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2017-18 Team

Women's Basketball Chris Slack, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Fighting Scots Open 2017-18 Campaign at Conference Crossover

EDINBORO Fighting Scots (21-9, 16-6 PSAC West in 2016-17) vs. #2 VIRGINIA UNION Panthers (28-5, 13-3 CIAA)
Saturday, November 11, 2017 3:00 PM | Pucillo Gymnasium | Millersville, Pa.
LINKS: LIVE STATS
 
EDINBORO Fighting Scots (21-9, 16-6 PSAC West in 2016) vs. UVa-WISE Cavaliers (21-11, 15-7 MEC)
Sunday, November 12, 2017 1:00 PM | Pucillo Gymnasium | Millersville, Pa.
LINKS: LIVE STATS

ADDITIONAL LINKS
EDINBORO: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
VIRGINIA UNION: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
UVa-WISE: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS

PSAC LINKS: PRESEASON POLL | STANDINGS | STATS 
 
The Game Story
  • Edinboro opens up the 2017-18 season this weekend in the Conference Challenge, hosted by Millersville University. The Fighting Scots (21-9, 16-6 PSAC in 2016) start the campaign against Division II national runner-up and second-ranked Virginia Union (28-5, 13-3 CIAA) on Saturday, November 11 at 3 p.m. On Sunday, they face another 20-game winner from 2016-17 when they take the court at 1 p.m. vs. UVa-Wise (21-11, 15-7 MEC).
  • The Fighting Scots will then return to McComb Fieldhouse for a third straight contest against a 20-game winner. The home opener is against back-to-back MEC Tournament champions Wheeling Jesuit (25-7, 17-5 MEC) on Wednesday, November 15 at 7 p.m. 
  • Head coach Stan Swank had an opportunity to get a look at his team against outside competition last Saturday, with the Fighting Scots surprising Division I St. Bonaventure, 67-63, in an exhibition game. The Fighting Scots entered the fourth quarter down by five points at 52-47 against the Bonnies. An 11-0 run gave the Fighting Scots a 58-52 lead, with Michelle Jahn's 3-pointer providing the first lead for Edinboro since the first quarter at 53-52. Edinboro ended the game shooting 31.1 percent from the floor (23-of-74), including 9-of-39 on 3-point attempts. On the defensive end, the Boro held St. Bonaventure to just 34.0 percent shooting (18-of-53).
  • Ciara Rosten led all players against St. Bonaventure with 20 points (7-of-11 shooting) and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Jontay Walton contributed 18 points, and Michelle Jahn shot 4-of-10 from 3-point territory for 12 points.
  • Edinboro enters the 2017-18 campaign seeking an eighth straight 20-win season. The Fighting Scots have posted a 166-46 record over the last seven season, including a 21-9 finish a year ago.  
  • The Fighting Scots are projected to be one of the top teams in the PSAC West. Edinboro was picked to finish third in the PSAC West Coaches' Preseason Poll. A year ago they finished fourth in the PSAC West and qualified for the PSAC Tournament for the eighth straight year.
  • Head coach Stan Swank enters his 31st season at the helm of the Fighting Scots. He has a 554-301 record, ranking 10th among active Division II coaches. He is the all-time leader in wins among PSAC women's coaches, and is six wins shy of passing Charles Chronister of Bloomsburg for the all-time conference record among men's and women's coaches.
  • Virginia Union won the Atlantic Regional championship last year, defeating California(Pa.) in the title game, and eventually reached the Division II championship game before falling to Ashland, 93-77. The Panthers finished with a 28-5 record a year ago and were 13-3 in the CIAA. Head coach AnnMarie Gilbert enters her third season at the helm for the Panthers and returns 13 performers from a season ago, including three starters.
  • The Fighting Scots weekend concludes with a contest against UVa-Wise on Sunday. Interim head coach Elise Clyburn was appointed to her position in June, after serving one season as the Cavaliers' top assistant coach. UVa-Wise went 21-11 overall and 15-7 in the Mountain East Conference last year. That is the program's best record in over a decade.

On the Radio/Video
  • The Conference Crossover will not be available via radio or video. However, the remaining Edinboro contests can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Gabe Hypes on the play-by-play and Mike Lantinen providing color commentary. In addition, this year Edinboro will be part of the PSAC Network. All men's and women's basketball games will be streamed live through Stretch Internet.

All-Time Series vs. Virginia Union
  • Virginia Union leads 1-0
  • Current Streak: Virginia Union won the lone meeting between the two programs.
  • Swank vs. Virginia Union: 0-1

Last Meeting
Nov. 25, 2015 – at Virginia Union 101, Edinboro 64 BOX | RECAP
  • Virginia Union is the last team to score at least 100 points against the Fighting Scots.
  • The loss is Swank's largest margin of defeat in the last half decade.
  • The Panthers shot 52.8 percent on the night (38-of-72), including 10-of-27 on 3-pointers, and made 15-of-20 free throws.
  • Edinboro shot 43.3 percent from the floor (26-of-60), and was edged in rebounds, 38-36.
  • Katie Fischer led Edinboro with 24 points. Lauren Hippo was the only other Fighting Scot in double digits with 12 points.
  • Lady Walker led three Panthers in double figures with a game-high 28 points, adding nine rebounds. Kiana Johnson added 20 points and 10 assists, while Rhani Bell had 17 points. 

