Edinboro Fighting Scots (20-10 in 2015-16) vs. Wheeling Jesuit (27-6 in 2015-16)
DATE: Saturday, November 12, 2016
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Hollinger Field House
CITY: West Chester, Pa.
LIVE STATS:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/wcupa/wbball/
Edinboro Fighting Scots (20-10 in 2015-16) vs. Glenville State (17-12 in 2015-16)
DATE: Sunday, November 13, 2016
TIME: 2:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Hollinger Field House
CITY: West Chester, Pa.
LIVE STATS:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/wcupa/wbball/
GAME STORY
The Fighting Scots will officially tip off their 2016-17 campaign playing in the Carol Eckman Memorial Tournament, hosted by West Chester. Head coach
Stan Swank got one final look at his squad last weekend in Edinboro's 50-25 exhibition loss at St. Bonaventure.
Shooting struggles from the floor proved to be the difference in Saturday's exhibition as the Fighting Scots finished the contest shooting 20 percent (11-of-55) from the field and 13.3 percent (2-of-15) from beyond the arc. Edinboro took a 13-11 lead into half, but were unable to preserve it in the final two quarters.
Katie Fischer led Edinboro with 12 points while freshman
Michaela Barnes finished with eight points.
Expectations are once again high for the Fighting Scots. Edinboro recorded its sixth straight 20-win season a year ago, ending the year at 20-10. Swank has now guided his last five teams to 119 victories. The Fighting Scots were recently picked to finish third in the PSAC West in the coaches' preseason poll and are in search of their eighth straight PSAC tournament berth.
On Saturday, November 12, Edinboro will open the new season against a Wheeling Jesuit team coming off one of the best seasons in school history. The Cardinals finished with a 27-6 record, which tied the school record for most victories in a season, and won the MEC Championship. Wheeling Jesuit also returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006 and recorded their first NCAA Tournament win in program history with a 71-69 triumph over West Chester.
The Fighting Scots will conclude the two-day event on Sunday, November 13, squaring off with Glenville State. The Lady Pioneers are under new management after alumnus Kim Stephens was handed the reigns this past summer. Glenville returns five contributors from last season's squad that finished 17-12 and made a trip to the MEC Tournament.
For the first time in four years, Edinboro will take the hardwood without
Aignee' Freeland or
Lauren Hippo. The departed seniors are both members of the 1,000-point club and were staples of Fighting Scots' squads that made the PSAC Tournament each of the past four years. Edinboro will rely on a pair of all-conference honorees a year ago.
Katie Fischer was a second team All-PSAC West selection, while
Michelle Jahn was named the PSAC West Freshman of the Year.
The 2016-17 roster features a trio of Division I transfers in 6'2" forward/center
Ciara Rosten (Massachusetts), junior guard
JaVannah Jackson (Bethune Cookman), and redshirt sophomore guard
Jontay Walton (Umass Lowell).
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. WHEELING JESUIT
Edinboro leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 1996-97 – Edinboro 82, Wheeling Jesuit 81
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. GLENVILLE STATE
Glenville State leads 3-0
Last Meeting: November 10, 2012 – Glenville State 101, at Edinboro 82
The Head Coaches
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 533-292, 30th year)
Like a fine wine,
Stan Swank is getting better with age. As he enters his 30th season as Edinboro's women's basketball head coach, he has guided the Fighting Scots to six of the best seasons in school history the last six years. All told, Edinboro is an incredible 145-37 the last six seasons. Of course, winning is nothing new to Swank, as the winningest coach in Fighting Scot women's basketball history has had 23 winning seasons during his 29-year tenure while compiling a 533-292 overall mark. Add in four seasons as the head coach at Parkland Junior College, and Swank has 637 career collegiate victories. All told, he has had four PSAC championship teams and ten teams selected for the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Edinboro women's basketball has enjoyed 14 20-win seasons, with Swank directing the Fighting Scots to 12 of those. All told, ten of his Fighting Scot editions have reached the NCAA Division II playoffs, with Edinboro qualifying for the PSAC postseason tournament 21 times. On ten of those occasions, the Fighting Scots have advanced to the championship game, winning the PSAC title in 1989-90, 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2013-14. In the NCAA Division II Tournament, Swank has guided Edinboro to the Final 32 four times, the Sweet 16 three times, and the Elite Eight twice. Swank enters the 2016-17 campaign tied for 11th among active Division II coaches in wins with 533. That figure is tied for 22nd all-time in overall victories. He ranks 37th in active career winning percentage (.646). Swank is the longest-tenured coach in the PSAC and is also the all-time leader in wins among PSAC coaches. Swank picked up career win number 500 on December 17, 2014, handing Millersville a 65-58 defeat.
