GAME DAY CENTRAL – PSAC Tournament Quarterfinals
#4 Edinboro (21-8, 16-6 PSAC West) at #1 California(PA) (26-2, 20-2 PSAC West)
When:  Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Where:  California, Pa. –  Convocation Center
Tip-off:  6:00 p.m.
Live Stats: CLICK HERE | Live Audio:  CLICK HERE
 
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Edinboro: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
California: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
 
PSAC TOURNAMENT LINKS: TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | PSAC PREVIEW | STATS | 
 
GAME STORYLINES

• Edinboro, seeded fourth, advanced to the PSAC Tournament Quarterfinals courtesy of a dominant 82-50 victory over Seton Hill on Monday night in a PSAC Tournament First Round contest. Edinboro travels to top-seeded and fifth-ranked California(Pa.) on Wednesday night looking for a second upset of the Vulcans this year. The Vulcans had a first-round bye as the top seed in the PSAC West.
• Wednesday's quarterfinal's contest will serve as the rubber match as the two teams split the season series with the home team earning the victory in both contests. The Fighting Scots upset the then second-ranked Vulcans, 71-54, in the season's first meeting before then fifth-ranked Cal downed Edinboro, 75-71, at the Convocation Center.
• This marks the second consecutive year between Edinboro and Cal meet in the PSAC Quarterfinals. A year ago, the Fighting Scots fell to the eventual PSAC Champion Vulcans in the quarterfinals, 75-67.
• Wednesday's contest puts a pair of Western Division powerhouses on display. Over the past five seasons, both teams have won the PSAC Championship twice, with California taking the past two and Edinboro reigning supreme in 2014 and 2012.
• The Fighting Scots have notched a 166-45 record over the past seven seasons, while the Vulcans are 131-44 over the same period. Edinboro made a trip to the Elite Eight in 2011-12 and California won the National Championship in 2015.
• 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.
• California is making its 17^th-straight appearance in the PSAC Tournament and 24^th overall. The Vulcans are searching for their third consecutive PSAC title after taking the crown in each of the past two seasons.
• The Fighting Scots rank fourth in the PSAC, averaging 70.8 ppg., while ranking second in scoring defense at 58.0 ppg. The Vulcans rank first in the PSAC and sixth in the nation in scoring offense at 81.6 ppg. and fifth in the conference in scoring defense at 59.6 ppg.
• Wednesday's contest features a clash of offensive styles. The Fighting Scots rank fifth in the PSAC with 176 3-pointers and boast a pair of the top deep threats in the conference. Katie Fischer ranks third with 70 3-pointers while Michelle Jahn is eighth with 60 threes. California has attempted the fewest number of 3-pointers in the PSAC with only 262 attempts. However, the Vulcans defend the long ball exceptionally well, leading the PSAC in fewest 3-pointers allowed with 87.
• California does a majority of their scoring from the charity stripe. The Vulcans rank second in the PSAC and 19^th in Division II with 459-of-641 free throws. Miki Glenn leads the conference and is second in the nation, going 182-for-209 from the line.
• A pair of the top point guards in the PSAC will take the floor in the quarterfinals contest. Katie Fischer ranks ninth in the PSAC in scoring at 14.9 ppg. and fourth with 142 assists, as well as ranking sixth with 56 steals. Miki Glenn leads the PSAC and ranks 18^th in Division II in scoring, averaging 19.5 ppg. Glenn also ranks second in the conference with 181 assists, while ranking fifth in the nation with 110 steals. Both players were All-PSAC West selections a year ago, with Fischer earning second team recognition and Glenn garnering first team honors, as well as taking home the PSAC West Athlete of the Year award.

 
EDINBORO IN THE PSAC TOURNAMENT

• Edinboro is meeting California(Pa.) in the PSAC Quarterfinals for a second consecutive season. A year ago, the Fighting Scots won a PSAC First Round contest against local rival Mercyhurst, 61-42, before falling to the eventual PSAC Champion Vulcans in the quarterfinals, 75-67.
• 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 26-16 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.

