren Hippo (G, 5'10", Sr.) – the 5'10" senior is one of the top 3-point threats in the PSAC and school history, ranking first in career 3-pt. percentage (41.5), sixth in career 3-pointers made (145), along with ninth in career 3-pointers attempted (349). While she has struggled from beyond-the-arc this year (29.7 percent), she has 41 assists and just nine turnovers. Hippo ranks second in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (4.56) and first in minutes played (468). She is fourth on the team in scoring, at 11.0 ppg. while making 22-of-74 3-pointers. She also ranks third on the team with 4.3 rpg. and her 3.2 assists per game rank second on the squad.
Katie Fischer (G, 5'7", Jr.) – the transfer from Mercyhurst is in her first season at Edinboro and is off to an impressive start as a Fighting Scot, averaging 17.5 ppg., good for fifth in the PSAC. In addition, Fischer leads the PSAC with 6.4 assists per game. She ranks fifth in the PSAC in 3-point percentage at 40.7 percent. Fischer leads the PSAC and ranks sixth in the nation with 35 3-pointers made. In the loss to Gannon earlier this week, she accounted for over half of Edinboro's 55 points as she totaled 28 points on career-high field goal and 3-pt. attempts. Fischer was 11-of-28 from the field, including 4-of-11 from beyond-the-arc. In addition, she added four assists and four boards. In the overtime win against Daemen last weekend, Fischer posted a career-high 31 points. Fischer is the reigning PSAC West Athlete of the Week.
Michelle Jahn (G, 5'8", Fr.) – the three-time PSAC West Freshman of the Week is one of the most dangerous 3-point threats in the conference. The General McLane High School product ranks fourth in the PSAC in 3-pt. percentage (44.8 percent) and fifth in 3-pointers made (30). Jahn's 30 3-pt. field goals rank 18
th in the nation. She is third on the team in scoring, averaging 12.2 ppg.
SCOUTING THE CRIMSON HAWKSIndiana(Pa.) began the year fourth in the PSAC West Preseason Poll. The Crimson Hawks are playing a very efficient offensive game, ranking highly in several categories in PSAC. IUP is ranked first in field goal percentage (46.3 percent), second in assists (174), fourth in scoring offense (75.1 ppg.), third in assist-turnover ratio (1.17), and fifth in fewest turnovers (149). The Crimson Hawks allow 66.5 ppg.
Redshirt-senior Leslie Stapleton was voted to the PSAC West Preseason All-Conference team and has lived up to the billing so far this season. She averages 17.8 ppg., good for fourth in the PSAC, and ranks fourth in the nation in free throw percentage at 96.8 percent, making 30-of-31 from the charity stripe. Stapleton is just the 21
st player in program history to score 1,000 career points with 1,023 points.
Like Edinboro, the Crimson Hawks boast a pair of the best 3-pt. shooters in the conference. Marina Wareham leads the PSAC with a 50.0 percent (26-of-52) 3-pt. percentage while Stapleton is shooting 36.1 percent (26-of-72) from beyond the arc. Wareham ranks 13
th in the nation.
The Crimson Hawks also boast a pair of prolific shot blockers. Six-foot sophomore forward Megan Smith is second in the conference with 19 blocked shots and Brittany Robinson ranks fifth with 15. As a team, IUP ranks second in the conference in blocks (51) behind Edinboro (56).
PROBABLE STARTERS | | | | | | PPG | RPG |
| F | 14 | Alexis Aiken | 5-9 | Sr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. | 2.2 | 3.9 |
| F | 15 | Zhane Brooks | 5-11 | Sr. | Erie, Pa. | 13.3 | 6.1 |
| F | 42 | Megan Smith | 6-0 | So. | Blain, Pa. | 10.5 | 6.1 |
| G | 10 | Marina Wareham | 5-3 | Sr. | New Wilmington. Pa. | 11.3 | 1.6 |
| G | 12 | Leslie Stapleton | 5-9 | R-Sr. | Indiana, Pa. | 17.8 | 2.7 |
TOP RESERVES | | | | | | PPG | RPG |
| F | 4 | Brittany Robinson | 6-0 | Fr. | Harrisburg, Pa. | 4.3 | 4.1 |
| F | 22 | Kendall Hunter | 5-10 | Fr. | Burke, Va. | 4.7 | 3.0 |
| G | 24 | Lauren Wolosik | 5-9 | R-So. | Pittsburgh, Pa. | 9.0 | 2.0 |
NEXT FOR THE FIGHTING SCOTS: Sunday, January 3, 2016 at Lock Haven
