GAME DAY CENTRAL
Edinboro (18-5, 14-3 PSAC West) vs. Indiana(Pa.) (17-5, 15-3 PSAC West)
When:  February 11, 2017
Where:  Edinboro, Pa. –  McComb Fieldhouse
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 | 
Indiana: Roster | Schedule | Stats | 
 
PSAC LINKS: PRESEASON POLL | STANDINGS | STATS | ALL-PSAC

GAME STORYLINES

• The Fighting Scots enter a crucial late season PSAC West matchup with Indiana(Pa.) fresh off a 83-74 home loss to Seton Hill on Wednesday night. That loss snapped a 17-game home winning streak, the longest stretch since the 2011-12 squad ran off 18 victories in a row at McComb Fieldhouse.
• Edinboro has a 10-1 mark at home this year and a 74-12 home record over the past six seasons. The Crimson Hawks are 2-6 at McComb Fieldhouse during that stretch.
• The Fighting Scots are in third place in the PSAC West, a half game behind IUP. Both teams have already qualified for the PSAC Tournament. The top two seeds in each division receive first round byes in the PSAC Tournament. Edinboro looks for their first season sweep of IUP since the 2013-14 season when they beat the Crimson Hawks twice in the regular season, as well as knocking them out of the PSAC Playoffs in the quarterfinals.
• Edinboro enters Saturday with a 2-3 mark over their past five outings, after having their 16-game winning streak snapped last month. The Crimson Hawks have won five-straight games after snapping a three-game losing skid, sparked by the loss to Edinboro in the first meeting. IUP has won three of the five games by double figures, including two by 20-or-more points.
• Edinboro has been outrebounded by double figures in four of the past five outings after losing the rebound battle just four times in the first 18 games.  
• Both squads rank among the best in the PSAC on both sides of the ball. Edinboro ranks third in scoring offense (71.2 ppg.) and fourth in scoring defense (58.4 ppg.), while the Crimson Hawks rank sixth in scoring offense (70.3 ppg.) and second in scoring defense (57.5 ppg.).
• Saturday's contest is Edinboro's annual "Make-A-Wish" day. Tributes to Make-A-Wish recipients will be held during the women's game. The men's game will feature a check presentation at halftime to Make-A-Wish for the total raised by Division II – over $608,000! All fans will receive free admission to the games with a donation to Make-A-Wish. The first 250 Edinboro students will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of the Edinboro SGA. Numerous prizes have been donated by local merchants and will be given out during the day, with Edinboro students and fans alike eligible to win.

ON THE RADIO/ON TV

• The Edinboro-IUP game can be heard live on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Gabe Hypes on the play-by-play and Julie Zarnick on color.
• Saturday's contest will also be televised live by the American Sports Network (ASN). The game will also be streaming live on ESPN3, WatchESPN, the ESPN app, and NCAA.com. Darren Goldwater will be on play-by-play with Robin Muller on color.

ALL-TIME SERIES BREAKDOWN
EDINBORO VS. INDIANA
All-Time Series:  Edinboro leads 49-41
First Meeting:  1970-71 – Indiana 62, Edinboro 48
Last Meeting:  January 14, 2017 – Edinboro 75, at Indiana 65 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)
The Fighting Scots rode a career performance from junior forward Ciara Rosten and a dominant second half as they recorded an impressive 75-65 victory at the Kovalchick Complex. Rosten dropped in a career-high 32 points on a near perfect 14-of-15 shooting and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds to record her second double-double on the season. Edinboro outscored the Crimson Hawks 45-29 in the final 20 minutes of action and shot 58.6 percent (17-of-29) and hit 5-of-9 3-pointers in the second half after shooting just 38.7 percent (12-of-31) from the floor and 2-of-9 from beyond the arc in the opening half. Jontay Walton finished with 15 points, while Katie Fischer totaled 11 points, all in the second half. Megan Smith led the Crimson Hawks with 23 points and 11 rebounds. IUP turned the ball over a season-high 20 times, which the Fighting Scots cashed in for 20 points off turnovers.
Series Notes: The Crimson Hawks have won five of the past six meetings with the Fighting Scots, interrupted by Edinboro's win in the first meeting this season.
 
