Edinboro Fighting Scots (9-6, 4-5 PSAC West) vs. Bloomsburg Huskies (8-4, 5-3 PSAC East)
DATE: Wednesday, January 6, 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 will renew what has become a spirited rivalry with Bloomsburg when the Fighting Scots host the Huskies on Wednesday at McComb Fieldhouse. Edinboro seeks to end a three-game losing streak, just the second in the past five seasons.

Edinboro comes into the game with a 9-6 overall record and a 4-5 mark in PSAC play. The Fighting Scots have dropped four of their last five outings, most recently a 67-53 loss at Lock Haven this past Sunday. The Huskies enter the contest at 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the PSAC East. Bloomsburg has won two of its last three games, both by double digits. They posted an 81-65 win over Slippery Rock on Sunday.

The Fighting Scots have struggled offensively over the past few games. Edinboro has failed to score 60 points in the past three outings, averaging just 56.3 points during that span. In addition, the Fighting Scots have shot under 35 percent in each of the three games. They are shooting just 29.7 percent over the past three games, including 26.2 percent at Lock Haven.

The Fighting Scots average 69.2 ppg., good for eighth in the PSAC, while allowing 65.2 ppg., which also ranks eighth. Edinboro ranks among the leaders in Division II in several categories. The Fighting Scots are third in total assists (252), seventh in total rebounds (623), and 10^th in total blocks (64). 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 16.2 ppg. Fischer also ranks second in the PSAC with 5.9 assists per game and is third in the nation with 89 assists. She also ranks second in the PSAC with 35 3-pointers made and is fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (38.0 pct.). She ranks 15^th in Division II with 35 3-pt. field goals.

Senior Aignee' Freeland ranks 14^th on Edinboro's all-time scoring list with 1,301 points. She also recently entered the top three in career rebounds, and is currently third all-time with 827 boards. Heather Gates (1,301) and Montique Wade (1,113) rank first and second, respectively. Freeland is also seventh all-time in career blocks with 102. She ranks 13^th in the PSAC in scoring (15.1 ppg.) and 10^th in rebounding. (8.2 rpg.)

After beginning her career scorching hot, freshman Michelle Jahnhas cooled off as of late. The guard is shooting just 28.3 percent from the field over the last five games. Despite the rough stretch, Jahn still ranks among the PSAC's best 3-point shooters. Jahn is third in 3-point field goal percentage (43.0 pct.) and fourth in 3-pointers made (34), despite only taking 79 3-pointers.

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 40.4 percent. Although she has struggled to find her shot this season, shooting 27.7 percent (26-of-94) from beyond the arc, Hippo ranks sixth in career 3-pointers made (149) and eighth in career 3-pointers attempted (369). She has played a solid floor game for the Fighting Scots, with 44 assists and just 16 turnovers. Hippo has been an ironman this season, ranking second in the nation in minutes played (543).

Since returning from injury, Nicole Johnson has been a consistent presence on the boards. The junior forward is fourth on the team in rebounding, averaging 4.3 rpg. She has grabbed at least six boards in each of her three starts. 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 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 14-12.
Bloomsburg has won four of the last five meetings, interrupted by an Edinboro victory over the Huskies in the 2013-14 Atlantic Regional Championship. The Fighting Scots prevailed, 82-76, to advance to the Elite Eight.

Last Meeting: 2014-15 - at #20 Bloomsburg 59, #11 Edinboro 49
In a matchup of nationally-ranked teams, the 11^th-ranked Fighting Scots had a poor all-around outing on the road at 11^th-ranked Bloomsburg. Edinboro shot just 30.0 percent (15-of-50) and turned the ball over 25 times. The Huskies closed out the first half on a 7-2 run to enter the locker room with a 27-22 lead. Edinboro would cut the lead to three at 35-32 early in the second half, but the Huskies responded with a 12-0 run to increase their lead to 47-32. Edinboro would trail by at least eight points the rest of the way. Lindsay led the Fighting Scots with 16 points and six rebounds. Aignee' Freeland was the only other Fighting Scot in double figures, scoring 10 points. Adreana Sadowski led the Huskies with 12 points and nine rebounds.

LAST TIME OUT
January 3, 2016 - at Lock Haven 67, Edinboro 53
The Fighting Scots struggled from the floor in a 67-53 loss to Lock Haven, shooting a season-low 26.2 percent (17-of-65) from the field and failed to break 60 points for a third straight game. It was also the third straight outing that the Fighting Scots failed to shoot over 35 percent from the field. Neither team could pull away in a first half which featured 10 lead changes and nine ties. Edinboro would enter halftime with a slim 26-24 lead thanks to a Brandy Merritt buzzer-beating layup. The Bald Eagles would regain the lead for good at 31-28 early in the third quarter on a Rachael McDaniel 3-pointer. After a Katie Fischer bucket early in the fourth brought Edinboro within two points at 44-42, Lock Haven would answer with an 11-3 run over the next five minutes to take a ten-point lead at 55-45. Lauren Hippo led Edinboro with 15 points and nine rebounds. Nicole Johnson was the only other Fighting Scot in double figures, scoring 10 points and grabbing seven boards. Fischer had nine points before fouling out for the second time this season.

