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Michelle Jahn vs. Fairmont State
Matt Durisko

Women's Basketball Matthew Brancato, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Fighting Scots Renew Rivalry with Local PSAC West Foe Mercyhurst on Wednesday

GAME DAY CENTRAL
Edinboro (16-3, 12-1 PSAC West) vs. Mercyhurst (16-3, 11-2 PSAC West)
When:  Wednesday January 25, 2017
Where:  Edinboro, Pa. –  McComb Fieldhouse
Tip-off:  5:30 p.m.
Live Stats: CLICK HERE | Live Audio:  WFSE 88.9 | Live Video: CLICK HERE
 
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Edinboro: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
Mercyhurst: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
 
PSAC LINKS: PRESEASON POLL | STANDINGS | STATS | 
 
GAME STORYLINES
  • The Fighting Scots return to McComb Fieldhouse for the first time in two weeks following a three-game road trip. Edinboro saw their 16-game winning streak snapped this past Saturday with a 69-58 loss at Slippery Rock. The 16 straight victories was the second-longest win streak in program history.
  • Edinboro concludes the first half of PSAC action this Wednesday, hosting local conference rival Mercyhurst in a showdown between two of the top teams in the PSAC.
  • Edinboro has won 16 straight home games in the friendly confines of McComb Fieldhouse, dating back to last season, the longest streak since the 2011-12 squad reeled off 18 straight wins at home. The Fighting Scots are 9-0 at home this year after amassing a 64-11 home record over the past five seasons. Mercyhurst hasn't won in McComb Fieldhouse since the 2001-02 season.
  • The Fighting Scots are among "others receiving votes" in this week's WBCA Coaches' Poll. Mercyhurst leap frogged the Fighting Scots in this week's D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll, taking the third spot while Edinboro was ranked fourth.
  • Edinboro is in a tie for first place in the PSAC West following Saturday's loss, one game ahead of Mercyhurst. Edinboro and Mercyhurst were picked third and fourth, respectively, in the PSAC West preseason coaches' poll.
  • Wednesday's contest features a pair of teams off to historic starts. The Fighting Scots rebounded from an 0-2 start to win 16 straight games, including starting PSAC play with a 12-0 ledger for the first time since the 2011-12 season. The 16-game winning streak was the longest since the 2011-12 squad won 24 in a row and the second-longest streak in school history. The twelve-game PSAC winning stretch was also the longest since the 2011-12 team won 20 conference games in a row.
  • The Lakers are off to their best start since the 1994-95 season, sitting one game behind the Fighting Scots in third place in the PSAC West. Mercyhurst's 11 PSAC wins are one shy of tying the most conference wins in a season since joining the PSAC.
  • Wednesday's rivalry game features a pair of the best defenses in the PSAC. The Fighting Scots rank second in the PSAC in scoring defense and 31st in the nation at 57.6 ppg., while the Lakers are fourth in the conference, allowing 57.7 ppg., and second in the conference in field goal percentage defense (37.1 pct.).  The Lakers have held two of their last three opponents under 45 points.
  • The contest also pits two of the PSAC's top point guards. Katie Fischer, who played two seasons at Mercyhurst, ranks 13th in the PSAC in scoring at 14.4 ppg. and fourth in the PSAC with 90 assists. Mercyhurst's Angela Heintz, a former Duquesne transfer, is fifth in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 16.7 ppg. and has recorded two triple-doubles this season, which leads the nation. Heintz ranks second in the PSAC with 121 assists.
 
ON THE RADIO/TV
  • The Edinboro-Mercyhurst game can be heard live on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Drew Patrick on the play-by-play and Josh Kaufer on color. ETV will also be streaming the game.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
EDINBORO VS. MERCYHURST
All-Time Series:  Edinboro leads 48-11
Series Notes: Edinboro has won 11 of the last 12 meetings, including nine in a row, and has swept the season series each of the last four years. The Lakers haven't won at McComb Fieldhouse since the 2001-02 season.
First Meeting:  1970-71 – Edinboro 64, Mercyhurst 57
Last Meeting:  Feb. 27, 2016 – Edinboro 61, Mercyhurst 42 (PSAC Tournament) (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
The Fighting Scots got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 25-9 lead in the first quarter, to coast to a first round victory over the Lakers. After Mercyhurst opened the game with a 5-2 lead less than two minutes into the contest, Edinboro ended the opening period on a 17-2 run, including hitting five consecutive 3-pointers. The Fighting Scots built the lead to 37-17 at halftime and the Lakers never got closer than 17 the rest of the way as the Edinboro lead grew to as many as 24 points. Katie Fischer led Edinboro with 18 points, six assists, and seven steals against her former team. Michelle Jahn finished with 15 points and five boards, while Lauren Hippo added 14 points, all in the first half, while hitting 4-of-8 shots from beyond the arc. Natalie Piaggesi led the Lakers with 14 points while Angela Heintz was limited to five points on 2-of-7 shooting.
 