THE COACHES
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76, 551-297, 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 145-37 record the past six 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 551-297 overall mark. Add in four seasons as the head coach at Parkland Junior College, and Swank has 653 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.

 
Indiana(Pa.): Tom McConnell (Point Park '84, 81-28, 4^th year, 165-133, 10^th season overall)

• Head coach Tom McConnell is in his fourth season at the helm of the Crimson Hawks. IUP made an appearance in the PSAC Tournament in each of his four seasons, as well as receiving NCAA Tournament bids in 2014-15 and '15-16.
• McConnell has guided the Crimson Hawks to back-to-back 20-win seasons.
• Under McConnell, the Crimson Hawks won their first PSAC West title since 2008 in the 2014-15 season and were ranked as high as fifth in the national poll.
• Prior to IUP, McConnell spent seven seasons as the head men's basketball coach at St Francis (PA) and two seasons as an assistant women's coach at Division I Old Dominion

 
LAST TIME OUT
Edinboro: February 8, 2017 – Seton Hill 83, Edinboro 74 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

• A frantic fourth quarter rally fell short as the Fighting Scots dropped an 83-74 decision to Seton Hill, snapping a 17-game home winning streak.
• After trailing by 20 points to open the fourth quarter, the Fighting Scots cut the lead to just six points with 2:43 remaining, but were unable to complete the comeback.
• Michaela Barnes and Katie Fischer led a trio of Edinboro scorers in double figures, finishing with 18 points apiece. Ciara Rosten added 17 points.
• The Fighting Scots were outrebounded 43-33. Edinboro shot 36.8 percent (28-of-76) from the field and just 2-of-16 from beyond the arc, while Seton Hill was over the 50 percent mark at 51.8 percent (29-of-56), and made 8-of-21 3-pointers.

 
Indiana(Pa.): February 8, 2017 – Indiana 77, Pitt-Johnstown 65 (RECAP / BOX SCORE)

• The Crimson Hawks used a hot-shooting night to down Pitt-Johnstown on the road, 77-65.
• IUP led from horn to horn and finished the contest shooting 50.9 percent (28-of-55) from the field.
• Carolyn Appleby led four Crimson Hawks scorers in double figures, finishing with 19 points. Lauren Wolosik added 18 points, while Megan Smith totaled 14. Kendall Hunter contributed 10 points off the bench.

 
EDINBORO STORYLINES

• The Fighting Scots clinched a PSAC Tournament appearance for a seventh consecutive season last week. 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, a half game behind IUP. The Fighting Scots own wins over California(Pa.), Mercyhurst, and Indiana(Pa.) as they continue the second half of PSAC West action. The top two seeds in each division receive first round byes in the PSAC Tournament.
• The Fighting Scots were among "others receiving votes" in the latest WBCA Coaches' Poll and were ranked 25^th in this week's D2SIDA Media Poll. Edinboro was also ranked third in the Atlantic Region.
• The Fighting Scots rank fourth in the PSAC in scoring defense at 58.4 ppg. The Edinboro defense has held opponents under 60 points in 15 of their 18 wins.
• The Fighting Scots rank fifth in the nation in turnover margin (+8.70) and 10^th in turnovers forced per game (23.14). Edinboro's 288 total steals ranks second in the PSAC and ninth in Division II. In addition, Edinboro has forced opposing teams into 20-or-more turnovers in all but five games.
• The high-pressure Edinboro defense is complimented by a high-scoring offense. The Fighting Scots rank third in the PSAC in scoring at 71.2 ppg. Edinboro has scored over 70 points 13 times, and hit 90 on two occasions.
• Edinboro has been outrebounded by double figures in four of the past five outings after losing the rebound battle just four times in the first 18 games.  

 
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 12^th in the PSAC in scoring at 14.3 ppg.
• Ranks fifth in the PSAC with 107 assists and 50 steals. Fischer also ranks fifth in the conference with 51 3-pointers.
• Recently scored her 1,000^th career point. The 5'7'' point guard scored 309 points as a Laker and has totaled 809 points in two seasons as a member of the Fighting Scots for 1,118 career points.

