GAME DAY CENTRAL
Edinboro (17-3, 13-1 PSAC West) vs. #5 California(Pa.) (19-1, 13-1 PSAC West)
When:  Saturday, January 28, 2017
Where:  California, Pa. – Convocation Center
Tip-off:  3:00 p.m.
Live Stats: CLICK HERE | Live Audio:  CLICK HERE
 
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Edinboro: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
California: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
 
PSAC LINKS: PRESEASON POLL | STANDINGS | STATS | 
 
GAME STORYLINES

• The Fighting Scots are back on the road for the fourth time in five games after a quick pit stop at McComb Fieldhouse for the first time in two weeks. Edinboro returned to their winning ways on Wednesday night, scoring a 62-50 victory over local rival Mercyhurst. With the win, the Fighting Scots have won 17 of their past 18 contests, including 16-straight prior to last weekend's loss against Slippery Rock.
• 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.
• Edinboro meets fifth-ranked California(Pa.) for the second time this season after upsetting the then #2 Vulcans 71-54 at McComb Fieldhouse on December 30. Cal was undefeated entering that contest and had just lost one game in their past 26 outings dating back to last season.
• The Fighting Scots are among "others receiving votes" in this week's WBCA Coaches' Poll.
• Edinboro and Cal are tied for first place in the PSAC West with identical 13-1 conference marks. The Vulcans were the preseason favorite in the West while the Fighting Scots were picked third in the PSAC West preseason coaches' poll.
• The Vulcans have run off eight straight wins since dropping their only game of the season against the Fighting Scots. Since the loss against Edinboro, Cal has won all but one of their games by double figures, including three victories by over 30 points. In fact, just two of Cal's games have been decided by less than 10 points.
• Saturday's contest puts a pair of Western Division powerhouses on display. . Over the past five seasons both teams have won the PSAC Championship twice, with California taking the past two and Edinboro reigning supreme in 2014 and 2012.
• The Fighting Scots have notched a 145-37 record over the past six seasons, while the Vulcans are 124-43 over the same period. Edinboro made a trip to the Elite Eight in 2011-12 and California won the National Championship in 2015.
• The Vulcans rank first in the PSAC and sixth in the nation in scoring offense at 82.7 ppg., and are fifth in the conference in scoring defense at 58.0 ppg. The Fighting Scots are right behind the Vulcans on offense, ranking second in the PSAC at 72.0 ppg., while ranking third in scoring defense at 57.2 ppg.
• Cal has lost just two games in their past 35 outings dating back to last season, including this season's 71-54 loss against Edinboro, the largest margin of defeat since a 2012-13 meeting with the Fighting Scots.

 
ON THE RADIO
·       The Edinboro-Cal game can be heard live on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Drew Patrick on the play-by-play and Josh Kaufer on color.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
EDINBORO VS. CALIFORNIA
All-Time Series:  Edinboro leads 44-38
First Meeting:  1970-71 – Edinboro 52, California 35
Last Meeting:  December 30, 2016 – Edinboro 71, #2 California 54 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
The Fighting Scots closed out 2016 with an impressive 71-54 upset of second-ranked and undefeated California(Pa.). Edinboro tamed a high-flying Vulcan offense that entered the contest ranked sixth in Division II, averaging 84.5 ppg, holding them to a season-low 54 points. Miki Glenn was held to 15 points on 7-of-18 shooting. The Fighting Scots took control of the contest for good in the third quarter. Trailing 37-36 early in the second half, the Fighting Scots scored the next 15 points to take a 51-37 lead with 2:38 remaining in the third quarter. Led by Jontay Walton's career-high 23 points, the Edinboro bench was a large factor in the upset. The Fighting Scots outscored the Vulcans 30-3 in bench points. Katie Fischer added 17 points and seven assists while Ciara Rosten and Nicole Johnson had 12 and 10 points, respectively. Shatara Parsons and Seairra Barrett joined Glenn in double figures for the Vulcans, finishing with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Series Notes: The Vulcans have won five of the last seven meetings.
 
THE COACHES
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 550-295, 30^th year)

• Head coach Stan Swank is in his 30^th 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 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 550-295 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.

