GAME DAY CENTRAL
Edinboro (12-2, 8-0 PSAC West) at Bloomsburg (1-11, 0-8 PSAC East)
When: Monday, January 9, 2017
Where: Bloomsburg, Pa. – Nelson Field House
Tip-off: 5:30 p.m.
Live Stats: CLICK HERE |
Live Audio: WFSE 88.9
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Edinboro:
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats |
Bloomsburg:
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats |
PSAC LINKS: PRESEASON POLL |
STANDINGS |
STATS |
ALL-PSAC
GAME STORYLINES
- The streaking Fighting Scots are set to tip off against an opponent streaking in the opposite direction. The Fighting Scots enter Monday night's contest riding a 12-game winning streak while the Huskies have dropped eight straight outings.
- The Edinboro defense has held opponents under 60 points in ten of their 12 wins, including in six of the past seven outings. Bloomsburg ranks 17th in the PSAC in scoring offense at 53.5 ppg. The Huskies have surpassed the 60-point mark just three times this season and have been held under 50 points on five occasions. Edinboro ranks second in the PSAC in scoring defense at 57.1 ppg.
- The Bloomsburg defense ranks eighth in the PSAC, allowing 64.8 ppg. The Huskies face a tough test against an Edinboro team that ranks third in the conference in scoring at 73.6 ppg. The Fighting Scots have scored over 70 points in seven of the past eight outings, including topping 80 points twice and scoring 90 once.
- Edinboro has run off 12 straight wins after an 0-2 start at the Carol Eckman Memorial Tournament. The 12-game winning streak is the longest since the 2011-12 squad ran off 24 in a row.
- The Fighting Scots have started 8-0 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.
- Senior guard Katie Fischer scored her 1,000th career point against Pitt-Johnstown on Friday. Fischer scored 309 points in two seasons as a Laker and has totaled 693 points in less than two seasons as a member of the Fighting Scots for a total of 1,002 career points.
EDINBORO VS. BLOOMSBURG
All-Time Series: Edinboro leads 15-12
First Meeting: 1974-75 – Edinboro 84, Bloomsburg 52
Last Meeting: January 6, 2016 – Edinboro 84, Bloomsburg 58 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
Edinboro took control of the game early, building a double-digit lead less than seven minutes into the game. A Lauren Hippo 3-pointer with 6:06 remaining in the opening period sparked a 12-0 run that led to a 20-6 Edinboro lead. Hippo's third 3-pointer of the quarter gave the Fighting Scots a 23-9 advantage before the Huskies added a pair of free throws and a buzzer beater by Morgan Klunk to cut the lead to ten points. That was as close as the Huskies would cut it, however, as the Fighting Scots held a double-digit lead the rest of the way. Hippo finished with 21 points, tying a season-high, as well as matching a career-high with six 3-pointers. Katie Fischer posted her third double-double of the season, totaling 18 points and a career-high 14 assists, falling two short of the single game record held by assistant coach Callie Wheeler. The Edinboro defense limited Klunk, the PSAC's second leading scorer to just 13 points. Mia Hopkins, the conference's fourth leading rebounder was also held to a season low three rebounds.
Series Notes: The Fighting Scots have won two of the last three meetings.
THE COACHES
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 545-294, 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 545-294 overall mark. Add in four seasons as the head coach at Parkland Junior College, and Swank has 649 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.
Bloomsburg: Alison Tagliaferri (Mansfield '06, 1-11, 1st year, 57-128, 8th year overall)
- Head coach Alison Tagliaferri is in her first season at the helm in Bloomsburg after serving as the head coach at Mansfield for the past four seasons. She compiled a 56-117 record at Mamsfield.
- Tagliaferri is a member of Mansfield's Hall of Fame after finishing her playing days as the all-time leader in points, field goal percentage, blocks and free throws made.
LAST TIME OUT
Edinboro: January 6, 2017 – Edinboro 78, Pitt-Johnstown 53 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
- Katie Fischer recorded her 1,000th career point as the Fighting Scots rolled to their 12th consecutive victory.
- The Fighting Scots overcame a sluggish start that saw Edinboro start the game 0-for-8 and turn the ball over five times in the first six minutes of action.
- Trailing 21-15 in the second quarter, the Fighting Scots orchestrated an 8-1 run, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Fischer and Walton to retake the lead at 25-22 before taking a 36-31 halftime lead.
- Edinboro opened the second half on an 11-7 run to take a double digit lead at 47-37 and the Lady Cats would never get closer than ten the rest of the way.
- Fischer led the Fighting Scots with 23 points and six assists. Walton added 14 points off the bench, while Michaela Barnes and Ciara Rosten totaled 11 and 10 points, respectively.
- After turning the ball over 12 times in the first half, the Fighting Scots coughed it up just four times in the final 20 minutes.
