#17 EDINBORO Fighting Scots (14-2, 10-2 PSAC West) at SLIPPERY ROCK The Rock (10-7, 8-4 PSAC West)
Saturday, January 20, 2018 1:00 PM | Morrow Field House | Slippery Rock, Pa.
LINKS: LIVE STATS | AUDIO-WFSE 88.9 | VIDEOSTREAM-WATCH
 
ADDITIONAL LINKS
EDINBORO: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
SLIPPERY ROCK: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS

PSAC LINKS: PRESEASON POLL | STANDINGS | STATS

The Game Story

• No. 17 Edinboro travels to Slippery Rock on Saturday, marking the Fighting Scots first of three straight games on the road. Last season, each team won on their respective home courts, with The Rock's win snapping Edinboro's 16-game winning streak. It was the Fighting Scots longest since the 24-0 start to the 2011-12 campaign.
• Edinboro currently ranks 17th in the WBCA Division II Top 25 poll and is among teams "also receiving votes" in the D2SIDA Division II national rankings.
• On Wednesday, Edinboro played their final home contest in January, and picked up its 14th win of the season over Clarion, 77-51. Four Fighting Scots scored in double figures with Michelle Jahn leading the team with 19 points. Ciara Rosten and Michaela Barnes each scored 15 points apiece. Jontay Walton was the final Scot in double digits with 11 points. Rosten also completed a double-double with 15 rebounds.
• Over the past two weeks, Bridgette Shaffer has provided a surge on the defensive end. With Cheniya Sharpe out indefinitely, the 5'8" guard grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds against the Golden Eagles. Over Edinboro's last three games, Shaffer is averaging 7.3 points and 6.0 rebounds.
• The Fighting Scots have had incredible success over the past seven seasons, with 20 wins each year and a combined 179-48 record in that span. This season, Edinboro won its first nine games to start the year, which was the second-longest win streak to start a campaign since the 24-game winning streak during the 2011-12 season.
• Edinboro was picked to finish third in the PSAC West Coaches' Preseason Poll. A year ago, they finished fourth in the Western Division at 21-9 and 16-6 in conference action, qualifying for the PSAC Tournament for the eighth straight season.
• On December 2, head coach Stan Swank became the all-time winningest basketball coach in PSAC history, after his then 560th career victory over Mansfield, 81-54. In the win, he passed Charles Chronister of Bloomsburg for the most wins all-time by a men's basketball coach in the PSAC. In his 31 years at Edinboro, Swank has gone 568-303 overall, and entered the year ranked ninth among Division II coaches with 554 career wins.
• Slippery Rock was projected to finish sixth in the PSAC West Coaches' Preseason Poll. A year ago, The Rock ended their campaign on a nine-game losing skid, finishing at 9-19 overall and 6-16 in PSAC West action.
• Jontay Walton (17.5 ppg.), Ciara Rosten (14.3), Michelle Jahn (13.8) , and Michaela Barnes (12.6) are each averaging double figures per contest this season. Combined, they are responsible for 58.2 points (72.4 percent) of the Fighting Scots' 80.4 points averaged per game this year.

• The Edinboro-Slippery Rock game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9. Dakota Palmer will be handling the play-by-play with Madison Gross providing color commentary. In addition, this year Edinboro is part of the PSAC Network. All men's and women's home basketball games will be streamed live through Stretch Internet.

• Slippery Rock leads 53-46
• First Meeting: 1967-68 – Slippery Rock 53, Edinboro 29
• Last Meeting: February 22, 2017 – Edinboro 90, Slippery Rock 46 at Edinboro, Pa.
• Current Streak: Edinboro has won 16 of the last 18 meetings.
• Swank vs. Slippery Rock: 35-28