January 3, 2016 - at Bloomsburg 81, Slippery Rock 65
The Huskies came away with the win boasting an all-freshman starting five.. Alyssa Mack scored the first six points for the Huskies and Bloomsburg never relinquished the lead, leading by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter. Mack, a freshman, had a team-high 20 points. Adreana Sandowski and Mia Hopkins came off the bench to score 18 and 17 points, respectively. Hopkins also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and dished out six assists. The Huskies were outrebounded by The Rock 40-27, but Bloomsburg forced 24 turnovers while committing just 14.

The Head Coaches

Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 522-289, 29^th 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 522-289 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.

Bloomsburg:Bill Cleary (Villanova '98, 159-59, 8^th year, Career Record: 213-144, 12^th year)
Cleary is in his eighth season at Bloomsburg. Since taking control of the program, Cleary has made the Huskies a regional power. Over the past four seasons, the Huskies have gone 124-28 and appeared in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, the most consecutive appearances since the program also made four straight in 1989-92. Cleary has won the PSAC East Coach of the Year award the past two seasons, as well as being named the WBCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year in 2014-15. Prior to his arrival at Bloomsburg, Cleary spent five seasons as the head coach of the women's basketball team at Wilimgton. He posted a school-record 22 wins in his final season at the helm at Wilmington.

SCOUTING THE FIGHTING SCOTS

PROBABLE STARTERS                                     PPG          RPG
F     13    Aignee' Freeland     6-3     Sr.     York, Pa.                15.1                8.2
F     12     Whitney Allen         6-1     Jr.     Dudley, England       3.5                6.2
F     21     Nicole Johnson     5-10     Jr.     Pittsburgh, Pa.         3.2                4.3
G    00     Lauren Hippo        5-10     Sr.     Altoona, Pa.           11.3                4.6
G     4      Katie Fischer          5-7     Jr.      Ambridge, Pa.        16.2                3.8

TOP RESERVES
G   11     Cheniya Sharpe   5-11     Fr.      Springfield, Va.         2.0                 2.7
G   14     Lindsey Jahn        5-8      Jr.      Edinboro, Pa.            1.6                 1.5
G   20     Michelle Jahn       5-8      Fr.      Edinboro, Pa.          12.1                 3.0

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 14^th in career scoring with 1,301 points and third in career rebounds with 827. Freeland leads Edinboro in rebounding and is second in scoring, averaging 15.1 ppg. and 8.2 rpg. She ranks 13^th in the PSAC in scoring and 10^th in rebounding.

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 (40.4), sixth in career 3-pointers made (149), along with eighth in career 3-pointers attempted (369). While she has struggled from beyond the arc this year (27.7 percent), she has 44 assists and just 16 turnovers. Hippo is fourth on the team in scoring at 11.3 ppg. while making 26-of-94 3-pointers. She also ranks third on the team with 4.6 rpg. and her 2.93 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 16.2 ppg. That figure is good for eighth in the PSAC. In addition, Fischer is second in the PSAC with 5.9 assists per game. 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 (43.0 pct.) and fourth in 3-pointers made (34). She is third on the team in scoring, averaging 12.1 ppg.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Bloomsburg returned just two starters from a squad that finished at 26-5 and led the PSAC in scoring defense at 59.4 ppg. A young Huskies team is allowing 68.7 ppg. this season, ranking 15^th in the conference, while scoring 72.7 ppg. That figure ranks for fifth.

The Huskies are led by junior guard Mia Hopkins. She leads the squad in both scoring (19.2 ppg.) and rebounding (10.8 ppg.) The former figure ranks second in the conference, while the latter is fourth. The 5'9'' guard also leads the conference with 3.1 steals per game and ranks ninth with 4.6 assists per game. In addition, Hopkins leads the PSAC and ranks 10^th in the nation with seven double-doubles.

Redshirt senior Adreana Sadowski leads the PSAC averaging 2.18 blocks per game. That figure also ranks 22^nd in the nation, while her 24 total blocks rank 25^th. Sadowski also leads the PSAC and ranks fifth in the nation with a 63.9 field goal percentage from her forward spot. A second team All-PSAC East selection a year ago, she ranks second on the team in scoring (14.2 ppg.) and rebounding (6.2 rpg.).

PROBABLE STARTERS                                             PPG    RPG
F     22     Alex Ross                 5-10         Jr.     Lancaster, Pa.         9.8         4.8
F     25     Adreana Sadowski     6-1     R-Sr.     Fleetwood, Pa.      14.2         6.2
G      1     Alyssa Mack               5-7         Fr.     Walnutport, Pa.        7.6         2.1
G     23    Mia Hopkins                5-9         Jr.     Pittston, Pa.           19.2       10.8
G     24    Morgan Klunk             5-9         Jr.     Felton, Pa.              11.3         5.0

NEXT FOR THE FIGHTING SCOTS: Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Clarion