 
ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
EDINBORO VS. CALIFORNIA
All-Time Series:  Edinboro leads 44-39
First Meeting:  1970-71 – Edinboro 52, California 35
First Meeting of the Season: December 30, 2016 – Edinboro 71, #2 California 54 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
The Fighting Scots closed out 2016 with an impressive 71-54 upset of second-ranked and undefeated California(Pa.). Edinboro tamed a high-flying Vulcan offense that entered the contest ranked sixth in Division II, averaging 84.5 ppg, holding them to a season-low 54 points. Miki Glenn was held to 15 points on 7-of-18 shooting and was forced into four turnovers. The Fighting Scots took control of the contest for good in the third quarter. Trailing 37-36 early in the second half, the Fighting Scots scored the next 15 points to take a 51-37 lead with 2:38 remaining in the third quarter. Led by Jontay Walton's career-high 23 points, the Edinboro bench proved to be a large factor in the upset as the Fighting Scots outscored the Vulcans 30-3 in bench points. Katie Fischer added 17 points and seven assists while Ciara Rosten and Nicole Johnson added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Shatara Parsons and Seairra Barrett joined Glenn in double figures for the Vulcans, finishing with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Last Meeting:  January 28, 2017 – #5 California 75, Edinboro 71 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
The Fighting Scots came up just shy of upsetting no. 5 California(Pa.) for a second time as they dropped a, 75-71, decision at the Convocation Center in late January. After Edinboro took a 31-24 halftime lead, the Vulcans outscored Edinboro, 30-17 in the third quarter to take the lead at 54-48 heading to the final period. The Cal lead grew to as many as seven points in the fourth quarter at 61-54 with just over seven minutes to play, but the Fighting Scots continued to chip away at the deficit. Edinboro orchestrated a 7-1 run over the next two minutes, bookmarked by a pair of Fischer jumpers, to cut the lead to 62-61. The Vulcans scored the next four points to build the lead back up to 66-61 with 3:32 remaining. The Fighting Scots got as close as two points with 48 seconds remaining, but Edinboro was forced to foul and the Vulcans hit five shots from the charity stripe over the last 30 seconds to ice the contest.  Katie Fischer led a trio of Edinboro scorers in double figures, finishing with 23 points. Ciara Rosten totaled 18 points and Jontay Walton added 13 points off the bench. Miki Glenn led the Vulcans with 20 points, 13 coming from the charity stripe.  Seairra Barrett totaled a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards. Shatara Parsons added 14 points while Precious Martin finished with 10.
Series Notes: California has won six of the last eight meetings.
 
THE COACHES
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 554-300, 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 166-45 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 554-300 overall mark. Add in four seasons as the head coach at Parkland Junior College, and Swank has 656 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.

 
California: Jess Strom (Penn State '05, 137-37, 6^th year)

• Head coach Jess Strom already ranks third all-time in career victories at Cal. She entered the 2016-17 season with a 111-35 overall record through her first five years. That includes back-to-back PSAC Championships in 2014-15 and 15-16 as well as a National Championship in 14-15.
• Under Strom, the Vulcans have won 20-or-more games and appeared in the PSAC Tournament all six years.
• A Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Hall of Famer, Strom has previously served as an assistant coach at Appalachian State before serving in the same capacity for the Vulcans.
• Strom was a three-time All-Big Ten selection and a 1,000-point scorer during her playing days as a Nittany Lion.

 
LAST TIME OUT
Edinboro: February 27, 2017 – Edinboro 82, Seton Hill 50 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

• Jontay Walton scored 19 points and Cheniya Sharpe pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds to lead Edinboro to an 82-50 win over Seton Hill in a PSAC Tournament First Round Game on Monday night at McComb Fieldhouse.
• The first quarter featured two ties and 11 lead changes, but Edinboro took a late lead at 21-18 before they began to pull away in the final three quarters.
• The Fighting Scots opened the second quarter with the first 10 points to cap off a run of 13 straight points and used a 13-0 run in the third quarter to take a 52-29 lead with 2:55 remaining in the third quarter.
• Seton Hill never got closer than 19 points the rest of the way, with the final 32-point margin the largest lead of the night.
• Jontay Walton led all scorers with 19 points in just her third start of the season. Ciara Rosten added 16 points, while Katie Fischer finished with 13 points and eight assists without a turnover. Michelle Jahn totaled 11 points.
• Cheniya Sharpe pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds, eight on the offensive glass, and added eight points in just her fourth career start.
• Seton Hill shot just 32.6 percent (15-of-46) for the game, and made just 9-of-33 shots over the final three quarters.
• The Fighting Scots dominated the glass, 48-35, including 20 offensive rebounds. Edinboro turned the ball over a season-low four times while forcing 18 Seton Hill miscues, leading to a 20-2 advantage in points off turnovers.