• For the seventh consecutive season and 13th time overall under head coach Stan Swank, the Edinboro University women's basketball team reached the 20-win milestone with a dominant 90-46 victory over Slippery Rock. The win was revenge for a Fighting Scots team that saw their 16-game winning streak snapped at Slippery Rock.
• The Fighting Scots have now won 11 of the last 13 meetings with The Rock.
• The 44-point win was the largest margin of victory all season for the Fighting Scots. It was also the second time Edinboro hit 90 points during the season. For Slippery Rock, their 46 points were the fewest they scored during the campaign.
• In the first meeting between the two teams last season, Edinboro found itself in a big hole early on, trailing 22-8 after one quarter. But the roles reversed in the Fighting Scots win.
• Trailing 5-4 after the opening three minutes, Edinboro ended the opening period on a 19-4 run. Katie Fischer was responsible for 12 points during the stretch, connecting on three 3-pointers and converting an old-fashioned three-point play.
• After a 23-9 lead after 10 minutes played, The Fighting Scots continued its offensive streak into the second quarter. They embarked on a 17-0 run to start the stanza and closed it on an 11-0 stretch for a 47-14 halftime lead.
• Edinboro led by 30 points the rest of the game, as its lead grew to as much as 46 point with 7:57 remaining in the fourth quarter.
• Edinboro held The Rock to just 24.6 percent (14-of-57) shooting from the floor, including 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. Slippery Rock also turned the ball over 23 times, leading to 27 points for the Fighting Scots. The Fighting Scots finished the contest shooting 45.6 percent (31-of-68) from the floor and connected on 13-of-29 3-pointers. The Rock ended the game winning the rebounding battle, 45-39.
• Fischer was nearly unstoppable for the Fighting Scots, dropping in 26 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including making 5-of-7 3-pointers. She also dished out eight assists, pulled down three rebounds and turned the ball over just once. Jontay Walton turned in an impressive performance off the bench, totaling 18 points, two blocks and two steals in 20 minutes before fouling out late.
• 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. Rosten also pulled down five boards and swatted away a career-high six shots. Cheniya Sharpe turned in a solid performance in her first start of the season, finishing with six points, a team-high six rebounds and a pair of steals.
• The Rock was led by LeeAnn Gibson's 11 points off the bench. C.C. Dixon was the only other Rock scorer to finish in double figures, totaling 11 points.

• Stan Swank is in his 31st season as the Edinboro women's basketball head coach. He has led the Fighting Scots to seven straight 20-win seasons, and is currently 179-48 overall during that period. In total, Swank has had 13 20-win seasons as Edinboro's head coach.
• Swank is the all-time leader in victories among PSAC men's and women's coaches with 568 wins. He entered the campaign with 554 wins, which was the most wins by a women's basketball coach in PSAC history. He then passed former Bloomsburg men's basketball coach Charles Chronister for the men's title in Edinboro's 81-54 triumph at Mansfield.
• Entering the 2017-18 season, Swank ranked ninth in Division II with 554 wins at Edinboro, and 41st in the NCAA. As a program, Edinboro ranked 13th all-time in Division II with 779 wins. Over the last five years, he has coached the Scots to a .733 winning percentage, which is 25th in Division II. Swank also ranks 38th in Division II history with a .648 winning percentage.
• In his 31 years at Edinboro, he has led the Fighting Scots to four PSAC championship titles, and ten appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament. During March Madness, the Fighting Scots have made two Elite Eight appearances, three Sweet Sixteen births, and have made the Round of 32 on four occasions.

• Head coach Bobby McGraw is in his fourth season at the helm in Slippery Rock after serving as the interim head coach during the 2013-14 season.
• During his first season as interim head coach, The Rock reached the PSAC Tournament for the first time since 2005-06.
• Prior to McGraw's hiring, The Rock had won 25 times in their last 131 games. McGraw's squad has already won 43 games in under three full seasons.
• Before joining Slippery Rock, McGraw was an assistant for the men's basketball team at LaRoche from 2010-12. During his tenure, LaRoche recorded a 44-12 record and won an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship.