THE COACHES
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 549-295, 30th year)
  • Head coach Stan Swank is in his 30th year as head women's basketball coach at Edinboro.
  • Swank has guided the Fighting Scots to a 145-37 record the past six seasons, including six PSAC Tournament appearances, three PSAC Championships, three NCAA Tournament berths and a trip to the Elite Eight.
  • Winning is nothing new to Swank as he is the winningest coach in Fighting Scots history and has had 23 winning seasons during his 29-year tenure while compiling a 549-295 overall mark. Add in four seasons as the head coach at Parkland Junior College, and Swank has 652 career collegiate victories.
  • All told under Swank, Edinboro has reached the NCAA Division II playoffs ten times, 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 Tournament, Swank has guided the Fighting Scots to the Final 32 four times, the Sweet 16 three times and the Elite Eight twice.
  • Swank entered 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.
 
Mercyhurst: Deanna Richard (Oakland '96, 108-157, 10th year, 169-249, 16th year overall)
  • Head coach Deanna Richard is in her tenth season at the helm of the Lakers. She has guided Mercyhurst to three PSAC Tournament bids, including last season for the first time since 2012-13.
  • Richard has the Lakers off to their best start of her tenure and the best overall start since the 1994-95 season.
  • Richard came to Mercyhurst from Olivet, where she spent six seasons as the head coach of the Comets and made the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Tournament all six years.
  • During her playing days, Richard was an outstanding player at Oakland from 1992-96, leading Oakland to a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship and a trip to the Elite Eight. She finished her career with 1,333 points and was inducted into Oakland's Hall of Honor in 2007.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Edinboro: January 21, 2017 – Slippery Rock 69, Edinboro 58 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
  • The Fighting Scots fell victim to a cold shooting day as their 16-game winning streak was snapped with a 69-58 loss at Slippery Rock on Saturday afternoon.
  • Edinboro shot 31.6 percent (18-of-57) from the field, including hitting just 3-of-18 3-pointers, and were dominated on the glass by The Rock, 47-30.
  • Slippery Rock scored the first eight points of the game and stunned the Scots with a 22-8 first quarter. The Fighting Scots started the contest hitting just 1-of-10 field goals.
  • Ciara Rosten led the Fighting Scots with 16 points and six boards. Michelle Jahn, Michaela Barnes, and Katie Fischer each finished with nine points.
Mercyhurst: January 21, 2017 – #6 California(Pa.) 68, Mercyhurst 66 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
  • Mercyhurst came up five seconds short of upsetting No. 6 California(Pa.) on the road, as the Vulcans picked up the 68-66 victory on Saturday afternoon.
  • Leading 66-65 with five seconds remaining, the Lakers turned the ball over and Cal's Abbey Sporio's old-fashioned three-point play gave the Vulcans a 68-66 lead with just a few ticks on the clock. A last second heave by Angela Heintz came up short as the Vulcans rallied for the win.
  • Heintz led the Lakers with 21 points, while Natalie Piaggesi added 18 points and seven rebounds. Jessica Bell finished with 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
  • The Lakers turned the ball over 31 times and the Vulcans held a 33-23 advantage in points off turnovers. 
 
