Edinboro Fighting Scots (12-6, 7-5 PSAC West) vs California (Pa.) Vulcans (11-4, 9-3 PSAC West)
DATE: Wednesday, January 20, 2016
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
LOCATION: McComb Fieldhouse
CITY: Edinboro, Pa.
LIVE STATS: http://www.sidearmstats.com/edinboro/wbball/
RADIO: http://streamdb4web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WFSE

GAME STORY
The Edinboro University women's basketball team faces a big test this week, hosting defending national champion California (Pa.) on Wednesday. The Fighting Scots enter the contest with momentum, having won three straight games for the third time this season.
 
Edinboro comes into the game with a 12-6 overall record and a 7-5 mark in PSAC play. The Fighting Scots are back on the winning track after snapping just the second three game losing streak in the past five seasons. The Vulcans enter the contest at 11-4 overall and sit in second place in the PSAC West at 9-3.
 
In the last meeting with the Fighting Scots, the Vulcans neutralized Edinboro's three-point shot, which at that time led the nation at 40.6 percent. California enters Wednesday's contest ranked fifth in the PSAC in 3-pt. field goal defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 30.1 percent from beyond the arc. The Fighting Scots are shooting 35.5 percent from beyond the arc this season, which ranks third in the PSAC.
 
The Fighting Scots average 69.8 ppg., good for seventh in the PSAC, while allowing 64.6 ppg., which ranks eighth. Edinboro ranks among the leaders in Division II in several categories. The Fighting Scots are seventh in total assists (302), 13^th in total rebounds (752), and 16^th in total blocks (81). 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 seventh in the PSAC in scoring with 16.6 ppg. Fischer also leads the PSAC with 6.5 assists per game and is fourth in the nation with 117 total assists. She also ranks fifth in the PSAC with 40 3-pointers made and is seventh in 3-point field goal percentage (37.4 pct.).
 
Senior Aignee' Freeland ranks 11^th on Edinboro's all-time scoring list with 1,360 points. She also recently entered the top three in career rebounds, and is currently third all-time with 856 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 111. Freeland set a new career-high with seven blocks in a win over Bloomsburg. She ranks 10^th in the PSAC in both scoring (15.9 ppg.) and in rebounding. (8.3 rpg.)
 
Senior Lauren Hippo is just 48 points away from joining the 1,000 point club. She ranks among the all-time 3-point shooters in Edinboro history. Hippo is ranked first all-time in 3-point percentage, shooting 40.6 percent. Although she struggled to find her shot to begin the season, Hippo is starting to build momentum as of late. She has scored in double figures in four of the past five games. Hippo ranks sixth in career 3-pointers made (158) and eighth in career 3-pointers attempted (393). She has played a solid floor game for the Fighting Scots, with 49 assists and just 20 turnovers.
 
Since returning from injury, Nicole Johnson has been a consistent presence on the boards. The junior forward is third on the team in rebounding, averaging 5.4 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.
 
Junior Maggie Moore made her return against Pitt-Johnstown after missing the previous five games with an injury. In seven minutes, Moore grabbed a rebound, blocked a shot, and picked up a pair of steals. Moore has recorded two double-doubles this season.
 
ON THE RADIO
The 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 SERIES
Edinboro leads 42-36.
The Vulcans have won three in a row by at least 25 points and four of the last five meetings. The Fighting Scots won the previous eight in a row. 
 
Last Meeting: 2014-15 – at California (Pa.) 75, Edinboro 48
Edinboro suffered its second-worst loss of the season as they received a 75-48 defeat at the hands of eventual national champions California (Pa.). The Fighting Scots committed a season-high 27 turnovers that the Vulcans cashed in for 33 points, while committing just 10 turnovers themselves. California began the game on a 20-4 run, capped off by a Kaitlynn Fratz 3-pointer with 11:57 remaining in the first half. Edinboro entered the locker room down 45-23 and trailed by as many as 32 points in the second half. The Fighting Scots entered the contest first in the nation in 3-pt. percentage (40.6), but made just 1-of-8 attempts from beyond the arc. Aignee' Freeland was the only Fighting Scot to score in double figures, finishing with a team-high 23 points and six rebounds. Miki Glenn led the Vulcans with 19 points.
 
LAST TIME OUT
January 16, 2016 – at Edinboro 61, Pitt-Johnstown 59
The Fighting Scots led for all but 19 seconds of their PSAC West contest with Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday afternoon, but they had to fight off a late surge by the Lady Cats to secure the victory. Although UPJ scored the opening basket, Edinboro would jump out to a 21-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. Edinboro took their largest lead of the game thanks to a 9-0 run with 6:53 remaining in the second quarter and entered the locker room leading 36-27 at half. UPJ began the second stanza scoring the first six points as Edinboro was held scoreless for over three minutes to begin the period. Clinging to a 57-52 lead with 3:06 remaining, Edinboro saw the lead cut to just three on a layup by UPJ's Olivia McCabe. Trailing 61-59 with one second remaining, the Lady Cats heaved up one last 3-pointer, but Kayla DeCriscio's shot would bounce off the front of the rim to seal the game for Edinboro.
 