All-Time Series vs. UVa-Wise
  • Edinboro leads 1-0
  • Current Streak: Edinboro won the lone meeting between the two programs.
  • Swank vs. UVa-Wise: 1-0

Last Meeting
Nov. 16, 2014 – vs. Edinboro 78, Uva-Wise 65 BOX | RECAP
  • The two teams met at the Atlantic Region Challenge, hosted by Millersville.
  • Five Fighting Scots scored in double figures, led by Hope Mancini's 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting and five steals. Laurel Lindsay and Aignee' Freeland each scored 12 points, respectively, while Lauren Hippo and Anastasia Riabchenko scored ten points apiece.
  • The sixth-ranked Fighting Scots trailed just once in the game at 4-3. They also held a 21-point lead in the second half.
  • With the win, Swank picked up his 495th career win.
  • Blair Harding led the Cavaliers with a game-high 20 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 9-of-10 on free throws, to go along with six rebounds and five assists. Taylor Williams contributed 18 points.
  • Edinboro shot 56.4 percent from the floor (31-of-55), and held UVa-Wise to 33.9 percent on the night (21-of-62).

The Head Coaches
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76) -- 554-301, 31st Year
  • Stan Swank is in his 31st season as the Edinboro women's basketball head coach. He has led the Fighting Scots to seven straight 20-win seasons for a 166-46 overall record during that period. Overall, Swank has had 13 20-win seasons as Edinboro's head coach.
  • Swank is the all-time leader in wins among PSAC women's coaches, and is six wins shy of passing Charles Chronister of Bloomsburg for the all-time conference record among men's and women's coaches.
  • He has led Edinboro to four PSAC championship titles, and ten appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament. During March Madness, the Fighting Scots have made two Elite Eight appearances, three Sweet Sixteen births, and have made the Round of 32 on four occasions.
Virginia Union: AnnMarie Gilbert (Oberlin '91) -- 56-8, 3rd year; 150-72, 8th Year Overall
  • AnnMarie Gilbert enters her third season as the head coach at Virginia Union. She has turned the program into a contender for a national title in her first two seasons with back-to-back 28-win campaigns. Last season, Gilbert led Virginia Union to the Division II National Championship Game, where the Panthers lost to top-seeded Ashland, 93-77.
  • Prior to her arrival at Virginia Union, Gilbert served as the women's basketball head coach at Eastern Michigan from 2007-12.
  • She guided the Eagles to two co-MAC West Division regular season titles, and one MAC Tournament title in 2011-12. They also made two appearances in the NIT tournament, including the Sweet Sixteen during the 2010-11 campaign. In 2011-12, the Eagles lost to South Carolina in the NCAA Division I Tournament Round of 64. All things told, she went 94-64 overall in her five seasons at EMU.
UVa-Wise: Elise Clyburn (Interim) (Saint Leo ('13) -- 0-0 overall, 1st year
  • Elise Clyburn was appointed to interim head coach in June, succeeding Kristin Kunzman, who led UVa-Wise to their best record in over a decade a year ago. Clyburn joined the Cavaliers as an assistant coach a year ago.
  • Prior to her arrival, she served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Mobile, and was a graduate assistant coach at Shorter University.

The Fighting Scots
Probable Starters 
P / No. Player Ht. Yr. Hometown PPG / RPG
F / 20 Michelle Jahn 5-8 Jr. Edinboro, Pa. 10.0 / 2.8
F / 12 Whitney Allen 6-1 Gr. Dudley, United Kingdom 11.0 / 6.0
F / 15 Ciara Rosten 6-2 Sr. Buffalo, N.Y. 11.9 / 6.4
G / 2 Michaela Barnes 5-6 So. Chagrin Falls, Ohio 8.0 / 1.9
G / 5 Jontay Walton 5-6 R-Jr. Buffalo, N.Y. 10.6 / 3.0

Top Reserves
F / 11 Cheniya Sharpe 5-11 Jr. Springfield, Va. 3.0 / 4.7
G / 1 Bridgette Shaffer 5-8 R-So. Beaver Falls, Pa.
G / 24 Ayana Vaughn 5-8 R-Sr. Beaver Falls, Pa. 2.7 / 0.6


