EDINBORO, Pa. – Jontay Walton led three scorers in double figures with a career-high 26 points as Edinboro rallied from an early deficit for a 77-67 win over Wheeling Jesuit on Wednesday night. The contest was the home opener for the Fighting Scots, who improved to 3-0 with the non-conference win. Wheeling Jesuit fell to 1-2.

The contest was the third straight against a 20-win team to open the season for the Fighting Scots. Wheeling Jesuit was 25-6 a year ago. They found themselves trailing 13-0 less than four minutes into the game as Chenelle Moore scored six points.

Edinboro finally broke the ice on a Walton jumper, and eventually pulled back into the contest. The Fighting Scots still trailed 20-11 after one period, and pulled to within 34-30 at the half while closing on a 9-4 run.

They would take control over the final 20 minutes while forcing 15 turnovers. Edinboro opened the third quarter on a 13-3 run to grab a 43-37 lead with 6:09 to play in the period, forcing four turnovers during that stretch. They took the lead for the first time on a drive by Michaela Barnes. Michelle Jahn contributed all five of her points and Walton four in the run, with Jahn capping it with a 3-pointer.

The Cardinals would close the gap to 47-45 with just under three minutes to play on a layup by Cassi Stein. Edinboro answered with a 15-3 run to end the period as Barnes dropped in five points and Ciara Rosten four. Edinboro led 62-48 after three quarters.

The Fighting Scots would build the lead to as much as 18 points on two occasions in the fourth quarter, the last at 74-56 with 2:58 remaining when Walton drained a 3-pointer. The final score was as close as the game got in the period.

Walton's career-high 26 points was courtesy of a 10-of-22 effort from the floor, including 5-of-11 3-pointers, plus 1-of-2 at the line. She added seven assists while not committing a turnover, along with six steals and four rebounds.
 

Rosten stuffed the box score, as well, as the 6'2" senior finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five blocked shots. Barnes totaled 14 points. Whitney Allen pulled down 10 rebounds, as did Cheniya Sharpe. The latter provided plenty of energy off the bench, with seven offensive rebounds, to go with six points and two blocks.

Wheeling Jesuit also had three players in double figures. Mariah Callen ended with 15 points and five assists, with Moore finishing with 14 points and 13 rebounds and Monica Burns 13 points.

Edinboro shot 39.5 percent for the game (30-of-76), making 10-of-29 3-pointers, and went 7-for-10 at the line. The Cardinals finished the night at 44.6 percent from the floor (25-of-56) and made 13-of-18 free throws, but were just 4-of-14 from beyond the arc.

The Fighting Scots held a narrow 41-40 advantage on the glass, but had 19 offensive rebounds. Edinboro forced Wheeling Jesuit into 23 turnovers while committing 16. That led to a 26-15 advantage in points off turnovers. 

Edinboro begins PSAC action this weekend, hosting a pair of crossover contests. On Saturday, November 18, the Fighting Scots host Millersville at 1 p.m. Sunday, November 19 finds Shippensburg visiting McComb Fieldhouse for a 1 p.m. The Shippensburg contest will mark the fourth game in the first five against an opponent that won 20 games last year.