Matt Durisko

Women's Basketball 1/5/2017 11:06:00 AM Matthew Brancato, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Fighting Scots Host PSAC West Foe Pitt-Johnstown in Search of 12th Straight Win

The streaking Fighting Scots are set to tip off against an opponent streaking in the opposite direction. The Fighting Scots enter the weekend riding an 11-game winning streak. On Friday, January 6, the Fighting Scots host PSAC West foe Pitt-Johnstown for a 5:30 p.m. contest. UPJ has lost five straight contests after beginning the season 6-2.
Edinboro has featured a stingy defense that has held opponents under 60 points in nine of their eleven wins, including in five of the past six outings. UPJ ranks 12^th in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 63.2 ppg and is coming off their lowest scoring output of the season, totaling 39 points in a 78-39 loss to Indiana(Pa.). During their five-game losing streak UPJ is averaging just 53.0 ppg.
The Fighting Scots also boast a high-scoring offense to complement their stingy defense. Edinboro ranks fourth in the PSAC in scoring at 73.2 ppg. Edinboro has scored over 70 points in seven of the past eight games, including scoring over 80 twice. The Lady Cats rank 13^th in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 69.6 ppg.
Edinboro has run off 11 straight wins after an 0-2 start at the Carol Eckman Memorial Tournament. The 11-game winning streak is the longest since the 2011-12 squad ran off 24 in a row.
The Fighting Scots have started 7-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2011-12 season. The Fighting Scots finished that season 30-2 overall and 21-1 in the conference, as well as capturing the PSAC Championship and advancing to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship.
Edinboro has won 14 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 at home. The Fighting Scots are 7-0 at home this year after amassing a 64-11 home record over the past five seasons.

ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
EDINBORO VS. PITT-JOHNSTOWN
All-Time Series: Edinboro leads 12-10
First Meeting: 1978-79 – Edinboro 89, Pitt-Johnstown 58
Last Meeting: February 10, 2016 – Edinboro 79, Pitt-Johnstown 75 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
Led by Michelle Jahn's 28 points, the Fighting Scots clinched their seventh straight PSAC playoff appearance. Edinboro trailed by as much as 12 points in the third quarter, but thanks to a 14-6 run in the final four minutes, pulled out the win. After being held scoreless for two-and-a-half quarters, Katie Fischer emerged with 13 points, including a key basket and free throw to clinch the victory. Jahn made 9-of-19 field goals, including 5-of-13 3-pointers, and was 5-for-7 from the line. Aignee' Freeland followed with 16 points, while Whitney Allen finished with her first career double-double, totaling 10 points and 10 rebounds. Allen also dished out a team-high five assists. Jasmine Harper led the Lady Cats with 16 points off the bench.
Series Notes: The Fighting Scots have won six in a row and nine of the last ten meetings.

THE COACHES
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 544-294, 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 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 544-294 overall mark. Add in four seasons as the head coach at Parkland Junior College, and Swank has 648 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.

Pitt-Johnstown: Mike Drahos (Bethany '06, 34-60, 4^th year)

Head coach Mike Drahos is in his fourth season at the helm of the Lady Cats. He led Pitt-Johnstown to a PSAC Tournament berth in his debut season.
Prior to Pitt-Johnstown, Drahos spent five seasons as an assistant coach at West Liberty where the Hilltoppers amassed a 107-47 overall record and appeared in the NCAA Tournament twice.
During his playing days at Bethany, Drahos was a two-time Presidents' Athletic Conference Player of the Year and three-time first team all-conference selection.

LAST TIME OUT
Edinboro: January 3, 2017 – Edinboro 58, Seton Hill 54 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

Edinboro led from horn-to-horn, but needed to weather a late Seton Hill rally to secure their 11^th consecutive victory, 58-54.
The Fighting Scots led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter and held a 47-33 advantage at the start of the fourth quarter.
Trailing by 17 points at 52-35 with just over seven minutes remaining, the Griffins scored the next 12 points to cut the deficit to 52-47 with 1:36 remaining, but free throws by the Fighting Scots iced the contest.
Michelle Jahn and Katie Fischer led the Fighting Scots with 12 points apiece. Both guards also grabbed four rebounds, while Fischer dished out five assists. Michaela Barnes finished with 11 points, and Jontay Walton scored seven points off the bench.
Ciara Rosten, Nicole Johnson, and Cheniya Sharp finished with seven rebounds apiece to lead the Scots.
Edinboro forced Seton Hill into 21 turnovers which they cashed in for 12 points. For the fifth time in the last six outings, the Edinboro defense held an opponent to under 60 points.

