GAME DAY CENTRAL – PSAC Tournament First Round
#4 Edinboro (20-8, 16-6 PSAC West) vs. #5 Seton Hill (16-12, 12-10 PSAC West)
When:  Monday, February 27, 2017
Where:  Edinboro, Pa. –  McComb Fieldhouse
Tip-off:  5:30 p.m.
Live Stats: CLICK HERE | Live Audio:  CLICK HERE
 
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Edinboro: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
Seton Hill: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
 
PSAC TOURNAMENT LINKS: TOURNAMENT CENTRAL  |  STATS | 
 
GAME STORYLINES

• Edinboro welcomes fifth-seeded Seton Hill to McComb Fieldhouse on Monday night in a PSAC Tournament First Round contest. The Fighting Scots enter the PSAC Tournament as the fourth seed in the Western Division following a 67-59 loss to Clarion in the regular season finale this past Saturday afternoon.
• Monday's playoff contest will serve as the rubber match as the two teams split the season series with the road team earning the victory in both contests. The Fighting Scots defeated the Griffins, 58-54, in Greensburg, Pa. in the season's first meeting before Seton Hill downed Edinboro, 83-74, at McComb Fieldhouse.
• This will be the first-ever postseason meeting between the two teams.
• Edinboro is making its eighth consecutive appearance in the PSAC Tournament and 22^nd appearance overall under head coach Stan Swank. The Fighting Scots have won at least one playoff contest in seven of the last eight appearances.
• Edinboro enters the postseason 4-6 in their last ten games. The Fighting Scots began the season 16-2, including running off 16-straight victories, the second-longest streak in program history. Only one of their last four victories has come against a team that qualified for the PSAC Tournament. The Fighting Scots have been without a pair of starters for the majority of the past two games. Senior forward Nicole Johnson went down with an injury early in the Mercyhurst game on February 18 and freshman guard Michaela Barnes exited the  Slippery Rock game on February 22 just six minutes into the contest.
• Seton Hill is making its fourth straight appearance in the PSAC Tournament under head coach Mark Katarski. The Griffins are searching for their first PSAC playoff victory in program history since joining the conference in the 2013-14 season. Seton Hill was previously a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC).
• The Fighting Scots are 11-3 at home this year and have amassed a 75-14 home record over the past six seasons. Oddly enough, the Griffins have a better record in opposing gyms this season. Seton Hill is 6-8 at home, but 10-4 in road or neutral-site contests. In fact, Seton Hill snapped a 17-game home winning streak for Edinboro in the last meeting and handed the Fighting Scots their first home loss of the season.
• Seton Hill's victory in Edinboro this season was also the first-ever victory against the Fighting Scots in program history. Edinboro is 15-1 all-time against Edinboro and 14 of the 15 wins have come by double figures.
• Monday's contest will pit one of the top offensive teams in the PSAC against the second-best defense in the conference. The Fighting Scots are ranked second in the PSAC in scoring defense at 58.3 ppg., while the Griffins are fourth in scoring offense at 70.7 ppg. The Fighting Scots gave up a season-high 83 points in the last meeting with the Griffins. Edinboro has held three of their last four opponents under 60 ppg. and two under 50 ppg.
• The Griffins rely heavily on the 3-pointer. The Griffins lead the PSAC in 3-pointers made (227), 3-pointers attempted (659), and 3-pointers per game (8.1), as well as ranking third in 3-pt. percentage (34.4 pct.). Edinboro has only given up 109 3-pointers this season, the third-fewest total in the conference and hold opponents to 28.9 percent from beyond the arc, good for seventh in the PSAC.

 
EDINBORO IN THE PSAC TOURNAMENT

• The Fighting Scots make their eighth straight trip to the PSAC Tournament and their 22^nd appearance overall under head coach Stan Swank.
• Edinboro has won three of the past six PSAC Titles (2011, 2012, and 2014) and captured four titles overall, with the first coming in 1990.
• The Fighting Scots have amassed a 25-16 record in the postseason since their first appearance in 1989.
• Edinboro has won at least one postseason contest in each of the past seven seasons.
• The Fighting Scots have never met Seton Hill in the PSAC Tournament.
• A year ago, the Fighting Scots won a PSAC First Round contest against local rival Mercyhurst, 61-42, before falling to eventual PSAC Champion California(Pa.) in the quarterfinals, 75-67.

