EDINBORO, Pa. - For the second consecutive season, the Edinboro women's basketball team knocked off a top-2 team in the country, as they defeated second-ranked Virginia Union on Saturday, 89-79 at the Conference Crossover at Pucillo Gymnasium, hosted by Millersville. The Panthers went 28-5 during the 2016-17 campaign, and ended the season as the national runner-up.
The Fighting Scots (1-0 overall), never relinquished its lead to the Panthers over the 40 minute contest, and as Edinboro led by as many as 18 points in the second quarter. Edinboro connected on nearly half its attempted shots at 48.5 percent (32-of-66), while holding the Panthers to 38.3 percent (31-of-81) from the floor. The Fighting Scots also held a 24-11 advantage in points off turnovers, led 18-8 in assists, scored six more free throws than Virginia Union (18-12), and converted two more 3-pointers (7-5).
Following a 48-37 halftime lead, the Fighting Scots missed their first four shots of the third quarter. Baskets from Rejoyce Spivey and Rachael Pecota brought the Panthers to within seven points at 48-41, for the first time since the opening quarter.
Michelle Jahn would end the scoring drought by making a layup at 8:09. She would follow up by making her next three shots via another layup and two 3-pointers, scoring 10 points over 2:18.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Fighting Scots held a 66-56 edge. Virginia Union cut into the Boro lead by knocking down five of the first seven made field goals of the quarter for a 12-6 run that spanned spanned 5:04. Up 72-68, redshirt Junior Jontay Walton would score six of her eight fourth quarter points after the halfway mark. Both Senior Ciara Rosten and Jahn would tack on five points over the final 5:04, respectively. The three combined for all of Edinboro's 23 fourth quarter points.
Jahn was one of four Fighting Scots in double figures on the night. The 5'8" junior guard scored a team-high 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting and drilled four 3-pointers. Rosten and Walton each added 20 points apiece. Rosten also recorded her first double-double of the season. The 6'2" forward shot 7-of-12 from the floor, and grabbed 15 rebounds. She also had a career-high five assists, while knocking down six of seven free throws. As for Walton, the 5'5" guard went 7-of-13 from the floor, and dished a game-high seven assists.
Michaela Barnes contributed 16 points and went 5-of-5 from the charity stripe.
Whitney Allen grabbed six rebounds and had five assists.
Pecota led all players with 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting. The 6'0" senior forward also notched a double-double, grabbing 13 boards, with seven coming on the offensive side. Freshman guard Shareka McNeil tacked on 17 points on 7-of-15 from the floor. She also led the Panthers with a team-high four assists.
Spivey ended the game with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and eight rebounds. Alexis Johnson also grabbed eight rebounds, and scored 12 points, and Jasmine Carter collected 10 boards.
In the opening quarter, Jahn hit a 3-pointer just nine seconds into the contest for a 3-0 lead. Michaela Barnes scored 11 of her 16 points in the opening 12 minutes, with seven of her points coming prior to the midway point at 15-11. The Fighting Scots escaped the quarter on an 8-0 run over the final 1:51, following the a Panther basket the cut the Boro lead to one.
In the second quarter, Edinboro outscored Virginia Union, 20-18. The Fighting Scot bench outscored the Panthers 7-1, behind
Cheniya Sharpe's four points and two boards and an
Ayana Vaughn 3-pointer.
Edinboro will conclude play at the Conference Crossover on Sunday when they face UVa-Wise. The Cavaliers enter the 2017-18 season coming off a 21-11 overall record, which is the program's best in over a decade. Tip-off is scheduled 1 p.m.
