GAME DAY CENTRAL
Edinboro (19-6, 15-4 PSAC West) at Mercyhurst (19-6, 14-5 PSAC West)
When:  February 18, 2017
Where:  Erie, Pa. –  Mercyhurst Athletic Center
Tip-off:  1:00 p.m.
Live Stats: CLICK HERE | Live Audio:  WFSE 88.9 | Live Stream: CLICK HERE
 
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Edinboro: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
Mercyhurst: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
 
PSAC LINKS: PRESEASON POLL | STANDINGS | STATS | ALL-PSAC

GAME STORYLINES

• The Fighting Scots look to continue to right the ship after snapping a two-game losing skid with a 69-40 victory at the Hammermill Center on Wednesday. Edinboro swept the season series with the Lady Knights after Gannon swept the series last season. The two-game skid was the first time Edinboro lost back to back games since the Carol Eckman Memorial Tournament to open the season. Edinboro had run off 16 straight wins at one point. The Fighting Scots have secured their seventh straight PSAC Tournament bid.
• Edinboro looks to sweep another local PSAC West rival when they return to Erie on Saturday afternoon in a crucial late-season matchup. The Fighting Scots are looking to finish in the top two in the Western Division and receive a first round bye. Edinboro is in third place, one game ahead of Mercyhurst, with three games remaining and has clinched a PSAC Tournament home game. California(Pa.) holds down first place at 18-1, with Indiana(Pa.) second at 16-3. The Fighting Scots have split the season series with California(Pa.) and IUP, and defeated Mercyhurst earlier in the year.
• Mercyhurst is in the midst of its finest regular season since joining the PSAC. The Lakers 14 conference wins are the most in program history and Mercyhurst has clinched a second consecutive PSAC Tournament appearance. Two of Mercyhurst's six losses this season have come against nationally-ranked teams. The Lakers were defeated by then No. 3 Ashland and No. 6 California(Pa.).  
• The Fighting Scots were ranked fifth in the Atlantic Region in the initial NCAA Regional Rankings, while Mercyhurst debuted in seventh.
• Edinboro is one win shy of their seventh straight 20-win season. Including this year, the Fighting Scots are 164-43 in the last seven years.
• Edinboro ranks fourth in the PSAC in scoring offense (70.8 ppg.) and third in scoring defense (58.5 ppg.). The Fighting Scots have scored 70-or-more points just twice in the last eight games. After giving up at least 75 points in back-to-back outings, Edinboro held Gannon to a season-low 40 points on Wednesday night. The 40 points is the second fewest allowed by the Fighting Scots all season.
• After being outrebounded just four times in their first 18 games, the Fighting Scots have been outrebounded in five of the last seven contests. Four of those games have been by 10-or-more rebounds. The Fighting Scots bucked the recent trend on Wednesday, winning the rebounding battle against Gannon, 38-33.

 
ON THE RADIO

• The Edinboro-Mercyhurst game can be heard live on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Drew Patrick on the call.

ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
EDINBORO VS. MERCYHURST
All-Time Series:  Edinboro leads 49-11
First Meeting:  1970-71 – Edinboro 64, Mercyhurst 57
Last Meeting:  January 25, 2017 – Edinboro 62, Mercyhurst 50 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
Four players scored in double figures and Edinboro took control of a tight defensive battle with a decisive third quarter as the Fighting Scots defeated Mercyhurst, 62-50, in the season's first meeting. The Edinboro defense continually forced Mercyhurst into turnovers, negating a huge rebounding deficit as the Lakers outrebounded Edinboro, 51-27. The Fighting Scots recorded 20 steals as Mercyhurst committed 33 turnovers, leading to a 28-15 advantage in points off turnovers. Michaela Barnes and Michelle Jahn led the quartet of double figure scorers with 15 points apiece. Jontay Walton provided her usual strong play off the bench with 13 points, making 4-of-6 field goals and 5-of-7 free throws, and had four steals. Katie Fischer finished the night with 10 points and five assists. Natalie Piaggesi led Mercyhurst with 17 points, adding eight rebounds. Maria Lapertosa had 12 points and eight boards, with Jessica Bell adding 11 points. Angela Heintz, who came into the game fifth in the PSAC in scoring at 16.7 ppg., was held to four points.
Series Notes: Edinboro has won 12 of the last 13 meetings, including ten in a row, and has swept the season series each of the last four years.

 
THE COACHES
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 552-298, 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 163-43 record the past seven seasons, including seven PSAC Tournament appearances, three PSAC Championships, three NCAA Tournament berths and a trip to the Elite Eight.
• Winning is nothing 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 552-298 overall mark. Add in four seasons as the head coach at Parkland Junior College, and Swank has 654 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 22 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.