Wheeling Jesuit: Debbie Buff (SUNY Cortland, 74-69, 6th year, 174-176, 13th year overall)
Head coach Debbie Buff is in her ninth season at the helm of the Cardinals basketball team. She was tasked with revitalizing the program and has done just that. In her first graduating recruiting class, the Cardinals won the MEC Championship and tied the school record with the most victories in a single season, finishing with a record of 27-6. Buff also guided the Cardinals to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006, and recorded the programs first ever NCAA Tournament win. Prior to her arrival at Wheeling Jesuit, Buff spent two seasons at Endicott College where she led the Lady Gulls to a 42-14 record with back to back ECAC Tournament appearances. Before becoming head coach at Endicott, Buff served as the head coach of RIT. She led the Lady Tigers to the Empire Elite Tournament and their first-ever ECAC Tournament appearance. She also earned Empire Eight Coach of the Year in 2006-2007.
Glenville State: Kim Stephens (Glenville State '11, 1st year)
Head coach Kim Stephens enters her first year at the helm of the Lady Pioneers. This is the first head coaching job for the Glenville State alum. Stephens returns to Glenville State after serving as the assistant coach at Division I Sacramento State for the past three seasons. Stephens played on the women's basketball at Glenville State and later joined the Lady Pioneers coaching staff as an assistant coach. She was a team captain for the 2010-11 Glenville State team that won the WVIAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Stephens was also named the WVIAC Student-Athlete of the Year. While at Sacramento State, Stephens assisted with all aspects of the Women's Basketball program including travel, budget, on-court skill development and recruiting. She also helped the Lady Hornets earn a berth in the Women's NIT Tournament during the 2014-15 season.
S
COUTING THE FIGHTING SCOTS
| Probable Starters |
|
|
|
|
|
PPG |
RPG |
| F |
5 |
Maggie Moore |
6-2 |
Sr. |
Olean, N.Y. |
3.8 |
3.7 |
| or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| F |
15 |
Ciara Roster |
6-2 |
Jr. |
Buffalo, N.Y. |
DNP |
DNP |
| F |
11 |
Cheniya Sharpe |
5-11 |
So. |
Springfield, Va. |
1.7 |
2.3 |
| or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| F |
12 |
Whitney Allen |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Dudley, England |
3.5 |
6.5 |
| or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| F |
21 |
Nicole Johnson |
5-10 |
Sr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
2.8 |
4.5 |
| G |
1 |
Jontay Walton |
5-5 |
5-5 |
Buffalo, N.Y. |
DNP |
DNP |
| or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| G |
20 |
Michelle Jahn |
5-8 |
5-8 |
Edinboro, Pa. |
12.6 |
3.5 |
| G |
0 |
JaVannah Jackson |
5-4 |
5-4 |
Cleveland, Ohio |
DNP |
DNP |
| or |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| G |
2 |
Michaela Barnes |
5-6 |
5-6 |
Chagrin Falls, Ohio |
DNP |
DNP |
| G |
4 |
Katie Fischer |
5-7 |
5-7 |
Ambridge, Pa. |
16.0 |
3.2 |
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Katie Fischer (G, 5'7", Sr.) – is in her second season at Edinboro after transferring from Mercyhurst. She was a second team All-PSAC selection last year after starting all 30 games last season, finishing finished second on the team in scoring at 16.0 ppg. and led the PSAC in assists with 188, good for sixth in Division II and tied for the sixth-most in a season at Edinboro. She also made 51-of-156 3-pointers. Fischer recorded five double-digit assist games last season and posted six double-doubles.
Michelle Jahn (G, 5'8", So.) – the reigning PSAC Freshman of the Year emerged as a standout early last season. The 5'8" guard from nearby General McLane High School went on to average 12.6 ppg. while making 71 of 174 3-pointers. She ranked second in the PSAC in 3-point percentage (.408) and third in 3-pointers made. Her 71 3-pointers tied Hippo for the fifth-most in a season while her .408 3-point percentage tied Hope Mancini for the seventh-highest percentage in a season. Jahn recorded a 3-pointer in all but six contests last season.