EDINBORO STORYLINES
  • The Fighting Scots saw their 16-game winning streak snapped this past weekend with a 69-58 loss at Slippery Rock. The Fighting Scots rebounded from an 0-2 start to win 16 straight games, including starting PSAC play with a 12-0 ledger for the first time since the 2011-12 season. That team finished the season at 30-2 overall and 21-1 in the conference, as well as capturing the PSAC Championship and advancing to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship.
  • The 16-game winning streak was the longest since the 2011-12 squad won 24 in a row and the second-longest streak in school history. The twelve-game PSAC winning stretch was also the longest since the 2011-12 team won 20 conference games in a row.
  • Edinboro is in a tie for first place in the PSAC West following Saturday's loss, one game ahead of Mercyhurst. The Fighting Scots were picked to finish third in the preseason coaches' poll.
  • The Fighting Scots and are among "others receiving votes" in this week's WBCA Coaches' Poll.
  • The Fighting Scots rank second in the PSAC in scoring defense and 31st in the nation at 57.6 ppg. The Edinboro defense has held opponents under 60 points in 13 of their 16 wins, including in nine of the past 12 outings.
  • The Fighting Scots rank sixth in the nation in turnover margin (+7.89). and 15th in turnovers forced per game (22.42). Edinboro's 227 total steals ranks second in the PSAC and eighth in Division II. In addition, Edinboro has forced opposing team into 20-or-more turnovers in all but four games.
  • The Fighting Scots are the only team in the PSAC to rank in the top three in both scoring offense and scoring defense as the high-pressure Edinboro defense is complimented by a high-scoring offense. The Fighting Scots rank third in the PSAC in scoring at 72.5 ppg. Edinboro has scored over 70 points 11 times, and hit 90 on two occasions.
  • All-PSAC West Preseason selection Katie Fischer leads the Edinboro offense from her point guard spot. A 2015-16 PSAC West second team selection, Fischer ranks 13th in the PSAC at 14.4 ppg. The senior ranks fourth in the PSAC with 90 assists and fifth with 41 steals. Fischer also ranks fourth in the conference with 45 3-pointers. Fischer recently scored her 1,000th career point. The 5'7'' point guard scored 309 points as a Laker and has totaled 752 points in two seasons as a member of the Fighting Scots for a total of 1,061 career points.
  • Sophomore Michelle Jahn ranks among the top 3-pt. shooters in the PSAC. Jahn ranks sixth in 3-pointers (41) and 3-pt. percentage (34.7 pct.). She is averaging 10.3 ppg. and has hit a 3-pointer in all but three contests this season.
  • Junior transfer Ciara Rosten has scored in double figures in 12 of the past 14 outings, and has scored in double figures in all but five contests this season. Rosten is second on the team, averaging 11.5 ppg., and leads the squad with 6.6 rpg.
  • Michaela Barnes was named the PSAC West Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week this past week, the third time she has garnered the honor this season. The 5'6'' guard has started every game this season, averaging 8.9 ppg. and 2.1 rpg.
  • Led by the duo of Jontay Walton and Maggie Moore, bench play has been a huge advantage for the Fighting Scots this season. Jontay Walton is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.8 ppg. off the bench. The 5'5'' guard also ranks second on the squad and sixth in the PSAC with 37 steals. Moore has registered 3.6 ppg. and is second on the team with 5.6 rpg. in 16.4 mpg. and provides a dependable mid-range game. The bench has scored over 15 points in all but three games this season.
 
 
Edinboro Probable Starters
PPG RPG OTHER
F 15 Ciara Rosten 6-2 Jr. Buffalo, N.Y. 11.5 6.6 30 BLKS, 29 STLS
F 21 Nicole Johnson 5-10 Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa. 4.4 5.3 21 STLS, 8 BLKS
G 2 Michaela Barnes 5-6 Fr. Chagrin Falls, Ohio 8.9 2.1 25 ASTS, 20 STLS
G 4 Katie Fischer 5-7 Sr. Ambridge, Pa. 14.4 3.5 90 ASTS, 41 STLS
G 20 Michelle Jahn 5-8 So. Edinboro, Pa. 10.3 2.4 26 STLS
 
Top Reserves    
PPG RPG OTHER
F 5 Maggie Moore 6-2 Sr. Olean, N.Y. 3.6 5.6 18 BLKS
F 32 Allison Thompson 6-0 So. Erie, Pa. 2.4 1.3  
G 0 JaVannah Jackson 5-4 Jr. Cleveland, Ohio 2.2 1.1 12 STLS
G 1 Jontay Walton 5-7 R-So. Buffalo, N.Y. 9.8 3.1 37 STLS, 24 ASTS
G 11 Cheniya Sharpe 5-11 So. Springfield, Va. 2.6 4.2 17 STLS
 