 
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
EDINBORO VS. SETON HILL
All-Time Series:  Edinboro leads 15-1
First Meeting:  1990-91 – Edinboro 98, Seton Hill 74
First Meeting of Season: January 3, 2017 – Edinboro 58, Seton Hill 54 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
Edinboro led from horn-to-horn, but needed to hold off a late Seton Hill rally to secure a 58-54 victory. It was the first meeting between the two teams that was not decided by double figures. With Edinboro leading 52-35 with just over seven minutes remaining, the Griffins scored the next 12 points to cut the deficit to 52-47 with 1:36 remaining. A Katie Fischer jumper halted the scoreless stretch and gave Edinboro a seven-point lead with a minute remaining and the Scots iced the contest with free throws. Fischer and Michelle Jahn led the Fighting Scots with 12 points apiece and Michaela Barnes finished with 11 points. Edinboro finished the contest shooting 34.9 percent (22-of-63) and 3-of-16 on 3-pointers, while the Griffins shot 33.3 percent (17-of-51) from the floor, including 4-of-18 from beyond the arc. Seton Hill's Chrisanna Green finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Seton Hill's leading scorer Jenna Kaufman was held to just five points on 2-of-10 shooting.
Last Meeting:  February 8, 2017 – Seton Hill 83, Edinboro 74 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
The Fighting Scots' valiant fourth quarter rally fell just short as they dropped an 83-74 decision to Seton Hill in the second meeting of season. The loss snapped a 17-game home winning streak for the Fighting Scots, the longest winning streak since the 2011-12 squad ran off 18 in a row at McComb Fieldhouse. The Fighting Scots found themselves in an 18-8 hole early on before scoring 13 unanswered points to take a 21-18 lead with 6:46 remaining in the opening half. Seton Hill responded with an 18-8 run to close out the half to take a 36-29 halftime lead. Seton Hill exploded for 30 points oin the third quarter to take a 20-point lead into the final quarter at 66-46. The Fighting Scots opened the fourth quarter on a 13-2 run to trim the margin to single digits at 68-59 just under three minutes into the final stanza. A Michaela Barnes layup followed by a Katie Fischer old-fashioned 3-point play cut the deficit back to single digits at 73-64. Ciara Rosten scored five of the next seven points to cut the deficit to just six points with 2:43 remaining, but the Griffins were able to ice the contest at the free throw line despite Edinboro outscoring Seton Hill, 28-17, over the final ten minutes of play. Barnes and Fischer each finished with 18 points, while Rosten added 17. Four of the Griffins starting five finished with double figures scoring as Kaufman finished with 20 points, connecting on 8-of-13 shots. Chrisanna Green recorded her second double-double of the season against the Fighting Scots, totaling 16 points and 11 rebounds, as well as blocking four shots. Mariah Wells added 13 points, while Alexandra Hay contributed 12. 
Series Notes: The Fighting Scots won the first 15 meetings before Seton Hill's victory earlier this season
 
THE COACHES
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 553-300, 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 164-45 record the past six seasons, including six 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 24 winning seasons during his 29-year tenure while compiling a 553-300 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 23 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.

 
Seton Hill: Mark Katarski (California(Pa.) '00, 50-52, 4^th year, 105-154, 10^th year overall)

• Head coach Mark Katarski has led the Griffins to a PSAC Tournament appearance in each of his first four seasons.
• Katarski took over Seton Hill in its inaugural season in the PSAC and secured a spot in the PSAC Tournament in his 2013-14 debut season. 
• Prior to Seton Hill, Katarski spent two seasons as an assistant coach for Division I Niagara and six seasons as the head coach at Division III Chatham.
• While at Chatham, Katarski led the Cougars to their first Presidents' Athletic Conference tournament victory and back-to-back conference semifinal appearances.