Whitney Allen (F, 6'1", Sr.) – is the third returning starter from the 2015-16 squad. Allen appeared in all 30 games, starting 20. The 6'1" swingman isn't a big scorer at 3.5 ppg., but is extremely versatile and finished as the second-leading rebounder (6.5 rpg.) and was third in assists (58). Allen finished with double-digit rebounds on seven occasions and recorded her first career double-double last season. The Dudley, England native finished as the Fighting Scots leading rebounder on seven occasions and assists leader once.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Wheeling Jesuit returns four of their top five scorers from last year's squad that won a Mountain East conference championship and the first NCAA Tournament game in program history. The Cardinals were picked second in the MEC preseason poll and were ranked sixth in the D2CCA Atlantic Regional rankings released earlier this week.
Junior guard Mariah Callen highlights a group of 11 returners from last year's squad. An All-MEC honorable mention last season, Callen averaged 11.4 ppg. and 3.3 apg. while starting all 33 games last season. The 5'4'' West Virginia native also led the Cardinals from beyond the arc, converting on 56-of-168 3-pt. attempts.
The Cardinals also return their two leading rebounders from last season. Jaana Motton led Wheeling Jesuit with 7.4 rpg. while Chenelle Moore averaged 6.3 rpg. The senior duo was nearly identical in scoring as Moore averaged 9.2 ppg. while Motton was at 9.1 ppg.
The Fighting Scots will see a familiar face in guard Monica Burns. Burns is a transfer from Indiana(Pa.) and played against Edinboro in her freshman season as a Crimson Hawk in the 2014-15 season. Burns totaled five points in that meeting.
| Probable Starters |
|
|
|
|
|
PPG |
RPG |
| F |
32 |
Kylie Frizell |
5-10 |
Sr. |
Smithville, Ohio |
7.8 |
4.0 |
| F |
21 |
Chenelle Moore |
6-0 |
Sr. |
Westerville, Ohio |
9.2 |
6.3 |
| F |
42 |
Jaana Motton |
5-11 |
Sr. |
Columbus, Ohio |
9.1 |
7.4 |
| G |
1 |
Mariah Callen |
5-4 |
Jr. |
Morgantown, WV |
11.4 |
3.6 |
| G |
4 |
Cassi Stein |
5-10 |
Jr. |
Newark, Ohio |
3.8 |
2.3 |
SCOUTING THE LADY PIONEERS
Glenville State was picked to finish fifth in the MEC after a 17-12 season a year ago that featured a first round exit in the conference tournament. The Lady Pioneers are under the tutelage of first-year head coach Kim Stephens. Stephens, who played at Glenville State from 2007-11, takes over after the departure of Charles Marshall.
The Lady Pioneers are led by returning scoring leader, Paris McLeod. The 5'6'' guard averaged 13.0 ppg. a year ago on 38.9 percent (125-of-321) shooting. McLeod was also the team's leader in assists (122) and steals (80). McLeod was one of two Lady Pioneers named to the 2016 All-MEC second team.
Joining McLeod as an All-MEC selection was her Brittany Jackson. Jackson was also the only other Lady Pioneer to average in double-figures scoring at 12.8 ppg. The 5'8'' senior made her living beyond the arc to the tune of a 36.2 3-pt. percentage while hitting a team-high 80-of-221 3-pointers.
| Probable Starters |
|
|
|
|
|
PPG |
RPG |
| F |
10 |
Courtney Davis |
5-11 |
So. |
Baltimore, MD |
8.0 |
8.3 |
| F |
32 |
Brittany Jackson |
5-8 |
Sr. |
Montgomery Village, MD |
12.8 |
2.3 |
| G |
3 |
Julie Bishop |
5-7 |
Jr. |
Glenville, WV |
7.3 |
1.7 |
| G |
12 |
Paris McLeod |
5-6 |
Jr. |
Belleville, Mich. |
13.0 |
3.0 |
| G |
21 |
Kristin Desrocher |
5-8 |
Jr. |
Chapmanville, WV |
6.2 |
2.4 |
NEXT FOR THE FIGHTING SCOTS: Wednesday, November 16 vs. Daemen
