Edinboro Fighting Scots (11-6, 6-5 PSAC West) vs. Pitt-Johnstown Lady Cats (7-10, 4-7 PSAC West)DATE: Saturday, January 16, 2016
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 will seek its third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the Pitt-Johnstown Lady Cats on Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Scots have scored victories over Clarion and Bloomsburg in the past two outings.
Edinboro comes into the game with an 11-6 overall record and a 6-5 mark in PSAC play. The Fighting Scots are returning to action after a week-long bye week after scoring a road victory of Clarion this past Saturday, 74-68. The Lady Cats enter the contest at 7-10 overall and 4-7 in the PSAC West. Pitt-Johnstown has won just one of their last five contests, an 87-86 overtime thriller over the visiting Indiana Crimson Hawks.
After struggling from the floor during a three-game losing skid, the Fighting Scots have regained their offensive touch offensively over the past two games. Since snapping the three-game losing skid in which they shot 29.7 percent from the field, the Fighting Scots have shot over 40 percent from the floor and beyond the arc the past two games. Most recently, Edinboro finished 27-of-66 from the floor, including going 8-of-19 from deep, in a win over Clarion.
The Fighting Scots average 70.4 ppg., good for seventh in the PSAC, while allowing 64.9 ppg., which ranks eighth. Edinboro ranks among the leaders in Division II in several categories. The Fighting Scots are second in total assists (291), 13
th in both in total rebounds (707) and total blocks (77). Those figures all lead the PSAC.
First-year Fighting Scot
Katie Fischer continues her impressive start at Edinboro. The transfer from Mercyhurst leads the team and ranks eighth in the PSAC in scoring with 16.5 ppg. Fischer also leads the PSAC with 6.5 assists per game and is fourth in the nation with 111 assists. She also ranks fourth in the PSAC with 39 3-pointers made and is sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (37.9 pct.).
Senior
Aignee' Freeland ranks 12
th on Edinboro's all-time scoring list with 1,347 points. She also recently entered the top three in career rebounds, and is currently third all-time with 844 boards. Heather Gates (1,301) and Montique Wade (1,113) rank first and second, respectively. Freeland is also sixth all-time in career blocks with 110. She ranks 10
th in the PSAC in scoring (16.0 ppg.) and 11
th in rebounding. (8.2 rpg.)
Senior
Lauren Hippo ranks among the all-time 3-point shooters in Edinboro history. She is ranked first all-time in 3-point percentage, shooting 40.7 percent. Although she has struggled to find her shot to begin the season this season, she is starting to build momentum as of late. Hippo has shot 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from deep over the past two games and has now scored in double figures each of the past four games after doing so just once in the previous six. Hippo ranks fifth in career 3-pointers made (158) and eighth in career 3-pointers attempted (388). She has played a solid floor game for the Fighting Scots, with 49 assists and just 19 turnovers. Hippo has been an ironman this season, ranking fifth in the nation in minutes played (620).
Freshman
Michelle Jahn ranks among the PSAC's best 3-point shooters. Jahn is third in 3-point field goal percentage (43.7 pct.) and sixth in 3-pointers made (38), despite only taking 87 3-pointers.
Since returning from injury,
Nicole Johnson has been a consistent presence on the boards. The junior forward is tied for third on the team in rebounding, averaging 4.9 rpg. Johnson was third on the team in rebounding last season, averaging 5.1 rpg., while appearing in all 28 contests for the Fighting Scots.
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 SERIESSeries is even at 10-10The Fighting Scots have won four in a row and nine of the last 10 meetings.
Last Meeting:
2014-15 - at Edinboro 72, Pitt-Johnstown 69Departing senior
Valerie Majewski shined on Senior Night as she led the Fighting Scots with 19 points in a hard-fought victory over the visiting Lady Cats, 72-69. Pitt-Johnstown opened the scoring in the game, but Edinboro answered with a 22-8 run and continued to control the pace throughout the first half, taking a 31-28 lead into the locker room. Trailing 55-40 with 10:04 remaining, the Lady Cats used a 25-10 run to tie the game at 65-65 with 3:55 to play. The two teams traded buckets and the Fighting Scots were still clinging on to a 72-69 lead with 1:17 left, but the Lady Cats were unable to capitalize on their opportunities, finishing the final minute scoreless.
Nicole Johnson recorded her first career double-double in the win, totaling 10 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Aignee' Freeland added 19 points of her own and turned away a season-high three shots.
Lauren Hippo was the fourth Fighting Scot to score in double figures, dropping in 11 points. Jasmine Harper led the Lady Cats with 19 points and eight boards. Olivia McCabe was the only other UPJ player to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points.
LAST TIME OUTJanuary 9, 2016 - Edinboro 78, at Clarion 64Led by
Aignee' Freeland's fifth double-double of the season, the Fighting Scots scored an important road victory over PSAC West foe Clarion on Saturday afternoon. Edinboro jumped out to an early lead in the contest, scoring seven unanswered points to begin the game. With Edinboro leading 31-25 with 2:30 remaining in the half, the Golden Eagles strung together six unanswered points to tie the game with 53 seconds remaining. The Fighting Scots answered quickly, scoring five unanswered points of their own in the final minute to take a 36-31 halftime lead. Clarion began the second half on an 18-8 run to taste its first lead of the contest with 4:26 remaining in the third quarter, 49-46. The Fighting Scots responded swiftly again, scoring 12 unanswered points to regain the lead. Leading 68-64 with just 1:13 left to play, Hippo hit a 3-pointer to put the game out of reach as the Fighting Scots held on to win. Freeland scored a season-high 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Katie Fischer totaled 19 points and dished out eight assists. Hippo was the final Fighting Scot in double figures, finishing with 15 points. Tyra Polite led the Golden Eagles with 20 points, while Tania Holmes and Jordan Bekelja added 18 and 12, respectively.