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

• Ranks eighth in the PSAC with 3-pointers (46) and seventh in 3-pt. percentage (34.1 pct.). Has hit a 3-pointer in all but four contests this season.
• Fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.9 ppg.

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

• Second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.9 ppg., and leads the squad with 6.4 rpg.
• Scored a career-high 32 points on 13-of-14 shooting in the season's first meeting with IUP.
• Ranks fourth in the PSAC with 37 blocks. Has recorded multiple blocks in five of the past seven contests

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

• Has started every game this season, averaging 9.3 ppg. and 2.3 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 10.0 ppg. off the bench
• Has scored in double figures 11 times, including three of the past four outings
• Second on the squad and sixth in the PSAC with 48 steals.

 
 

						PPG	RPG	OTHER
F	15	Ciara Rosten	6-2	Jr.	Buffalo, N.Y.	11.9	6.4	43 STLS, 37 BLKS
F	32	Allison Thompson	6-0	S0.	Erie, Pa.	2.6	1.6	5 STLS
G	2	Michaela Barnes	5-6	Fr.	Chagrin Falls, Ohio	9.3	2.3	29 ASTS, 27 STLS
G	4	Katie Fischer	5-7	Sr.	Ambridge, Pa.	14.3	3.4	107 ASTS, 50 STLS
G	20	Michelle Jahn	5-8	So.	Edinboro, Pa.	9.9	2.6	36 STLS

 

						PPG	RPG	OTHER
F	5	Maggie Moore	6-2	Sr.	Olean, N.Y.	3.2	4.9	18 BLKS
F	21	Nicole Johnson	5-10	Sr.	Pittsburgh, Pa.	3.8	4.8	23 STLS, 8 BLKS
G	1	Jontay Walton	5-7	R-So.	Buffalo, N.Y.	10.0	3.0	48 STLS, 27 ASTS
G	11	Cheniya Sharpe	5-11	So.	Springfield, Va.	2.3	4.0	19 STLS

 
INDIANA(PA) STORYLINES

• The Crimson Hawks enter Saturday afternoon's showdown in second place in the PSAC West, a half game ahead of the Fighting Scots.
• IUP has run off five straight wins after snapping a three-game losing skid, sparked by the loss to Edinboro in the first meeting. IUP has won three of the five games by double figures, including two by 20-or-more points.
• Like the Fighting Scots, IUP boasts a team that ranks among the top in the PSAC in both offense and defense. The Crimson Hawks rank second in the conference and 29^th in Division II in scoring defense, allowing just 57.5 ppg. IUP also ranks fifth in Division II in blocks with 124. The Crimson Hawks rank seventh in the PSAC in scoring at 70.1 ppg. Offensively, the Crimson Hawks rank sixth in the PSAC in scoring offense at 70.3 ppg.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Megan Smith (F, 6'0'', Jr.)

• Ranks 13^th in the PSAC in scoring at 14.1 ppg.
• Recorded a double-double in the season's first meeting, finishing with 23 points and 11 boards.
• Ranks ninth in the PSAC with 26 blocks.

Carolyn Appleby (G, 5''', So.)

• Averaging 21.2 ppg. during IUP's five-game winning streak.
• Ranks second on the team in scoring at 13.8 ppg.

Lauren Wolosik (G, 5'9'', R-So.)

• Third on the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 ppg.
• Ranks 13^th in the PSAC with 42 3-pointers and 70 assists.   

Brittany Robinson (F, 6'0'', So.)

• Ranks second in the PSAC with 43 blocks, averaging 1.95 blocks per game.

 

						PPG	RPG
F	4	Brittany Robinson	6-0	So.	Harrisburg, Pa.	9.4	4.9
F	42	Megan Smith	6-0	Jr.	Blain, Pa.	14.1	5.5
G	5	Carolyn Appleby	5-5	So.	Greensburg, Pa.	13.8	2.9
G	23	Halle Denman	5-7	Jr.	Beaver Falls, Pa.	4.9	3.5
G	24	Lauren Wolosik	5-9	R-So.	Pittsburgh, Pa.	12.5	4.0

 
 

UP NEXT

• The Fighting Scots make the short trek to Erie on Wednesday, February 15, looking for a season-sweep of PSAC West rival Gannon. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.