GAME DAY CENTRAL
Edinboro (20-7, 16-5 PSAC West) vs. Clarion (14-13, 11-10 PSAC West)
When:  February 25, 2017
Where:  Edinboro, Pa. –  McComb Fieldhouse
Tip-off:  1:00 p.m.
Live Stats: CLICK HERE | Live Audio:  WFSE 88.9 | Live Video: CLICK HERE
 
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Edinboro: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
Clarion: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
 
PSAC LINKS: PRESEASON POLL | STANDINGS | STATS | 

GAME STORYLINES

• The Fighting Scots look to build some momentum heading into the PSAC Tournament with one game remaining in the regular season. Edinboro welcomes Clarion to McComb Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon with the opportunity to control their own destiny and clinch the third seed in the PSAC West with a win. Edinboro has already secured their seventh straight PSAC Tournament bid and earned the right to host a PSAC first round playoff game. Edinboro is currently tied with Mercyhurst for third place with identical 16-5 records. The Fighting Scots own the tiebreaker with the Lakers thanks to a win over Indiana(Pa.), with Mercyhurst losing twice to the Crimson Hawks. Seton Hill is assured of fifth place and Clarion is locked in at sixth, meaning the Fighting Scots could host Clarion twice in three days if they finish third.
• Edinboro's PSAC Tournament first round playoff game will tip off at 5:30 p.m. at McComb Fieldhouse. The winner of that contest will advance to the PSAC Quarterfinals in Wednesday, March 1 and will play at either California(Pa.) or Indiana(Pa.). Both Cal and IUP have clinched first round byes as the top two seeds in the West. The Fighting Scots have split the season series with California(Pa.) Indiana(Pa.), and Mercyhurst.  
• Saturday's contest is also Senior Day, as the Fighting Scots will honor five departing seniors prior to tipoff. Edinboro will say goodbye to Whitney Allen, Katie Fischer, Lindsey Jahn, Nicole Johnson and Maggie Moore. Over the past four seasons, the Fighting Scots have totaled an 87-31 record, including a PSAC Championship, four PSAC Tournament appearances and an Elite Eight appearance.
• The Fighting Scots are ranked eighth in the latest NCAA Atlantic Regional rankings.
• Edinboro is looking to string together back-to-back wins for the first time in over a month heading into the PSAC Tournament following a dominant, 90-46, victory over Slippery Rock on Wednesday. After starting the season 16-2, including running off 16-straight victories, the Fighting Scots are 4-5 in their last nine games. All four of those victories have been by double figures, while three of the five losses were by single digits.
• Wednesday's 90-46 win over Slippery Rock gave Edinboro a 20-7 record. Edinboro recorded its seventh consecutive season with 20 wins and 13^th overall under head coach Stan Swank. Including this year, the Fighting Scots are 165-44 in the last seven years.  
• Clarion has clinched the sixth seed in the Western Division, but have won just once in their last five games. The Golden Eagles' 14 wins are the most since the 2009-10 season.
• The Fighting Scots rank second in the PSAC in scoring defense at 57.9 ppg. Edinboro is coming off one of their finest defensive performances of the season, holding Slippery Rock to just 14 first half points and a season-low 46 total points. The 14 first half points were the fewest allowed by the Fighting Scots all season. Clarion ranks eighth in the PSAC in scoring at 68.6 ppg., but have been held under 60 points in four of the past six games.
• After being outrebounded just four times in their first 18 games, the Fighting Scots have been outrebounded in seven of the last nine contests.

 
ON THE RADIO

• The Edinboro-Clarion game can be heard live on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Drew Patrick on play-by-play and Mike Lantinen on color.

 
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
EDINBORO VS. CLARION
All-Time Series:  Edinboro leads 52-29
First Meeting:  1969-70 – Edinboro 52, Clarion 25
Last Meeting:  January 18, 2017 – Edinboro 68, Clarion 51 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
The Fighting Scots used a big second half surge to down the Golden Eagles, handing Clarion a 68-51 defeat inside the Tippin Gymnasium. The first 20 minutes of the contest was a sequence of runs. The Fighting Scots opened the game on an 11-0 run before Clarion answered back with a 17-1 run. Edinboro again responded with 10-0 run and the two teams traded buckets as the contest was gridlocked at 31-31 at half. Edinboro opening the third quarter on a 17-4 run to take a double-digit lead at 48-35 with just under three minutes remaining in the period. The Edinboro lead grew to as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter. Michelle Jahn led a trio of Fighting Scots in double figures, scoring a game-high 19 points. Michaela Barnes added 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Katie Fischer totaled 14 points and dished out five assists. The Golden Eagles were held to just 27.0 percent (17-of-63) shooting from the floor and turned the ball over 15 times. Tyra Polite was the lone Golden Eagle to score in double figures, finishing with 14 points on 5-of-20 shooting, including making just 1-of-5 3-pointers. Jordan Bekelja and Delrika Jones-Carey both added nine points apiece. 
Series Notes: Edinboro has won 13 of the last 14 meetings, including seven in a row. 
 