 
Mercyhurst: Deanna Richard (Oakland '96, 111-160, 10^th year, 172-252, 16^th year overall)

• Head coach Deanna Richard is in her tenth season at the helm of the Lakers. She has guided Mercyhurst to four PSAC Tournament bids, including this season.
• Richard has the Lakers in the midst of their finest regular season since joining the PSAC and the best regular season of her tenure. The Lakers 14 conference wins are the most in program history and Mercyhurst has clinched a second consecutive PSAC Tournament appearance.
• Richard came to Mercyhurst from Olivet, where she spent six seasons as the head coach of the Comets and made the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Tournament all six years.
• During her playing days, Richard was an outstanding player at Oakland from 1992-96, leading Oakland to a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship and a trip to the Elite Eight. She finished her career with 1,333 points and was inducted into Oakland's Hall of Honor in 2007.

 
LAST TIME OUT
Edinboro: February 15, 2017 – Edinboro 69, Gannon 40 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

• Edinboro recorded a season sweep of local PSAC West rival Gannon with a dominant 69-40 victory at the Hammermill Center on Wednesday night.
• Edinboro jumped out to a quick 15-7 lead in the first quarter before going cold. Edinboro missed their next seven shots and were held scoreless for over eight minutes as Gannon drew the game to a tie at 15-15 with 7:08 remaining in the second quarter. The Fighting Scots responded in a big way, ending the first half on a 19-4 run over the final seven minutes to take a 34-19 halftime lead.
• The Edinboro lead grew to as many as 29 points in the final quarter as Edinboro cruised to the big victory. 
• Gannon's 40 points tied a season-low scoring output and was the second-fewest points allowed by the Fighting Scots all season.
• Katie Fischer led all scorers with 21 points, making 5-of-8 3-pointers and dishing out seven assists. Michelle Jahn added 10 points.
• The Fighting Scots won the battle of the boards for just the second time in the last seven outings, 38-33.
• Edinboro forced the Lady Knights into 22 turnovers while turning it over just six times themselves.

 
Mercyhurst: February 15, 2017 – Seton Hill 70, Mercyhurst 64 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

• After a back and forth opening half, the Lakers saw Seton Hill take control in the third quarter to pull out a 70-64 road victory at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Holding a slim 25-24 halftime lead, Mercyhurst was outscored 28-14 in the third quarter, including a 19-2 scoring stretch by the Griffins.
• Natalie Piaggesi led Mercyhurst with 20 points and seven rebounds while Alex Artise added 11 points. The Lakers were outrebounded, 41-30, and made 8-of-8 free throws while Seton Hill was 18-of-23 from the charity stripe.

EDINBORO STORYLINES

• The Fighting Scots recently clinched a PSAC Tournament appearance for a seventh consecutive season. This is the 22^nd time Edinboro has qualified for the postseason under head coach Stan Swank.
• Earlier this season, the Fighting Scots ran off 16 straight wins before seeing their streak snapped in a loss at Slippery Rock. The 16-game winning streak was the longest since the 2011-12 squad won 24 in a row and the second-longest streak in school history.
• Edinboro is in third place in the PSAC West with a 15-4 conference ledger. California(Pa.) holds down first place at 18-1, with Indiana(Pa.) second at 16-3. The Fighting Scots have split the season series with California(Pa.) and IUP, and defeated Mercyhurst earlier in the year. Edinboro wraps up the regular season with home games against Slippery Rock (Feb. 22) and Clarion (Feb. 25). The top two seeds in each division receive first round byes in the PSAC Tournament.
• The Fighting Scots were ranked fifth in the Atlantic Region in the initial NCAA Regional Rankings. Edinboro was sixth in the latest D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll.
• Edinboro ranks fourth in the PSAC in scoring offense (70.8 ppg.) and third in scoring defense (58.5 ppg.). The Fighting Scots have scored 70-or-more points just twice in the last eight games. Edinboro has scored over 70 points 13 times and hit 90 points on two occasions this season. After giving up at least 75 points in back-to-back outings, Edinboro held Gannon to a season-low 40 points on Wednesday night. The 40 points is the second fewest allowed by the Fighting Scots all season.
• The Fighting Scots rank fifth in the nation in turnover margin (+9.08) and 10^th in turnovers forced per game (22.88). Edinboro's 309 total steals ranks second in the PSAC and tenth in Division II. In addition, Edinboro has forced opposing teams into 20-or-more turnovers in all but six games.
• After being outrebounded just four times in their first 18 games, the Fighting Scots have been outrebounded in five of the last seven contests. The Fighting Scots bucked the recent trend on Wednesday, winning the rebounding battle against Gannon, 38-33.

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Katie Fischer (G, 5'7'' Sr.)

• All-PSAC West Preseason selection Katie Fischer leads the Edinboro offense from her point guard spot. Fischer ranks 10^th in the PSAC in scoring at 14.6 ppg.
• Ranks fourth in the PSAC with 118 assists and 55 steals. Fischer also ranks fifth in the conference with 57 3-pointers and a 33.7 3-pt. percentage.
• Recently scored her 1,000^th career point. The 5'7'' point guard scored 309 points as a Laker and has totaled 844 points in two seasons as a member of the Fighting Scots for 1,153 career points.