 
LAST TIME OUT
Edinboro: February 25, 2017 – Clarion 67, Edinboro 59 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

• The Fighting Scots concluded the regular season with a 67-59 loss to Clarion on Senior Day to finish with the fourth seed in the PSAC West.
• The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak against the Golden Eagles and is just the second time in the last 15 meetings that the Fighting Scots were on the losing end.
• Edinboro held a 39-33 lead early in the second half, but the Golden Eagles orchestrated a 17-5 run over the final 8:44 of the third quarter to take a six-point lead at 50-44 heading to the final quarter. 
• The Fighting Scots were able to cut the lead to three-points at 55-52 with five minutes remaining, but Clarion outscored the Fighting Scots 7-3 over the next few minutes to take a 62-55 lead with 50 seconds remaining.
• Ciara Rosten led the Fighting Scots with 13 points. Katie Fischer totaled 12 points and dished out six assists. Sophomore Cheniya Sharpe turned in a solid all-around performance in her second straight start, totaling eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.
• The Golden Eagles outrebounded the Fighting Scots 41-32, but Edinboro held a 14-9 advantage in second chance points. 
• Edinboro struggled from beyond the arc (5-of-21) and at the charity stripe (8-of-15).

 
Seton Hill: February 22, 2017 – Seton Hill 82, Pitt-Johnstown 66 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

• The Griffins cruised to an 82-66 victory over Pitt-Johnstown in their regular season finale. They had already clinched the fifth seed in the PSAC West.
• Seton Hill used a 13-2 run to open the second quarter to pull away and take a 40-28 halftime lead and would lead by as many as 18 points in the fourth quarter
• The Griffins finished the contest shooting 50 percent (32-of-64) from the field and 40.9 percent (9-of-22) from beyond the arc.
• Mariah Wells led four Seton Hill scorers in double figures, finishing with 16 points. Jenna Kaufman and Alexandra Hay each finished with 11 points. Halie Torris added10 points. Chrisanna Green totaled nine points and 11 rebounds. 

 
EDINBORO STORYLINES

• Edinboro enters the PSAC Tournament as the fourth seed in the Western Division following a 20-8 regular season mark with a 16-6 record in conference action.
• 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 165-45 in the last seven years.
• The Fighting Scots are making their eighth straight appearance in the PSAC Tournament and 22^nd time overall under head coach Stan Swank. Edinboro has won a playoff game in seven straight appearances.
• Edinboro enters the postseason 4-6 in their last ten games. The Fighting Scots began the season 16-2, including running off 16-straight victories, the second-longest streak in program history.
• Edinboro was ranked eighth in the latest NCAA Atlantic Regional rankings.
• Edinboro ranks second in the PSAC in scoring defense (58.3 ppg.) and sixth in scoring offense (70.4 ppg.). The Fighting Scots have scored over 70 points just twice in the last seven games, but have held three of their last four opponents under 60 ppg. and two under 50 ppg.
• 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 331 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 eight games.
• After being outrebounded just four times in their first 18 games, the Fighting Scots have been outrebounded in eight of the last ten 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 at 15.0 ppg.  She was a second team All-PSAC West selection a year ago.
• Averaging 18.6 ppg. over the last four games.
• Has scored in double figures in eight of the last nine games.
• Ranks 11^th all-time with 113 career 3-pointers and 14^th all-time with 322 career assists.
• Ranks fourth in the PSAC with 134 assists and sixth with 56 steals. Fischer also ranks fourth in the conference with 67 3-pointers.
• Recently scored her 1,000^th career point. The 5'7'' point guard scored 309 points as a Laker and has totaled 898 points in two seasons as a member of the Fighting Scots for 1,207 career points.

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

• Ranks eighth in the PSAC in 3-pointers (58) and third in 3-pt. percentage (32.2 pct.). Has hit a 3-pointer in all but four contests this season.
• Recently moved into ninth all-time with 129 career 3-pointers.
• Fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 10.0 ppg.
• Has scored in double figures in three of the last four games.

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

• Second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.7 ppg., and leads the squad with 6.5 rpg.
• Has scored in double figures in eight of the last ten contests.
• Ranks third in the PSAC with 46 blocks, the 14^th most in single-season history.

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

• Has started all but one game as a true freshman, averaging 8.6 ppg. and 2.1 rpg.
• Averaged 14.5 ppg. against Seton Hill this season.
• Missed the season finale against Clarion due to an injury.
• Named the PSAC West Freshman of the Week three times.