THE COACHES
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 553-299, 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 164-44 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 553-299 overall mark. Add in four seasons as the head coach at Parkland Junior College, and Swank has 655 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.

 
Clarion: Jana Ashley (North Alabama '03, 22-57, 3^rd year)

• Head coach Jana Ashley is in her third season at the helm in Clarion. The Golden Eagles are enjoying the finest season of her tenure and their most successful in recent memory. Clarion's 14 wins are the most since the 2009-10 season and the Golden Eagles have clinched a PSAC Tournament berth for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
• Ashley took over a rebuilding Golden Eagles team that won just two games in her debut season before her second season saw Clarion record the most wins since the 2013-14 season, finishing with a 9-19 record.
• Prior to Clarion, Ashley was an accomplished NCAA Division I assistant coach. In her 11 years as an assistant (five at Radford, five at George Mason, one at Iona), she was part of three 20-win seasons and two NIT postseason appearances.

 
LAST TIME OUT
Edinboro: February 22, 2017 – Edinboro 90, Slippery Rock 46 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

• The Fighting Scots cruised to their 20^th win of the season with a dominant 90-46 victory over Slippery Rock on Wednesday night.
• Edinboro held a 23-9 lead after one quarter and a 47-14 advantage at halftime. The 14 points were the fewest allowed by the Fighting Scots in first half this season.
• The Fighting Scots would never lead by less than 30 the entire second half, growing the lead to as large as 46 points with 7:57 remaining in the fourth quarter.
• The 44-point victory was the largest margin of victory all season for the Fighting Scots. It was also the second time Edinboro hit 90 points this season. The 46 points were also the fewest points scored by Slippery Rock all season.
• Slippery Rock turned the ball over 23 times, leading to 27 points for the Fighting Scots. 
• Katie Fischer dropped in 26 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including making 5-of-7 3-pointers. She also dished out eight assists.  Jontay Walton turned in an impressive performance off the bench, totaling 18 points in 20 minutes. She made four 3-pointers after coming into the game with just 12 on the season.
• Michelle Jahn added 15 points and a team-high three steals. Ciara Rosten was the final Fighting Scot in double figures, finishing with ten points. 

 
Clarion Rock: February 22, 2017 – Indiana(Pa.) 68, Clarion 57 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

• A disastrous second quarter for the Golden Eagles dashed any hopes of a big upset of Indiana(Pa.) on the road as Clarion fell to IUP, 68-57, on Wednesday night.
• After taking a 20-17 lead after the first ten minutes, the Golden Eagles were outscored 18-4 in the second quarter to give the Crimson Hawks a 35-24 halftime lead that they never relinquished.
• Delrika Jones-Carey led the Golden Eagles with a double-double, finishing with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Jordan Bekelja and Tyra Polite scored 14 points apiece.

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.
• Edinboro has recorded its seventh consecutive season with 20 wins and 13^th overall under head coach Stan Swank. Including this year, the Fighting Scots are 165-44 in the last seven years.
• The Fighting Scots are ranked eighth in the latest NCAA Atlantic Regional rankings.
• 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 a tie for third place place in the PSAC West with Mercyhurst with a 16-5 conference ledger. California(Pa.) holds down first place at 19-2, with Indiana(Pa.) second at 18-3. The top two seeds in each division receive first round byes in the PSAC Tournament. The Fighting Scots have split the season series with California(Pa.) IUP, and Mercyhurst. Edinboro can clinch the third seed with a win or a Mercyhurst loss on Saturday. An Edinboro loss and a Mercyhurst win will push the Fighting Scots into the fourth seed.
• Edinboro ranks second in the PSAC in scoring defense (57.9 ppg.) and fifth in scoring offense (70.9 ppg.). After scoring 70-or-more points just twice in the last eight games, the Fighting Scots matched a season-high with 90 points in Wednesday's win over Slippery Rock. Edinboro has scored over 70 points 14 times and hit 90 points on three occasions this season. After giving up at least 75 points in back-to-back outings, Edinboro has held their last three opponents under 60 points, including holding Gannon and Slippery Rock under 50 points.
• The Fighting Scots rank fifth in the nation in turnover margin (+8.96) and 10^th in turnovers forced per game (22.67). Edinboro's 328 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 seven games.
• After being outrebounded just four times in their first 18 games, the Fighting Scots have been outrebounded in seven of the last nine contests.

