EDINBORO, Pa. (January 16, 2016) – The Edinboro University women's basketball team led for all but 19 seconds of its PSAC West contest against Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday afternoon at McComb Fieldhouse, but the 61-59 victory had several anxious moments late in the game. With their third straight win, the Fighting Scots improved to 12-6 overall and 7-5 in league play. UPJ is now 7-11 overall and 4-8 in the PSAC West.

UPJ scored the first basket of the game, but the Fighting Scots would jump out to a 21-18 lead after one quarter and build a 36-27 lead at the half. Edinboro would grab its largest lead of the game at 30-20 with 6:53 left in the second quarter thanks to a 9-0 run.

Aignee' Freeland started the run with a pair of layups. Michelle Jahn's 3-pointer made it 28-20, and Fischer capped the burst with a layup.

The Fighting Scots dominated the glass in the first half, holding a 30-13 edge. That included 18 offensive boards that led to 16 second-chance points.

UPJ came out and scored the first six points of the third quarter as Edinboro would not score for over three minutes to start the period. It signaled a tough second half for the Fighting Scots offensively. The Fighting Scots would make just 1-of-7 shots in the third quarter and commit seven turnovers. They were able to maintain a 47-41 lead after the third thanks to a 9-for-10 showing at the free throw line.

Edinboro was still maintaining a five-point lead at 57-52 with 3:06 to play, but the Lady Cats closed the gap to three points on a layup by Olivia McCabe. Freeland would make one of two free throws for a 58-54 advantage with just over two minutes to play, with UPJ's Jasmine Harper answering with a pair of free throws to cut the margin to just two points at 58-56 with 23 seconds remaining.

With UPJ pressing, Katie Fischer found Cheniya Sharpe all alone for a layup and a 60-56 lead with 19 seconds showing. However, Ana Hollen banked in a 3-pointer from the wing with 11 ticks showing and the Lady Cats had suddenly pulled with a point at 60-59.

Fischer was fouled by Hollen five seconds later. She would make the first, but miss the second for a 61-59 advantage. UPJ would call a timeout and advance the ball past halfcourt. With one second remaining, Kayla DeCriscio's 3-pointer from the top of the key glanced off the front of the rim and Edinboro had survived for the win.

Fischer led the Fighting Scots with 18 points, including a 5-for-6 showing at the line, despite battling foul trouble. She added six assists. Freeland added her sixth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Nicole Johnson added 10 rebounds, eight on the offensive end.

The Fighting Scots also received seven solid minutes from Maggie Moore at a critical time late in the third quarter and early in the fourth. The senior would finish with a rebound, a blocked shot and a pair of steals in her first action after missing five games with an injury.

UPJ had three players in double figures, McCabe and Jamie Tabon leading the way with 13 points each. Harper came off the bench to contribute 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Edinboro shot just 31.7 percent from the floor (19-of-60), including making just 5-of-20 shots in the final 20 minutes. The Fighting Scots made 20-of-27 free throws. UPJ shot 38.2 percent from the floor (21-of-55) and made 12-of-19 free throws (63.2 pct.). 

The Fighting Scots ended up with a 45-35 rebounding edge, including 21 on the offensive end.  However, they finished with just a 20-16 advantage in second-chance points, and UPJ held a 28-18 edge in scoring in the paint. Edinboro committed 18 turnovers and UPJ 16.

The Fighting Scots return to action on Wednesday, January 20, hosting 2015 national champion California(Pa.).