 
California: Jess Strom (Penn State '05, 130-36, 6^th year)

• Head coach Jess Strom already ranks third all-time in career victories at Cal. She entered the 2016-17 season with a 111-35 overall record through her first five years. That includes back-to-back PSAC Championships in 2014-15 and 15-16 as well as a National Championship in 14-15.
• Under Strom, the Vulcans have won 20-or-more games and appeared in the PSAC Tournament all five years.
• A Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Hall of Famer, Strom has previously served as an assistant coach at Appalachian State before serving in the same capacity for the Vulcans.
• Strom was a three-time All-Big Ten selection and a 1,000-point scorer during her playing days as a Nittany Lion.

 
LAST TIME OUT
Edinboro: January 25, 2017 – Edinboro 62, Mercyhurst 50 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

• The Fighting Scots used a decisive third quarter to score a 62-50 victory over local PSAC West rival Mercyhurst.
• Leading by one point at 26-25 coming out of the break, Edinboro outscored the Lakers 19-9 in the third quarter. The Fighting Scots forced the Lakers into eight turnovers, leading to 13 points.
• The Fighting Scots forced 33 turnovers and held a 28-15 advantage in points off turnovers. Edinboro was able to overcome a huge rebounding deficit as the Lakers held a 51-27 advantage on the glass.
• Michaela Barnes and Michelle Jahn led the Fighting Scots with 15 points apiece. Jontay Walton added 13 points off the bench, while Katie Fischer added 10 points.

 
Cal: January 25, 2017 – #5 California 72, Clarion 38 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

• The Vulcans posted a dominant 72-38 victory over Clarion to record their eighth straight win on Wednesday evening.
• Cal allowed just 14 first half points and held the Golden Eagles to 27.7 percent (13-of-47) shooting, including just 2-of-14 from beyond the arc.
• Miki Glenn led all scorers with 14 points while Abbey Sporio and Shatara Parsons added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
• Seairra Barrett recorded her 1,000^th career point, joining Glenn in the 1,000-point club. Barrett finished with eight points, her first game of the season not scoring in double figures.

 
EDINBORO STORYLINES
·       The Fighting Scots returned to their winning ways after seeing their 16-game winning streak snapped last past weekend at Slippery Rock. Edinboro comes off a 62-50 victory against local PSAC rival Mercyhurst. The Fighting Scots rebounded from an 0-2 start to the season to win 16 straight games before falling to Slippery Rock. 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.
·       Edinboro is tied for first place PSAC West and owns wins over California(Pa.), Mercyhurst, and Indiana(Pa.) as they enter the second half of PSAC West action. 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 third in the PSAC in scoring defense and 28^th in the nation at 57.2 ppg. The Edinboro defense has held opponents under 60 points in 14 of their 17 wins.
·       The Fighting Scots rank sixth in the nation in turnover margin (+8.30) and 11^th in turnovers forced per game (22.95). Edinboro's 247 total steals ranks second in the PSAC and sixth in Division II. In addition, Edinboro has forced opposing teams 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 second in the PSAC in scoring at 72.0 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 13^th in the PSAC at 14.2 ppg. The senior ranks fourth in the PSAC with 95 assists and fifth with 43 steals. Fischer also ranks fourth in the conference with 46 3-pointers. Fischer recently scored her 1,000^th career point. The 5'7'' point guard scored 309 points as a Laker and has totaled 762 points in two seasons as a member of the Fighting Scots for 1,071 career points.
·       Sophomore Michelle Jahn ranks among the top 3-pt. shooters in the PSAC. Jahn is fifth in 3-pointers (43) and third in 3-pt. percentage (35.2 pct.). She is averaging 10.5 ppg. and has hit a 3-pointer in all but three contests this season.
·       Junior transfer Ciara Rosten has scored in in all but six contests this season. Rosten is second on the team, averaging 11.4 ppg., and leads the squad with 6.5 rpg. The 6'2'' forward recorded a career-high seven steals in Wednesday's win over Mercyhurst.
·       Michaela Barnes was named the PSAC West 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 9.3 ppg. and 2.3 rpg.
·       Led by Jontay Walton, bench play has been a huge advantage for the Fighting Scots this season. Walton is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.9 ppg. off the bench and has scored in double figures nine times. The 5'5'' guard also ranks second on the squad and sixth in the PSAC with 41 steals. The bench has scored over 15 points in all but four games this season.
 