 
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 ninth in the PSAC in scoring at 15.1 ppg.
• Has scored in double figures in five straight games, averaging 19.0 ppg. during that stretch.
• Ranks fourth in the PSAC with 128 assists and sixth with 55 steals. Fischer also ranks third in the conference with 65 3-pointers and sixth with a 33.3 3-pt. percentage.
• Moved into 11^th all-time with 116 career 3-pointers in her two-year Edinboro career.
• Recently scored her 1,000^th career point. The 5'7'' point guard scored 309 points as a Laker and has totaled 886 points in two seasons as a member of the Fighting Scots for 1,195 career points.

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

• Ranks eighth in the PSAC with 56 3-pointers and eighth in 3-pt. percentage (32.1 pct.). Has hit a 3-pointer in all but four contests this season.
• Recently cracked the top ten in career 3-pointers, ranking 10^th all-time with 127 3-pointers.
• Has scored in double figures in three straight games, hitting multiple 3-pointers in all three contests.
• Fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 10.1 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.
• Has scored in double figures in seven of the past nine games.
• Ranks fifth in the PSAC with 46 blocks. Swatted away a career-high six shots in Wednesday's win over Slippery Rock.

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

• Has started every game this season as a true freshman, averaging 8.6 ppg. and 2.1 rpg.
• Named the PSAC West Freshman of the Week three times.

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

• Third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.2 ppg. while coming off the bench.
• Has scored in double figures 12 times, including in back-to-back games.
• Leads the squad and ranks fifth in the PSAC with 58 steals.

 

						PPG	RPG	OTHER
F	11	Cheniya Sharpe	5-11	So.	Springfield, Va.	2.4	4.0	23 STLS
F	15	Ciara Rosten	6-2	Jr.	Buffalo, N.Y.	11.6	6.6	47 STLS, 46 BLKS
G	2	Michaela Barnes	5-6	Fr.	Chagrin Falls, Ohio	8.6	2.1	30 ASTS, 29 STLS
G	4	Katie Fischer	5-7	Sr.	Ambridge, Pa.	15.1	3.4	128 ASTS, 55 STLS
G	20	Michelle Jahn	5-8	So.	Edinboro, Pa.	10.1	2.7	40 STLS, 21 ASTS

 

						PPG	RPG	OTHER
F	5	Maggie Moore	6-2	Sr.	Olean, N.Y.	3.2	4.8	22 BLKS
F	32	Allison Thompson	6-0	Sr.	Erie, Pa.	2.2	1.8	5 STLS
G	0	JaVannah Jackson	5-4	Jr.	Cleveland, Ohio	1.8	0.9	15 STLS, 19 ASTS
G	1	Jontay Walton	5-7	R-So.	Buffalo, N.Y.	10.2	3.0	58 STLS, 38 ASTS
G	14	Lindsey Jahn	5-8	Sr.	Edinboro, Pa.	0.7	1.0	11 STLS

 
CLARION STORYLINES

• The Golden Eagles' 14 wins this year are the most since the 2009-10 season. Clarion has also clinched a PSAC Tournament berth for the first time since the 2012-13 season, but has won just once in the last five games.
• Clarion ranks eighth in the PSAC in scoring offense at 68.6 ppg., but the Golden Eagles have been held under 60 points in four of the past six games.
• The Golden Eagles are 5-1 in games decided by five points or less.
• The Golden Eagles rely heavily on the three-ball. Clarion is one of the top 3-point threats in the conference, ranking second in 3-pointers made (210), 3-pointers attempted (642), and 3-pointers per game (7.8). The Golden Eagles also rank sixth in the PSAC in 3-pt. percentage at 32.7 percent. 

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tyra Polite (G, 5'8'', Jr.)

• Ranks sixth in the PSAC in scoring at 16.1 ppg. and has scored in double figures in five straight games.
• Leads the PSAC and ranks 37^th in Division II with 67 3-pointers.

Amesha Harden-Pullium (G, 5'3", Jr.)

• Former Villa Maria standout.
• Ranks third on the team in scoring at 10.0 ppg.
• Ranks 11^th in the PSAC with 48 3-pointers.

Jordan Bekelja (G, 5'6'', So.)

• Ranks second on the team in scoring at 11.4 ppg.

 

						PPG	RPG
F	22	Delrika Jones-Carey	5-10	Sr.	Pittsburgh, Pa.	8.9	7.6
F	34	Taylor Moltz	5-9	So.	Oil City, Pa.	6.7	2.8
G	5	Amesha Harden-Pullium	5-3	Jr.	Erie, Pa.	10.0	2.1
G	11	Jordan Bekelja	5-6	So.	Solon, Ohio	11.4	3.7
G	24	Tyra Polite	5-8	Jr.	Upper Darby, Pa.	16.1	5.2

 
UP NEXT

• The Fighting Scots host a PSAC Tournament game on Monday, February 27.  If they are the third seed, they will host Clarion. The fourth seed will host Seton Hill. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in McComb Fieldhouse.