Pitt-Johnstown: January 3, 2017 – Indiana(Pa.) 78, Pitt-Johnstown 39 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

Indiana(Pa.) cruised to a 78-39 victory in the Kovalchick Center, handing Pitt-Johnstown their fifth consecutive loss on Tuesday night.
The Crimson Hawks held a 15-point halftime lead at 38-23 and led by as many as 39 points late in the contest.
The Lady Cats turned the ball over a season-high 33 times and shot just 26.9 percent (14-of-52) from the floor, including going 1-for-8 from beyond the arc.
Olivia McCabe led UPJ with 16 points and nine rebounds. Jamie Tabon added 10 points and 11 boards for the double-double.

EDINBORO STORYLINES

The Fighting Scots have won eleven straight games since an 0-2 start to the season, including starting PSAC play with a 7-0 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 eleven-game winning streak is the longest since the 2011-12 squad ran off 24 in a row.
Edinboro has won 14 straight home games in the friendly confines of McComb Fieldhouse dating back to last season. The Fighting Scots are 7-0 at home this season after amassing a 64-11 record at home over the past five seasons.
The Edinboro defense has held opponents under 60 points in nine of their eleven wins, including in five of the past six outings. The Fighting Scots rank third in the PSAC in scoring defense at 57.5 ppg. In last weekend's win over No. 2 California(Pa.), the Fighting Scots held the sixth-highest scoring team in the country to a season-low 54 points.
The Fighting Scots have recorded at least 10 steals in all but three games this season. Edinboro's 169 total steals ranks second in the PSAC and eighth in Division II. In addition, Edinboro has forced the opposing team into over 20 turnovers all but twice, as well. Opponents average 23.2 turnovers per game against Edinboro while the Fighting Scots average just 14.7. The Fighting Scots rank 12^th in the nation in turnovers forced and fourth in turnover margin (+8.54).
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 14.7 ppg. The senior leads the team and ranks sixth in the PSAC with 53 assists and third with 32 steals. Fischer also ranks seventh in the conference with 30 3-pointers. Fischer has 979 career points between Mercyhurst and Edinboro. In her first two seasons at Mercyhurst, she totaled 309 points. Since joining the Fighting Scots, she has totaled 670 points.
Sophomore Michelle Jahn also continues to rank among the top 3-pt. shooters in the PSAC. Jahn ranks fifth in 3-pointers (30) and seventh in 3-pt. percentage (37.5 pct.). She finished her freshman campaign third in the PSAC with 71 3-pointers and second with a 40.8 3-pt. percentage. Jahn is averaging 10.5 ppg.
Junior transfer Ciara Rosten has scored in double figures in seven of the past eight outings, including recording her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Cheyney. The 6'2'' forward has scored in double figures in all but four contests this season. She ranks second on the team with 10.8 ppg. and leads the squad with 6.8 rpg.
Sophomore Jontay Walton is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.2 ppg. off the bench. Over the past five games, Walton is averaging 13.0 ppg. The 5'5'' guard also ranks second on the squad and sixth in the PSAC with 28 steals and averages 3.5 rpg.
Led by the duo of Walton and Maggie Moore, bench play has been a huge advantage for the Fighting Scots this season. Moore has registered 3.9 ppg. and 5.9 rpg. in 16.6 mpg. Sophomore Cheniya Sharpe and junior JaVannah Jackson have also provided sparks off the bench. Sharpe is averaging 3.0 ppg. and 4.8 rpg., while Jackson provides crucial defensive minutes. The bench has scored over 15 points in all but two games this season and has totaled 30-or-more points in three of the past four outings.