Bloomsburg: January 6, 2017 – Shippensburg 63, Bloomsburg 51 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
- Bloomsburg jumped out to an early double digit lead, but couldn't sustain the torrid pace as they dropped their eighth consecutive game.
- The Huskies opened the contest on a 13-0 run, but Shippensburg answered back with 10 unanswered points to cut the lead to 13-10 before a Alyssa Mack 3-pointer boosted the lead back up to 16-10 to end the first.
- The Raiders' momentum continued in the second quarter as the Huskies managed just seven points. Shippensburg took the lead for good at 24-23 at the halftime break.
- Shippensburg opened up the second half with a 14-4 run and would never lead by less than 11 points the rest of the way.
- Morgan Klunk led the Huskies with 15 points and seven rebounds. Mack was the only other Huskie to score in double figures, finishing with 13 points.
EDINBORO STORYLINES
- The Fighting Scots have won 12 straight games since an 0-2 start to the season, including starting PSAC play with a 8-0 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 12-game winning streak is the longest since the 2011-12 squad ran off 24 in a row.
- Edinboro has won 15 straight home games in the friendly confines of McComb Fieldhouse dating back to last season. The Fighting Scots are 8-0 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 ten of their twelve wins, including in six of the past seven outings. The Fighting Scots rank second in the PSAC in scoring defense at 57.1 ppg. In the recent 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 180 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. Opponents average 23.5 turnovers per game against Edinboro while the Fighting Scots average just 14.8. The Fighting Scots rank 12th in the nation in turnovers forced and fourth in turnover margin (+8.71).
- 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 14.7 ppg. The senior leads the team and ranks sixth in the PSAC with 59 assists and third with 33 steals. Fischer also ranks fourth in the conference with 34 3-pointers. In Friday night's victory over Pitt-Johnstown, Fischer scored her 1,000th career point. The 5'7'' point guard scored 309 points as a Laker and has totaled 693 points in two seasons as a member of the Fighting Scots for a total of 1,002 career points.
- Sophomore Michelle Jahn also continues to rank among the top 3-pt. shooters in the PSAC. Jahn ranks seventh in 3-pointers (30) and ninth in 3-pt. percentage (35.3 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 eight of the past nine 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 10.7 ppg. and leads the squad with 7.0 rpg.
- Sophomore Jontay Walton is fifth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.5 ppg. off the bench. Over the past six games, Walton is averaging 13.2 ppg. The 5'5'' guard also ranks second on the squad and sixth in the PSAC with 29 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 2.8 ppg. and 4.6 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 five outings.
Edinboro Probable Starters
BLOOMSBURG STORYLINES
- Bloomsburg is in its first season with new head coach Alison Tagliaferri. Former head coach Bill Cleary left the program after eight seasons for the head coaching position at Division I Colgate this past offseason. Cleary was 164-69 in his eight seasons with the Huskies and posted a 97-42 record against PSAC opponents.
- The Huskies rank 17th in the PSAC in scoring offense at 53.5 ppg. Bloomsburg has surpassed the 60-point mark just three times this season and have been held under 50 points on five occasions.
- Bloomsburg enters Monday night's contest losers of their last eight games, most recently a 63-51 setback at Shippensburg.
- Youth is prominent on the Huskies roster this season as the Bloomsburg roster features just three upperclassmen, including leading scorer, senior Morgan Klunk. Klunk averages 11.7 ppg. from her guard spot and has scored in double figures in five of the past six contests. The 5'9'' guard also leads Bloomsburg with 35 assists and 26 steals.
- Sophomore Alyssa Mack is the only other Huskie to score in double figures. The sophomore averages 10.3 ppg. and has scored in double figures in three straight outings. Mack also leads Bloomsburg with 21 3-pointers and is second on the team with 25 assists and 13 steals.
- Freshman Taylor Montana ranks among the top shot blockers in the PSAC. The 5'11'' forward is seventh in the conference with 19 blocks. Montana also averages 6.5 ppg. and 3.8 rpg. off the bench.
Bloomsburg Probable Starters
|
|
|
|
|
|
PPG |
RPG |
| F |
22 |
Alex Ross |
5-10 |
Sr. |
Lancaster, Pa. |
7.4 |
5.3 |
| F |
23 |
Meghan Corridoni |
6-1 |
Fr. |
Exeter, Pa. |
5.9 |
5.3 |
| G |
1 |
Alyssa Mack |
5-7 |
So. |
Walnutport, Pa. |
10.5 |
3.0 |
| G |
3 |
Casey Warley |
5-10 |
So. |
West Chester, Pa. |
4.9 |
3.1 |
| G |
24 |
Morgan Klunk |
5-9 |
Sr. |
Felton, Pa. |
11.7 |
5.7 |
UP NEXT
- The Fighting Scots host local PSAC West rival Gannon on Wednesday, January 11 at 5:30 p.m.