 
MERCYHURST STORYLINES
  • The Lakers are off to their best start since the 1994-95 season at 16-3, sitting one game behind the Fighting Scots in third place in the PSAC West with an 11-2 conference record. Mercyhurst was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC West preseason coaches' poll.
  • Mercyhurst's 11 PSAC wins are one shy of tying the most conference wins in a season since joining the PSAC.
  • Two of Mercyhurst's three losses this season have come against nationally-ranked teams. The Lakers were defeated by then No. 3 Ashland early in the season, and come off a heartbreaking final seconds loss at No. 6 California(Pa.) on Saturday.
  • Like Edinboro, the Lakers feature a top-five defense in the PSAC. Mercyhurst ranks fourth in the conference, allowing 57.7 ppg. and second in the conference holding opponents to just 37.1 percent shooting from the floor. The Lakers have held two of their last three opponents under 45 points.
  • The Lakers feature an all-senior starting five as Mercyhurst returned all five starters from last season, led by the duo of 2016 All-PSAC West selections and former high school teammates Angela Heintz and Natalie Piaggesi. Heintz was awarded first team honors while Piaggesi was tabbed for the second team.
  • Heintz, a 5'10" senior, is fifth in the PSAC in scoring at 16.7 ppg., and has recorded two triple-doubles this season, which leads the nation. The former transfer from Division I Duquesne has scored in double figures in all but one contest this season.  Heintz also ranks second in the PSAC with 121 assists and fifth with 43 3-pointers.
  • Piaggesi is right behind her teammate, ranking sixth in the PSAC with 16.2 ppg. The 6'1'' forward has scored in double figures in all but two games this season and has registered three double-doubles. Piaggesi also leads the PSAC with 41 blocks. She ranks as one of Mercyhurst's all-time leading scorers (1,373 points) and rebounders (561).
 
Mercyhurst Probable Starters
PPG RPG
F 12 Natalie Piaggesi 6-1 Sr. Bethel Park, Pa. 16.6 6.8
F 33 Jessica Bell 5-10 Sr.. Crown Point, Ind. 6.3 4.4
G 22 Alex Artise 5-9 Sr. North East, Pa. 7.5 4.6
G 25 Angela Heintz 5-10 Sr. Bethel Park, Pa. 16.7 6.9
G 32 Jalin Steel 5-10 Sr. Euclid, Ohio 9.2 4.2
 
 
UP NEXT
  • The Fighting Scots return to the road on Saturday, January 28, traveling to fifth-ranked California(Pa.), as they begin the second-half of conference action. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

 
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Players Mentioned

Lauren Hippo

#00 Lauren Hippo

G/F
5' 10"
Senior
Katie Fischer

#4 Katie Fischer

G
5' 7"
Senior
Michelle Jahn

#20 Michelle Jahn

G
5' 8"
Sophomore
Nicole Johnson

#21 Nicole Johnson

F
5' 10"
Senior
Maggie Moore

#5 Maggie Moore

F
6' 2"
Senior
Cheniya Sharpe

#11 Cheniya Sharpe

F
5' 11"
Sophomore
Allison Thompson

#32 Allison Thompson

G/F
6' 0"
Sophomore
Michaela Barnes

#2 Michaela Barnes

G
5' 6"
Freshman
JaVannah Jackson

#0 JaVannah Jackson

G
5' 4"
Junior
Ciara Rosten

#15 Ciara Rosten

F/C
6' 2"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Lauren Hippo

#00 Lauren Hippo

5' 10"
Senior
G/F
Katie Fischer

#4 Katie Fischer

5' 7"
Senior
G
Michelle Jahn

#20 Michelle Jahn

5' 8"
Sophomore
G
Nicole Johnson

#21 Nicole Johnson

5' 10"
Senior
F
Maggie Moore

#5 Maggie Moore

6' 2"
Senior
F
Cheniya Sharpe

#11 Cheniya Sharpe

5' 11"
Sophomore
F
Allison Thompson

#32 Allison Thompson

6' 0"
Sophomore
G/F
Michaela Barnes

#2 Michaela Barnes

5' 6"
Freshman
G
JaVannah Jackson

#0 JaVannah Jackson

5' 4"
Junior
G
Ciara Rosten

#15 Ciara Rosten

6' 2"
Junior
F/C