January 16, 2016 – California (Pa.) 64, at Slippery Rock 52
Three Vulcans posted double-doubles as California took care of Slippery Rock for the 28^th straight time, 64-52, on Saturday. Seairra Barrett recorded a career-high 18 rebounds to go along with her 11 points. Junior Precious Martin led the Vulcans with a team-high 16 points and added a career-high 11 boards. Shatara Parsons added 13 points and 13 rebounds. After opening the second half tied at 22-22, the Vulcans scored the first nine points of the half and held the lead the rest of the way. Slippery Rock made one final push, scoring 10 unanswered points to cut the lead to 55-48 with 2:21 left to play, but it proved futile as the Vulcans held on to win, 64-52.
 
The Head Coaches
 
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 525-289, 29^th 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 525-289 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^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.
 
California: Jess Strom (Penn State '05, 97-33, 5^th year)
Strom is in her fifth season at the helm in California and her 10^th overall year as a member of the Vulcans coaching staff. Strom led the Vulcans to a 2015 NCAA National Championship victory, their first since 2006. Strom already ranks third in school history in career victories and under Strom's leadership, the Vulcans have never suffered a losing season in her tenure.

SCOUTING THE FIGHTING SCOTS
 
PROBABLE STARTERS                                                                               PPG    RPG
F          13        Aignee' Freeland          6-3       Sr.        York, Pa.                    15.9     8.3
F          21        Nicole Johnson           5-10       Jr.        Pittsburgh, Pa.             3.6     5.4
G         00        Lauren Hippo              5-10       Sr.        Altoona, Pa.               11.6     4.8
G           4        Katie Fischer                5-7        Jr.        Ambridge, Pa.            16.6     3.5
G          20       Michelle Jahn               5-8        Fr.        Edinboro, Pa.             11.5     3.2
 
TOP RESERVES
F          12       Whitney Allen              6-1        Jr.        Dudley, England             3.2     5.9
G         11       Cheniya Sharpe         5-11        Fr.        Springfield, Va.               2.2     2.8
G         14       Lindsey Jahn               5-8         Jr.        Edinboro, Pa.                 1.7     1.2
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Aignee' Freeland (F, 6'3", Sr.) – a two-time All-PSAC West selection, Freeland joined the 1,000-point club as a junior, and ranks 11^th in career scoring with 1,360 points and third in career rebounds with 856. Freeland leads Edinboro in rebounding and is second in scoring, averaging 15.9 ppg. and 8.3 rpg. She ranks 10^th in the PSAC in both scoring and rebounding. Freeland posted her second straight and sixth total double-double of the season in last weekend's win over Pitt-Johnstown, totaling 15 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 (40.6), sixth in career 3-pointers made (158), along with eighth in career 3-pointers attempted (393). Hippo has played a solid floor game, managing 49 assists and just 20 turnovers. Hippo is third on the team in scoring at 11.6 ppg. while making 35-of-118 3-pointers. She also ranks fourth on the team with 4.8 rpg. and her 2.72 assists per game rank second on the squad. Hippo has scored in double figures in four of the last five games after doing so just once in the previous six outings.
 
Katie Fischer (G, 5'7", Jr.) – the transfer from Mercyhurst is in her first season at Edinboro and continues her impressive start as a Fighting Scot, averaging 16.6 ppg. That figure is good for seventh in the PSAC. In addition, Fischer leads the PSAC with 6.5 assists per game and ranks fourth in the nation with 117 total assists. In the win over Bloomsburg last week, Fischer dished out a career-high 14 assists, falling two short of the single game record held by assistant coach Callie Wheeler. She ranks fifth in the PSAC with 36 3-pointers made and seventh in 3-point percentage at 37.4 percent.
 
SCOUTING THE VULCANS
After capturing the 2015 National Championship, the Vulcans were the pre-season favorite in the PSAC West to begin the year. California averages 71.5 ppg, which ranks fourth in the PSAC, while allowing 64.7 ppg., which is ninth.
 
The California roster features a pair of PSAC West Freshman of the Year in Miki Glenn (2014) and Seairra Barrett (2015). Glenn racked in the accolades last season, including the MVP of both the PSAC Tournament and the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament. She was also named a WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, a First-Team All-PSAC West selection, and tabbed to the Daktronics All-Region Second-Team. Glenn continues to impress this season, leading the PSAC in scoring at 19.8 ppg. Barrett ranks third in the PSAC and is 14^th in the nation in rebounding, averaging 11.5 rpg.
 
The Vulcans average just 12.9 turnovers per game. That figure ranks 11^th in Division II and leads the PSAC. California also leads the PSAC in turnover margin at 5.67 and ranks fifth in assist-turnover ratio at 1.02.
 