 
 

						PPG	RPG	OTHER
F	15	Ciara Rosten	6-2	Jr.	Buffalo, N.Y.	11.4	6.5	36 STLS, 33 BLKS
F	21	Nicole Johnson	5-10	Sr.	Pittsburgh, Pa.	4.2	5.2	21 STLS, 8 BLKS
G	2	Michaela Barnes	5-6	Fr.	Chagrin Falls, Ohio	9.3	2.3	27 ASTS, 24 STLS
G	4	Katie Fischer	5-7	Sr.	Ambridge, Pa.	14.2	3.4	95 ASTS, 43 STLS
G	20	Michelle Jahn	5-8	So.	Edinboro, Pa.	10.5	2.4	29 STLS

 

						PPG	RPG	OTHER
F	5	Maggie Moore	6-2	Sr.	Olean, N.Y.	3.5	5.4	18 BLKS
G	0	JaVannah Jackson	5-4	Jr.	Cleveland, Ohio	2.1	1.1	12 STLS
G	1	Jontay Walton	5-7	R-So.	Buffalo, N.Y.	9.9	3.0	41 STLS
G	11	Cheniya Sharpe	5-11	So.	Springfield, Va.	2.5	4.2	17 STLS

 
CALIFORNIA STORYLINES

• The PSAC West favorite Vulcans have lived up to all the hype so far this season. Cal enters Saturday's contest at 19-1 overall and tied for first place with Edinboro at 13-1 in the PSAC West. The Vulcans are ranked fifth in the latest WBCA National Poll. Cal has lost just two games in their past 35 outings dating back to last season, including this season's 71-54 loss against Edinboro, the largest margin of defeat since a 2012-13 meeting with the Fighting Scots.
• The Vulcans have run off eight straight wins since dropping their only game of the season against the Fighting Scots at the end of December. Since that loss, Cal has won all but one of their games by double figures, including three victories by over 30 points.
• Cal returned four starters from a squad that finished 25-6 and took home the 2016 PSAC Championship.
• The Vulcans boasts one of the top scoring offenses in Division II, ranking sixth in the nation in scoring at 82.7 ppg. and lead Division II in turnover margin (+14.00) and turnovers forced per game (28.85). The Vulcans also rank eighth in assists per game at 18.0.
• Cal features four double figure scorers in the starting lineup, including two of the top three scorers in the PSAC. They are led by WBCA All-American and 2015-16 PSAC West Athlete of the Year, Miki Glenn. The senior guard ranks second in the PSAC in scoring at 19.1 ppg. Glenn has scored in double figures in every game this season, including scoring over 20 points in nine outings. In addition, Glenn ranks second in the nation in total assists (138) and steals (79) and is a 1,000-point scorer as a member of the Vulcans.
• Forward Seairra Barrett is third in the conference in scoring at 17.4 ppg. The 6'0'' senior  scored her 1,000^th career point on Wednesday, joining Miki Glenn in the 1000-point club. The reigning PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year also ranks fourth in the PSAC in steals with 46 swipes.
• California has received a boost from the return of redshirt-senior Lana Doran. Doran missed the entire 2015-16 season after suffering an injury during the preseason. The 5'10'' guard was a vital member of the Vulcans squad that captured the National Championship in 2014-15, starting all 36 games. Doran ranks fourth on the team in scoring at 9.5 ppg.

						PPG	RPG
F	3	Shatara Parsons	6-0	Jr.	Harrisburg, Pa.	12.9	5.9
F	5	Seairra Barrett	6-0	Jr.	Center Township, Pa.	17.4	5.9
G	12	Lana Doran	5-10	R-Sr.	Northamptonshire, England	9.5	3.7
G	21	Miki Glenn	5-7	Sr.	Bridgeport, WV	19.1	5.0
G	23	Precious Martin	6-0	Sr.	Harrisburg, Pa.	7.2	3.6

 
 
UP NEXT

• The Fighting Scots receive a week's rest before returning to action on Saturday, February 4, traveling to Pitt-Johnstown. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m.