Edinboro Probable Starters

						PPG	RPG
F	15	Ciara Rosten	6-2	Jr.	Buffalo, N.Y.	10.8	6.8
F	21	Nicole Johnson	5-10	Sr.	Pittsburgh, Pa.	4.4	5.1
G	2	Michaela Barnes	5-6	Fr.	Chagrin Falls, Ohio	8.0	1.8
G	4	Katie Fischer	5-7	Sr.	Ambridge, Pa.	14.7	3.5
G	20	Michelle Jahn	5-8	So.	Edinboro, Pa.	10.6	2.2

PITT-JOHNSTOWN STORYLINES

Pitt-Johnstown opened the 2016-17 season hot, winning six of their first eight games, including wins over then No. 25 Shaw and Winston Salem. Since then, however, the Lady Cats have dropped five straight contests, including three PSAC matchups. All five losses during that stretch have been by at least 10 points.
The Lady Cats are coming off their toughest outing of the season. UPJ scored a season-low 39 points in a 78-39 loss to Indiana(Pa.) on Tuesday night. The Lady Cats also turned the ball over a season-high 33 times.
UPJ is averaging 21.8 per game, the fourth-highest figure in the PSAC, and hold a -4.79 turnover margin, the third-worst mark in the conference.
Junior Olivia McCabe leads the Lady Cats in both scoring and rebounding. The 6'0'' forward averages 14.7 ppg. and 9.1 rpg. Her scoring figure ties her with Edinboro's Katie Fischer for 12^th in the conference, while she is third in the PSAC in rebounding. McCabe has scored in double figures in 12 consecutive contests and has recorded seven double-doubles, which leads the PSAC and ranks 11^th in Division II.
Sophomore Laurel O'Barto is one of the top distributers in the nation. She ranks 7^th in Division II with 79 total assists and 12^th with 6.1 assists per game. The 5'6'' guard has had two games with ten-or-more assists this season.
Fellow Sophomore Victoria Moreland ranks among the top sharpshooters in the conference. The 6'0'' guard ranks third in the PSAC with 36 3-pointers.

Pitt-Johnstown Probable Starters

						PPG	RPG
F	11	Olivia McCabe	6-0	Jr.	Portage, Pa.	14.7	9.1
F	34	Jamie Tabon	5-10	Sr.	Pittsburgh, Pa.	11.4	8.8
G	3	Gabrielle Smith	6-0	Fr.	Darlington, Pa.	3.2	1.6
G	20	Laurel O'Barto	5-6	So.	Blairsville, Pa.	7.8	4.3
G	31	Victoria Moreland	6-0	So.	New Philadelphia, Ohio	12.2	4.2

UP NEXT

The Fighting Scots travel to Bloomsburg on Monday, January 9, for a PSAC crossover contest at 5:30 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Aignee' Freeland: F; 6' 3"; Senior

#12 Whitney Allen: G/F; 6' 1"; Senior

#4 Katie Fischer: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#20 Michelle Jahn: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#21 Nicole Johnson: F; 5' 10"; Senior

#5 Maggie Moore: F; 6' 2"; Senior

#11 Cheniya Sharpe: F; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#2 Michaela Barnes: G; 5' 6"; Freshman

#0 JaVannah Jackson: G; 5' 4"; Junior

#15 Ciara Rosten: F/C; 6' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#13 Aignee' Freeland
: 6' 3"; Senior
: F

#12 Whitney Allen
: 6' 1"; Senior
: G/F

#4 Katie Fischer
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#20 Michelle Jahn
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#21 Nicole Johnson
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

#5 Maggie Moore
: 6' 2"; Senior
: F

#11 Cheniya Sharpe
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: F

#2 Michaela Barnes
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: G

#0 JaVannah Jackson
: 5' 4"; Junior
: G

#15 Ciara Rosten
: 6' 2"; Junior
: F/C

Edinboro University Athletics

Scoreboard

Scoreboard

Fighting Scots Host PSAC West Foe Pitt-Johnstown in Search of 12th Straight Win

Players Mentioned

#13 Aignee' Freeland

#12 Whitney Allen

#4 Katie Fischer

#20 Michelle Jahn

#21 Nicole Johnson

#5 Maggie Moore

#11 Cheniya Sharpe

#2 Michaela Barnes

#0 JaVannah Jackson

#15 Ciara Rosten

Players Mentioned

#13 Aignee' Freeland

#12 Whitney Allen

#4 Katie Fischer

#20 Michelle Jahn

#21 Nicole Johnson

#5 Maggie Moore

#11 Cheniya Sharpe

#2 Michaela Barnes

#0 JaVannah Jackson

#15 Ciara Rosten