Michelle Jahn (G, 5'8'', So.)

• Ranks eighth in the PSAC with 46 3-pointers and seventh in 3-pt. percentage (31.8 pct.). Has hit a 3-pointer in all but four contests this season.
• Tied for third on the team in scoring, averaging 9.9 ppg.

Ciara Rosten (F, 6'2'', Jr.)

• Second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.6 ppg., and leads the squad with 6.6 rpg.
• Ranks fifth in the PSAC with 38 blocks.

Michaela Barnes (G, 5'6'', Fr.)

• Has started every game this season, averaging 9.2 ppg. and 2.2 rpg.
• Named the PSAC West Freshman of the Week three times.

Jontay Walton (G, 5'7'', R-So.)

• Tied for third on the team in scoring, averaging 9.9 ppg. while coming off the bench.
• Has scored in double figures 11 times.
• Second on the squad and sixth in the PSAC with 53 steals.

 

						PPG	RPG	OTHER
F	15	Ciara Rosten	6-2	Jr.	Buffalo, N.Y.	11.6	6.6	47 STLS, 38 BLKS
F	21	Nicole Johnson	5-10	Sr.	Pittsburgh, Pa.	3.6	4.6	24 STLS
G	2	Michaela Barnes	5-6	Fr.	Chagrin Falls, Ohio	9.2	2.2	30 ASTS, 27 STLS
G	4	Katie Fischer	5-7	Sr.	Ambridge, Pa.	14.6	3.4	118 ASTS, 55 STLS
G	20	Michelle Jahn	5-8	So.	Edinboro, Pa.	9.9	2.6	37 STLS

 

						PPG	RPG	OTHER
F	5	Maggie Moore	6-2	Sr.	Olean, N.Y.	3.4	4.8	20 BLKS
F	32	Allison Thompson	6-0	Sr.	Erie, Pa.	2.3	1.6	5 STLS
G	1	Jontay Walton	5-7	R-So.	Buffalo, N.Y.	9.9	3.0	53 STLS, 34 ASTS
G	11	Cheniya Sharpe	5-11	So.	Springfield, Va.	2.2	3.7	19 STLS

 
MERCYHURST STORYLINES

• Mercyhurst is in the midst of its finest regular season since joining the PSAC season at 19-6 overall, sitting one game behind the Fighting Scots in fourth place in the PSAC West with a 14-5 conference record. Mercyhurst has clinched their second consecutive PSAC Tournament appearance and fourth overall under head coach Deanna Richard.
• Mercyhurst's 14 PSAC wins are the most conference wins in a season since joining the PSAC.
• Two of Mercyhurst's six losses this season have come against nationally-ranked teams. The Lakers were defeated by then No. 3 Ashland and No. 6 California(Pa.).
• Like Edinboro, the Lakers feature a top-five defense in the PSAC. Mercyhurst ranks fourth in the conference, allowing 58.6 ppg. and second in the conference holding opponents to just 37.6 percent shooting from the floor.
• The Lakers feature an all-senior starting five as Mercyhurst returned all five starters from last season.

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Angela Heintz (G, 5'10'', Sr.)

• Second team 2016 All-PSAC West selection.
• Ranks ninth in the PSAC in scoring at 15.2 ppg.
• Has recorded two triple-doubles this season, which is tied for most in the nation.
• Former transfer from Division I Duquesne. Has scored in double figures in all but three contests this season, including being held to a season-low four points in the first meeting with Edinboro.
• Ranks second in the PSAC with 158 assists and sixth with 54 3-pointers.

Natalie Piaggesi (F, 6'1", Sr.)

• First team 2016 All-PSAC West selection.
• Ranks seventh in the PSAC in scoring at 16.2 ppg. Has scored in double figures in all but three games this season and has registered four double-doubles.
• Leads the PSAC with 48 blocks. 
• Has totaled 1,471 points and 695 rebounds during her four-year career at Mercyhurst

 

						PPG	RPG
F	12	Natalie Piaggesi	6-1	Sr.	Bethel Park, Pa.	16.2	6.9
F	33	Jessica Bell	5-10	Sr..	Crown Point, Ind.	6.6	4.2
G	22	Alex Artise	5-9	Sr.	North East, Pa.	7.4	4.7
G	25	Angela Heintz	5-10	Sr.	Bethel Park, Pa.	15.2	6.6
G	32	Jalin Steel	5-10	Sr.	Euclid, Ohio	10.6	4.4

 
 

UP NEXT

• The Fighting Scots return to McComb Fieldhouse on Wednesday, February 22, hosting Slippery Rock. The Fighting Scots look to avenge a loss to The Rock earlier in the year that snapped a 16-game winning streak.