 
California: Received a bye as the top-seed in the PSAC West.
 
EDINBORO STORYLINES

• Edinboro entered 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. The Fighting Scots recorded an impressive 82-50 victory over fifth-seeded Seton Hill in the first round of the tournament on Monday night.
• 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 166-45 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.
• The Fighting Scots began the season 16-2, including running off 16-straight victories, the second-longest streak in program history. Included in that stretch was a 71-54 upset of then second-ranked California in late December.
• Edinboro ranks second in the PSAC in scoring defense, allowing just 58.0 ppg. The Fighting Scots have held four of their last five opponents under 60 ppg. and two under 50 ppg. Edinboro is allowing just 51.8 ppg. over the past five games.
• The Fighting Scots rank fourth in the PSAC in scoring offense, averaging 70.8 ppg. They have scored over 80 points in two of their last three outings, including tying a season-high with 90 points in a win over Slippery Rock.
• The Fighting Scots rank fifth in the nation in turnover margin (+8.93) and 10^th in turnovers forced per game (22.3). Edinboro's 338 total steals ranks second in the PSAC and tenth in Division II. The Fighting Scots turned the ball over a season-low four times in Monday's victory. In addition, Edinboro has forced opposing teams into 20-or-more turnovers in all but nine games.
• After being outrebounded just four times in their first 18 games, the Fighting Scots have been outrebounded in eight of the last eleven contests. Edinboro broke the trend in Monday night's victory, dominating Seton Hill on the glass, 48-35, including 20 offensive rebounds.
• Edinboro was ranked eighth in the latest NCAA Atlantic Regional rankings.

 
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 14.9 ppg.  She was a second team All-PSAC West selection a year ago.
• Is averaging 17.6 ppg. over the last five games.
• Has scored in double figures in nine of the last ten games.
• Ranks 12^th all-time with 116 career 3-pointers and 13^th all-time with 330 career assists.
• Ranks fourth in the PSAC with 142 assists and sixth with 56 steals. Fischer also ranks third in the conference with 70 3-pointers.
• Recently scored her 1,000^th career point. The 5'7'' point guard scored 309 points as a Laker and has totaled 911 points in two seasons as a member of the Fighting Scots for 1,220 career points.

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

• Ranks eighth in the PSAC in 3-pointers (60) and 3-pt. percentage (31.9 pct.). Has hit a 3-pointer in all but four contests this season.
• Recently moved into ninth all-time with 132 career 3-pointers.
• Is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 10.0 ppg.
• Has scored in double figures in four of the last five games.

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

• Second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.8 ppg., and leads the squad with 6.4 rpg.
• Has scored in double figures in nine of the last eleven contests.
• Ranks third in the PSAC with 47 blocks, the 14^th most in single-season history.

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

• Has started all but two games as a true freshman, averaging 8.3 ppg. and 2.0 rpg.
• Missed the season finale against Clarion due to an injury, but returned in limited capacity in the first round win over Seton Hill.
• Named the PSAC West Freshman of the Week three times.

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

• Third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.5 ppg.
• Recorded her third career start in the PSAC First Round victory over Seton Hill, finishing with a team-high 19 points.
• Has scored in double figures 13 times.
• Leads the team and is tied for fourth in the PSAC with 61 steals.