Like the Fighting Scots, California plays strong on the glass, ranking third in the PSAC with 41.67 rpg, 17 of which are offensive boards. The latter figure ranks sixth in the nation and leads the PSAC.
 
In the last meeting with the Fighting Scots, the Vulcans neutralized Edinboro's three-point shot, which at that time led the nation at 40.6 percent. California enters Wednesday's contest ranked fifth in the PSAC in 3-pt. field goal defense, allowing opponents to shoot just 30.1 percent from beyond the arc.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS                                                                                           PPG    RPG
F            5        Seairra Barrett             6-0          So.    Center Township, Pa.        13.8     11.5
F            3        Shatara Parsons         6-0          So.    Harrisburg, Pa.                   10.6       9.3
F          23        Precious Martin           6-0          Jr.     Harrisburg, Pa.                    11.3       5.3
G           1        Paige Wright               5-11         Sr.     Fort Wayne, Ind.                   6.3       2.8
G         21        Miki Glenn                  5-8           Jr.      Bridgeport, W.Va.                19.8       4.7

NEXT FOR THE FIGHTING SCOTS:  Saturday, January 23, 2016 at Seton Hill 

CAREER RECORDS

Points

1. Samantha Reimer (2006-10)                        1,926
2. Jessica Rowe (1996-00)                              1,846
3. Montique Wade (1986-90)                            1,775
4. Sarah Bishop (1986-90)                               1,652
5. Kelsey Conklin (2006-10)                             1,557
6. Kelly Calderone (2004-07)                            1,460
7. Renee' Brown (2008-12)                               1,430
8. Meghan Miller (1995-99)                               1,426
9. Shauna Nevel (1992-96)                               1,384
10. Samantha Blazetic (2009-13)                        1,372
11. Aignee' Freeland (2012-Pres.)                     1,360

*Lauren Hippo (2012-Pres.)                                   952

Rebounds

1. Heather Gates (1994-98)                              1,301
2. Montique Wade (1986-90)                             1,113
3. Aignee' Freeland (2012-Pres.)                     856
4. Tina Skidmore (1977-81)                               809
5. Samantha Blazetic (2009-13)                         784
6. Tammy Walker-Strode (1990-92)                    777
7. Kelsey Conklin (2006-10)                               772
8. Renee' Brown (2008-12)                                 735
9. Terri Ayers (1990-93)                                     721
10. Amy Rapelje (1994-98)                                  716

3-Pt. Field Goal Percentage
(minimum 100 attempts)      
      1.   Lauren Hippo (2012-Pres.)                           0.396
            Valerie Majewski (2013-15)                           0.396
      3.   Meghan Miller (1995-99)                                0.377
      4.   Jessica Rowe (1996-00)                                0.358
      5.   Laurel Lindsay (2010-15)                               0.349
      6.   Hope Mancini (2010-15)                                0.344
      7.   Kelly Calderone (2004-07)                             0.343
      8.   Krystal Henson (1999-2003)                          0.342
      9.   Mari Hollman (1990-91)                                 0.339
            Kelli Mankowski (1994-98)                             0.338
           
3-Point Field Goals Made   
      1.   Krystal Henson (1999-2003)                         275
      2.   Meghan Miller (1995-99)                               222
      3.   Jodi Calderone (2001-05)                              209
      4.   Samantha Reimer (2006-10)                         190
      5.   Lauren Hippo (2012-Pres.)                          158
      6.   Kelly Calderone (2004-07)                             153
      7.   Jessica Rowe (1996-2000)                            140
      8.   Kiara Brown (2010-13)                                  139
      9.   Laurel Lindsay (2010-15)                               128
    10.   Valerie Majewski (2013-15)                            110
 
3-Point Field Goals Attempted      
      1.   Krystal Henson (1999-2003)                         803
      2.   Jodi Calderone (2001-05)                             653
      3.   Samantha Reimer (2006-10)                        610
      4.   Meghan Miller (1995-99)                              589
      5.   Kelly Calderone (2004-07)                            446
      6.   Kiara Brown (2010-13)                                 421
      7.   Lauren Hippo (2012-Pres.)                         399
      8.   Jessica Rowe (1996-2000)                           391
      9.   Laurel Lindsay (2010-15)                              367
    10.   Shauna Nevel (1992-96)                               345

Blocked Shots           
      1.   Samantha Blazetic (2009-13)                          285
      2.   Terri Ayers (1990-93)                                     159
      3.   Toyia Giles (1988-90)                                     141
      4.   Kate Kosewicz (1974-77)                               130
      5.   Micki Cerchiaro (2008-12)                              127
      6.   Aignee' Freeland (2012-Pres.)                      111
      7.   Agnieszka Michalow (2005-07)                       106
      8.   Donna Esposito (1982-86)                              102
      9.   Heather Gates (1994-98)                                 88
    10.   Renee' Brown (2008-12)                                  86