Scouting the Fighting Scots
  • Edinboro comes off a 21-9 finish a year ago, the seventh straight 20-win campaign. The Fighting Scots were picked to finish third in the PSAC Coaches' Preseason Poll.
  • Edinboro must replace All-American guard Katie Fischer, who led the Fighting Scots with 14.8 ppg., and 5.0 apg.
  • Three starters return from last year's 21-9 squad. Senior Ciara Rosten is one of the two anchors in the frontcourt for the Fighting Scots. The 6'2" forward was second on the team in scoring at 11.9 ppg., led the team in rebounds with 6.4 rpg., and was third in the PSAC with 51 blocks. 
  • Michelle Jahn, who has been one of the PSAC's top 3-point shooting threats, returns for her junior season. The 2016 PSAC West Freshman of the Year shot 61-of-193 on 3-pointers (.316 percent), and ranks ninth at Edinboro with 132 made 3-pointers, and ninth in 3-pointers attempted (367).
  • Sophomore Michaela Barnes and reigning PSAC West Freshman of the Year will be in the backcourt again for Edinboro. The 5'6" guard averaged 8.0 ppg., and shot 77.8 percent from the charity stripe (56-of-72).
  • Jontay Walton was Edinboro's super-sub a year ago. Though starting just four games a year ago, the 5'5" guard averaged 10.6 ppg. and led the team in steals with 62. She went to the charity stripe 126 times, making 95. 
  • The X-factor for Edinboro is the return of Whitney Allen. The 6'0" graduate student suffered a season-ending injury in the Fighting Scots season opener vs. Wheeling Jesuit. The 6'1" forward will aid a frontcourt that led the PSAC with 15.3 offensive rebounds per contest. In 2015-16, she ranked second on the team in rebounds with 6.5 rpg., and was third in total assists (58).
Scouting the Panthers
  • Virginia Union enters the 2017 campaign ranked second in the WBCA Division II Top 25 Preseason Poll. The Panthers were also ranked second in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region Media Poll.
  • The 2017-18 squad features 13 returning players from last season, including four of the five starters that appeared in the Division II National Championship Game against Ashland.
  • The Panthers must replace their top two scorers from a year ago in Brittany Jackson and Lady Walker, but feature a pair of preseason All-CIAA selections in Alexis Johnson and Jayda Luckie. Johnson, a senior forward, averaged 12.8 ppg., and 8.1 rpg. The 6'1" New Jersey native ranked fourth in the conference with 421 total points. Luckie, a senior guard, averaged 11.2 ppg. She finished the season with 37 steals, tied for third on the team.
  • Guard Rejoyce Spivey returns for her junior season after leading Virginia Union with 127 assists. The 5'8" Alexandria, Va. native finished second with 40 steals, while averaging 3.3 ppg.
Scouting the Cavaliers
  • While finishing with a 21-11 record a year ago, UVa-Wise was picked to finish tenth in the MEC Preseason Poll. The Cavaliers finished third in the Mountain East Conference a year ago. Their season ended in the MEC Tournament semifinals with a 74-68 loss to Wheeling Jesuit, 74-68. The 21 wins were the most since 2004-05 and an eight-game improvement over the previous year.  
  • Interim head coach Elise Cyburn was appointed to her position from assistant coach in June. Former Cavalier head coach Kristin Kunzman resigned from her position and is now an assistant coach at Millersville.
  • The Cavaliers will have to replace their top three scorers from last year, as six players return for the 2017-18 campaign. Senior Allison Ball and junior Ashley Cullen lead the way. Ball, a 5'8" guard was third on the team with 3.2 apg., and was one of three players to notch at least 30 steals. Cullen, a 5'9" junior was one of five players to eclipse 100 rebounds, averaging 3.5 rpg.

 NEXT FOR THE FIGHTING SCOTS:  Wednesday, November 15 vs. Wheeling Jesuit -- 7 p.m.
 
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Players Mentioned

Whitney Allen

#12 Whitney Allen

G
6' 1"
Junior
Aignee

#13 Aignee' Freeland

F
6' 3"
Senior
Lauren Hippo

#00 Lauren Hippo

G/F
5' 10"
Senior
Ayana Vaughn

#24 Ayana Vaughn

G
5' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
Katie Fischer

#4 Katie Fischer

G
5' 7"
Junior
Michelle Jahn

#20 Michelle Jahn

G
5' 8"
Freshman
Cheniya Sharpe

#11 Cheniya Sharpe

G
5' 11"
Freshman
Allison Thompson

#32 Allison Thompson

F
6' 0"
Freshman
Michaela Barnes

#2 Michaela Barnes

G
5' 6"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Whitney Allen

#12 Whitney Allen

6' 1"
Junior
G
Aignee

#13 Aignee' Freeland

6' 3"
Senior
F
Lauren Hippo

#00 Lauren Hippo

5' 10"
Senior
G/F
Ayana Vaughn

#24 Ayana Vaughn

5' 8"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Katie Fischer

#4 Katie Fischer

5' 7"
Junior
G
Michelle Jahn

#20 Michelle Jahn

5' 8"
Freshman
G
Cheniya Sharpe

#11 Cheniya Sharpe

5' 11"
Freshman
G
Allison Thompson

#32 Allison Thompson

6' 0"
Freshman
F
Michaela Barnes

#2 Michaela Barnes

5' 6"
Sophomore
G