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

• Third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.1 ppg. off the bench.
• Recorded her second career start in the regular season finale against Clarion, finishing with eight points.
• Has scored in double figures 12 times.
• Leads the team and ranks fifth in the PSAC with 58 steals.

 

						PPG	RPG	OTHER
F	11	Cheniya Sharpe	5-11	So.	Springfield, Va.	2.6	4.1	23 STLS
F	15	Ciara Rosten	6-2	Jr.	Buffalo, N.Y.	11.7	6.5	49 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.	15.0	3.0	134 ASTS, 56 STLS
G	20	Michelle Jahn	5-8	So.	Edinboro, Pa.	10.0	2.6	41 STLS

 
 
 

						PPG	RPG	OTHER
F	5	Maggie Moore	6-2	Sr.	Olean, N.Y.	3.4	4.8	23 BLKS
F	32	Allison Thompson	6-0	So.	Erie, Pa.	2.2	1.7
G	1	Jontay Walton	5-7	R-So.	Buffalo, N.Y.	10.1	3.0	58 STLS, 39 ASTS

 
SETON HILL STORYLINES

• Seton Hill is making its fourth straight appearance in the PSAC Tournament under head coach Mark Katarski. The Griffins are searching for their first PSAC playoff victory in program history since joining the conference in the 2013-14 season. Seton Hill was previously a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC).
• Oddly enough, the Griffins have a better record in opposing gyms this season. Seton Hill is 6-8 at home, but 10-4 in road or neutral site contests. In fact, Seton Hill snapped a 17-game home winning streak for Edinboro in the last meeting and handing the Fighting Scots their first home loss of the season.
• The Griffins have relied heavily on the 3-pointer. The Griffins lead the PSAC in 3-pointers made (227), 3-pointers attempted (659), and 3-pointers per game (8.1), as well as ranking third in 3-pt. percentage (34.4 pct.). Seton Hill has four players with 30-or-more 3-pointers.

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jenna Kaufman (F, 5'11'' Jr.)

• Ranks seventh in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 15.4 ppg.
• Second on the team with 46 3-pointers.
• Has scored in double figures in all but one contest this season when she was held to a season-low five points in the first meeting with Edinboro.
• In the second meeting of the season with Edinboro, she finished with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting and eight rebounds.

Chrisanna Green (F, 5'9'', So.)

• Ranks second in the PSAC in rebounding with 9.9 rpg. and second on the team in scoring at 11.1 ppg.
• Has recorded eight double-doubles this season, including two against the Fighting Scots.
• Averaged 16.5 ppg. and 13.5 rpg. in the two meetings against Edinboro.

Lindsey Mifsud (G, 5'7'', Jr.)

• Ranks fifth on the team in scoring, averaging 6.5 ppg.
• Fourth on the team with 35 3-pointers.
• Former Villa Maria standout and was a high school teammate of Edinboro's Allison Thompson.

 

						PPG	RPG
F	1	Jenna Kaufman	5-11	Jr.	Damascus, MD	15.4	5.8
F	3	Chrisanna Green	5-9	So.	Jamestown, N.Y.	11.1	9.9
G	4	Alexandra Hay	5-8	Jr.	Barrie, Ontario	8.8	2.2
G	5	Lindsey Mifsud	5-7	Jr.	Erie, Pa.	6.5	2.1
G	14	Mariah Wells	5-10	Sr.	Bridgeville, Pa.	8.8	3.8

 
UP NEXT

• With a win the Fighting Scots will advance to the PSAC Quarterfinals at the top-seed California(Pa.) on Wednesday, March 1. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

 
ATLANTIC REGION OUTLOOK

• Edinboro was ranked eighth in the latest NCAA Atlantic Regional rankings.
• The top eight teams in each region earn bids to the NCAA Tournament.
• Johnson C. Smith was ranked tenth this past week, but won the CIAA Tournament and received an automatic bid. Each conference champion receives an automatic bid.

 
LATEST NCAA ATLANTIC REGION POLL

Rank	Team	Last Week
1.	California(Pa.)	1
2.	Virginia Union	2
3.	Indiana(Pa.)	4
4.	Glenville State	8
5.	Shippensburg	6
6.	Wheeling Jesuit	3
7.	Mercyhurst	7
8.	EDINBORO	5
9.	Bowie State	9
10.	Johnson C. Smith	10