January 13, 2016 - at Pitt-Johnstown 87, Indiana (Pa.) 86The Lady Cat's Jasmine Harper drained a go-ahead free throw with 26 seconds remaining in overtime that proved to be the winning basket as Pitt-Johnstown held on to defeat the visiting Crimson Hawks, 87-86. The Lady Cats trailed by as many as 16 with just 7:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Pitt-Johnstown scratched and clawed its way back, ending the final period on a 20-4 to send the game to overtime. Kayla DeCriscio hit the clutch 3-pointer to tie the game at 77-77 with 31 seconds remaining. The Crimson Hawks jumped out to a five-point lead in overtime, but the Lady Cats fought back answering with a 7-2 run to tie the game at 86-86 with 1:06 remaining in the overtime period. A foul sent Jasmine Harper to the line and she converted 1-of-2 free throws to give the Lady Cats the win. Ana Hollen led the Lady Cats with 23 points, while DeCriscio added 18, including the tying bucket to send it to overtime.
THE HEAD COACHESEdinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 524-289, 29th year)Swank is in his 29
thseason 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 524-289 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
thall-time in overall victories. He ranks 35
thin 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
thin 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.
Pitt-Johnstown:Mike Drahos (West Virginia '08, 27-43, 3rd year)Drahos is in his second season at the helm at Pitt-Johnstown. In his debut season, Drahos led the Mountain Cats to a PSAC playoff berth with a 7-9 record in conference play. Prior to accepting the position at Pitt-Johnstown, Drahos spent five seasons as an assistant coach at West Liberty. During his stint at West Liberty, the Hilltoppers amassed a 107-47 overall record and appeared in the NCAA Tournament twice. During his playing days, Drahos was a two-time PAC Player of the Year and three-time First Team all-conference selection at Bethany.
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING SCOTSPROBABLE STARTERS TOP 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 12
th in career scoring with 1,347 points and third in career rebounds with 844. Freeland leads Edinboro in rebounding and is second in scoring, averaging 16.0 ppg. and 8.2 rpg. She ranks 10
th in the PSAC in scoring and 11
th in rebounding. In the win over Clarion, Freeland picked up her fifth double-double of the season, totaling a season-high 28 points and grabbing 10 boards.
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-point field goal percentage (40.7), fifth in career 3-pointers made (158), along with eighth in career 3-pointers attempted (388). Hippo has recorded 44 assists and just 16 turnovers. Hippo is third on the team in scoring at 12.1 ppg. while making 35-of-113 3-pointers. She also ranks third on the team with 4.9 rpg. and her 2.88 assists per game rank second on the squad. Hippo totaled 15 points in the win over Clarion, including a clutch 3-pointer with 1:17 remaining to give the Fighting Scots a seven point lead. Hippo has shot 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from deep over the past two games and has now scored in double figures each of the past four games after doing so just once in the previous six
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 16.5 ppg. That figure is good for eighth in the PSAC. In addition, Fischer leads the PSAC with 6.5 assists per game and is fourth in the nation with 111 total assists. She ranks fifth in the PSAC in 3-point percentage at 38.0 percent. Fischer ranks second in the PSAC with 35 3-pointers made.
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 third in the PSAC in 3-point percentage (43.7 pct.) and sixth in 3-pointers made (34). She is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 11.7 ppg.
SCOUTING THE LADY CATSThe Lady Cats return five seniors from a 2014-15 squad that ranked second in the PSAC in scoring at 75.4 ppg, including 2014-15 Second Team All-PSAC center Jasmine Harper. Harper led the team in both scoring (16.5 ppg.) and rebounding (9.0 rpg.) last season. She paces the squad again in scoring this year with 12.4 ppg. and ranks second with 7.4 rpg.
Pitt-Johnstown is averaging 68.6 ppg., which ranks 10
th in the PSAC, while allowing 69.9 ppg., which is 15
th in the conference.
Like the Fighting Scots, Pitt-Johnstown relies on the three-ball as the focal point of their offense. The Lady Cats rank second in the PSAC in 3-pt. field goals attempted (360) and third in 3-pt. field goals made (113).
Sophomore Olivia McCabe is one of the most feared shot blockers in the PSAC, leading the conference with 30 blocked shots. McCabe also ranks second in the PSAC with seven double-doubles, which is the 22
nd most in Division II.
PROBABLE STARTERS | | | | | | PPG | RPG |
| F | 11 | Olivia McCabe | 6-0 | So. | Portage, Pa. | 11.7 | 8.4 |
| F | 34 | Jamie Tabon | 5-10 | Jr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. | 5.4 | 5.7 |
| G | 4 | Olivia Rizzo | 5-5 | Sr. | Harrison City, Pa. | 7.0 | 2.6 |
| G | 14 | Ana Hollen | 5-7 | Fr. | Bellowood, Pa. | 10.3 | 3.9 |
| G | 20 | Laurel O'Barto | 5-5 | Fr. | Blairsville, Pa. | 4.8 | 2.5 |
NEXT FOR THE FIGHTING SCOTS: Wednesday, January 20, 2016 vs. California (Pa.)