 

						PPG	RPG	OTHER
F	11	Cheniya Sharpe	5-11	So.	Springfield, Va.	2.8	4.6	24 STLS
F	15	Ciara Rosten	6-2	Jr.	Buffalo, N.Y.	11.8	6.4	50 STLS, 47 BLKS
G	1	Jontay Walton	5-7	R-So.	Buffalo, N.Y.	10.5	3.1	40 ASTS, 61 STLS
G	4	Katie Fischer	5-7	Sr.	Ambridge, Pa.	14.9	3.3	142 ASTS, 56 STLS
G	20	Michelle Jahn	5-8	So.	Edinboro, Pa.	10.0	2.7	41 STLS

 

							PPG	RPG	OTHER
F		5	Maggie Moore	6-2	Sr.	Olean, N.Y.	3.3	4.8	23 BLKS
F	21		Nicole Johnson	5-10	Sr.	Pittsburgh, Pa.	3.4	4.5	26 STLS
G		2	Michaela Barnes	5-7	Fr.	Chagrin Falls, Ohio	8.3	2.0	30 ASTS, 29 STLS

 
 
CALIFORNIA STORYLINES

• Cal enters Wednesday's quarterfinals contest at 26-2 overall and is the top seed in the Western Division with a 20-2 conference ledger. The Vulcans were ranked fifth in the latest WBCA Division II National Poll. Cal has lost just three games in their past 43 outings dating back to last season, including this season's 71-54 loss against Edinboro, the largest margin of defeat since a 2012-13 meeting with the Fighting Scots. The Vulcans second loss this season came in a 78-72 contest at Mercyhurst.
• The Vulcans have won 15 of their last 16 contests since dropping their first game of the season against the Fighting Scots. Since their loss against Edinboro, Cal has won all but three of their games by double figures, including four victories by at least 30 points.
• Cal returned four starters from a squad that finished 25-6 and took home the PSAC Crown last season.
• The Vulcans boasts one of the top scoring offenses in Division II, ranking sixth in the nation in scoring at 81.6 ppg. and lead Division II in turnover margin (+13.25) and turnovers forced per game (27.21). The Vulcans also rank 12^th in total assists with 486. All these figures also lead the PSAC.
• Cal has taken the fewest number of 3-pointers in the PSAC this season, attempting just 262 shots from beyond the arc. The Vulcans are adept at defending the long ball, however, ranking second in the conference in 3-pt. defense, allowing just 87 3-pointers. They have held opposing teams to 26.3 percent on threes.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Miki Glenn (G, 5'7'' Sr.)

• A WBCA All-American and the reigning PSAC West Athlete of the Year.
• Leads the PSAC and ranks 18^th in the nation in scoring at 19.5 ppg.
• Has scored in double figures in every game this year.
• Averaging 25.8 ppg. over the last four games.
• Ranks second in Division II in free throws made (182), third in steals (110), and fifth in assists (181) and free throws attempted (209).
• Member of the 1,000-point club.

Seairra Barrett (F, 6'0'', Jr.)

• Ranks third in the PSAC in scoring at 17.8 ppg.
• Has scored in double figures in 24 of her 26 appearances this season.
• Reigning PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Year.
• Ranks third in the PSAC with 70 steals.
• Member of the 1,000-point club.

Lana Doran (G, 5'10'', R-Sr.)

• Started all 36 games on a Vulcans team that captured the National Championship in 2014-15
• Missed all of 2015-16 due to injury.
• Ranks fourth on the team in scoring at 9.3 ppg.

 

						PPG	RPG
F	3	Shatara Parsons	6-0	Jr.	Harrisburg, Pa.	12.8	6.0
F	5	Seairra Barrett	6-0	Jr.	Center Township, Pa.	17.8	6.2
G	12	Lana Doran	5-10	R-Sr.	Northamptonshire, England	9.3	3.2
G	21	Miki Glenn	5-7	Sr.	Bridgeport, WV	19.5	5.0
G	23	Precious Martin	6-0	Sr.	Harrisburg, Pa.	7.6	4.1

 
 
UP NEXT

• The winner of Wednesday's Edinboro-California(Pa.) will advance to the PSAC Semifinals held at the highest remaining Eastern Division seed. The winner would take on the winner of the Millersville and East Stroudsburg contest.

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