Scouting the Fighting Scots

• Edinboro improved to 14-2 overall and 10-2 in the PSAC West with a 77-51 win over Clarion. The Fighting Scots only losses of the year came on January 13 vs. No. 3 IUP, 74-68, and by three points in a 74-71 decision at No. 10 California(Pa.) on December 30. Edinboro is ranked 17th in the WBCA Division II Top 25 and is among teams "also receiving votes" in the D2SIDA national rankings.
• Saturday's contest marks the start of a three-game road trip for the Fighting Scots. Edinboro doesn't return to McComb Fieldhouse until Saturday, February 3, against California(Pa.).
• A year ago, Edinboro went 21-9 overall and 16-6 in conference play, finishing third in the PSAC standings. This year, the Fighting Scots were picked to finish third in the PSAC West Coaches' Preseason Poll. They currently sit in third place, behind California(Pa.) and Indiana(Pa.), as each have one loss in PSAC play.
• Edinboro is ranked second in the PSAC in scoring, and is 15th in Division II at 80.4 ppg. They are also holding opponents to 61.5 ppg., for fourth in the conference.
• The Fighting Scots have held every opponent this season to under 80 points. They have also won the turnover battle in 14 games this season, forcing 21.1 turnovers per game for a difference of 7.3 per game. The 7.3 margin leads the PSAC, and ranks seventh in Division II. '
• Edinboro is the second-best three-point shooting team in the conference, making 35.7 percent of its 3-pointers, while averaging 7.6 three-pointers a game.
• In the win over Clarion, Edinboro grabbed a season-high 53 rebounds. Three Fighting Scots grabbed double digit rebounds, including Ciara Rosten with a game-high 15. The 6'2" senior forward also recorded her seventh double-double with 15 points, and also swatted three shots. Bridgette Shaffer ended the contest with a career-high 12 boards. Since taking over the sixth man role, the redshirt sophomore guard has provided consistent energy on both ends of the court. Over the last three games, she's averaged 7.3 points and 4.0 rebounds. Whitney Allen was also a top-rebounder in the win, tying her season-high of 10 boards.
• Rosten was one of four Fighting Scots to score in double figures. Michelle Jahn led Edinboro with a game-high 19 points, including three 3-pointers. Michaela Barnes went for 15 points, with 13 points coming in the opening half. Jontay Walton rounded out the top scorers with 11 points, to go with a game-high seven assists and three steals.
• In addition to leading all players with three blocks, Rosten leads the PSAC with 3.6 blocks per game and 58 total blocks.  She also ranks third nationally in total blocks and fifth in blocks per game.
• Michelle Jahn has moved up three spots on the all-time 3-point field goals made list this season. She entered the campaign ranked ninth, but currently sits in sixth place with 170 3-pointers made. Jahn leads Edinboro in 3-pointers on the season, shooting 38-of-103 from beyond the arc.
• Over Edinboro's last four road wins, the Fighting Scots have held opposing teams to under 55 points and less than 31.0 percent on overall shooting. They also have a combined 35.0 differential in steals.

Scouting The Rock

• Slippery Rock looks to remain on the winning side, when they host Edinboro on Saturday. On Wednesday, The Rocks rallied from a 10-point third quarter deficit to win their third consecutive PSAC West game, 64-60, at Pitt-Johnstown. They are now 10-7 overall and 8-4 in the PSAC West.
• Bobby McGraw is in his fourth season as The Rock head coach. He has compiled a 43-57 overall record, and has led SRU to double digit wins in three of four seasons at the helm.
• The Rock was picked to finish sixth in the PSAC West Coaches' Preseason Poll. A year ago, they had their worst season under McGraw, going 9-19 overall and 6-16 in the PSAC West for eighth place.
• Slippery Rock ranks sixth in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 70.7 ppg., and eighth in defense, giving up 67.6 ppg.
• After struggling in the opening half in the win over UPJ, Slippery Rock shot 12-of-19 over the final two quarters, converted 4-of-8 3-pointers and made 13-of-18 free throws.
• Sierra Fordham tied her career-high with a game-high 15 points. Prior to the contest, she had only scored in double figures in two other contests this season.
• The Rock are 2-6 when giving up at least 70 points. In seven home games this season, they have allowed 70 points on two occasions and lost both contests.
• SRU has attempted 53 more shots than opposing teams this season, yet is only winning by a 3.1 scoring margin. This is in part to Slippery Rock leading 484-340 in points in the paint and attempting 46 fewer 3-pointers. The Rock have also attempted 87 fewer free throws than their opponents have this season.
• Madison Johnson has been a top-scoring option for The Rock in her first season with the program. The St. Francis transfer is third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.8 ppg., and has made 47 3-pointers, the second-most by a Rock player.
• After missing all of last season, Ciara Patterson leads SRU in scoring with 15.8 ppg. She has scored in double figures in seven straight games.
• Brooke Hinderliter is the third-best free throw shooter in the PSAC. She has made 86.7 percent (65-of-75) of her free throws attempted. The 5'9" sophomore guard is also second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.9 ppg, and leads the team on the glass with 6.7 rpg.

NEXT FOR THE FIGHTING SCOTS:  Wednesday, January 24 at Mercyhurst – 5:30 p.m.