#15/25 EDINBORO Fighting Scots (10-1, 6-1 PSAC West) vs. KUTZTOWN Golden Bears (8-5, 3-4 PSAC East)
Saturday, January 6, 2018 1:00 PM | McComb Fieldhouse | Edinboro, Pa.
LINKS: LIVE STATS | AUDIO-WFSE 88.9 | VIDEOSTREAM-WATCH

ADDITIONAL LINKS
EDINBORO: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
KUTZTOWN: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS

PSAC LINKS: PRESEASON POLL | STANDINGS | STATS

The Game Story

• Edinboro started the 2018 calendar year off with a 90-70 win over Seton Hill. The Fighting Scots scored the first 19 points in the win, improving to 10-1 overall and 6-1 in the PSAC West.
• Edinboro fell three spots in the latest WBCA Division II Top 25 Poll to 15th, and nine spots in the D2SIDA Poll to 25th, following a 74-71 loss at #10 California(Pa.) on December 30.
• The Fighting Scots have had incredible success over the past seven seasons, with 20+ wins each year and a combined 176-47 record in that span. This season, Edinboro won its first nine games to start the season, which is the second-longest win streak to start a year since the 24-game winning streak to during the 2011-12 season.
• Wednesday's contest also marked the Scots first home game since November 19, as Edinboro recently concluded a five-game road trip. The Fighting Scots are back at McComb Fieldhouse on Saturday, hosting Kutztown in the second of three straight home games. The Golden Bears head into the weekend 8-5 overall and 3-4 in the PSAC East, following a 53-45 win over Bloomsburg o Wednesday.
• The Fighting Scots play their next five contests in Erie County, which includes a trip to Gannon.
• Edinboro was picked to finish third in the PSAC West Coaches' Preseason Poll. A year ago, they finished fourth in the West and qualified for the PSAC Tournament for the eighth straight season.
• On December 2, head coach Stan Swank became the winningest basketball coach in PSAC history, with 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 564-302 overall, and entered the year ranked ninth among Division II coaches with 554 career wins.
• Kutztown was picked to finish third in the PSAC East Preseason Coaches' Poll. Last season, they finished fourth in the East at 13-18 overall and 10-12 in the conference. The Golden Bears have made the PSAC Tournament in six of the past eight years.
• This is the first matchup between Edinboro and Kutztown since the 2015-16 campaign, when the Golden Bears escaped with a 65-63 victory at McComb Fieldhouse. Kutztown has won the last two meetings against the Fighting Scots at McComb.
• Jontay Walton (18.6 ppg.), Michelle Jahn (15.0), Ciara Rosten (14.4), and Michaela Barnes(11.4) are each averaging double figures per contest this season. Combined, they are responsible for 59.4 points (72.0 percent) of the Scots 82.5 points they've averaged per game this year.

Edinboro on Radio/Video

• The Edinboro-Kutztown game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9. Joshua Kaufer will be handling the play-by-play with Luke Boniger 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. 

All-Time Series vs. Kutztown
Edinboro leads 18-3: Kutztown won the last meeting during the 2015-16 season in Edinboro, and have won the last two matchups at McComb Fieldhouse.
First Meeting:  1988-89 – Edinboro 82, Kutztown 70
Last Meeting:   November 21, 2015 – Kutztown 65, Edinboro 63
Current Streak: Kutztown won the last contest.
Swank vs. Kutztown: 18-3
 

Last Meeting
November 21, 2015 – vs. Kutztown 65, Edinboro 63 BOX | RECAP

• After trailing by eight points in the opening half, Edinboro led by five points at 46-41 with 1:43 remaining in the third quarter. But Kutztown started the fourth stanza on an 11-1 run, spanning 3:46, and picked up its second straight win at McComb Fieldhouse in a 65-63 upset. Prior to their first win in the streak during the 2012-13 campaign, the Golden Bears had lost 15 straight games to the Fighting Scots.
• Edinboro was held to 33.3 percent shooting (23-of-69), and made 9-of-25 3-pointers (36.0 percent). Kutztown shot 40.3 percent (27-of-67) and converted a third of its three-point field goals attempted (3-of-9). Both teams made eight free throws in the contest.
• Michelle Jahn came off the bench for a team-high 18 points, as she drilled five 3-pointers and grabbed six boards. Aignee' Freeland and Lauren Hippo both scored in double figures with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Hippo had a double-double, as she brought down 10 rebounds.
• Kelsey Watson scored ten of her game-high 22 points for Kutztown during the two 11-point runs, respectively. She also grabbed 13 rebounds, five offensively, for a double-double.

The Head Coaches

Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76) -- 564-302, 31st Year

• 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 176-47 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 564 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.

Kutztown: Janet Malouf (Rutgers '89) – 343-304, 24th Year

• Malouf is the winningest coach in program history, posting a 343-304 record in her 24 years as Kutztown's head coach.
• In her time with the Golden Bears, she has been a three-time PSAC East Coach of the Year, has coached four PSAC East Freshman of the Year recipients, two Defensive Athletes of the Year, and one PSAC Athlete of the Year
• In over two decades with the program, 18 Golden Bear teams have made the PSAC Tournament., including six of the last eight.
• Prior to arriving at Kutztown, Malouf served as assistant coaches at Lafayette and Purdue.

The Fighting Scots

Probable Starters

Scouting the Fighting Scots

• Edinboro enters the weekend with a 10-1 overall record and is 6-1 in the PSAC West. After suffering a three-point loss last Saturday at tenth-ranked California(Pa.),74-71, the Fighting Scots started the week improving to 4-0 at home on Wednesday against Seton Hill. They started the contest on a 19-0 run, defeating the Griffins, 90-70, and snapped Seton Hill's winning streak at six games.
• 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.), who remain undefeated in PSAC action.
• In the most recent Top 25 national rankings, Edinboro was ranked 15th in the WBCA Division II Top 25 and 25th in the D2SIDA rankings.
• Edinboro leads the PSAC in scoring with 82.5 ppg, and are holding opponents to 61.4 ppg. for sixth in the conference.
• The Scots have held opponents to under 80 points in each contest this season, while Edinboro has scored 80 or more points in all but two games during this campaign.
• Edinboro has doubled its opponents in 3-pointers made this season, making 87 3-pointers, compared to 48 long balls by opposing teams.
• The Fighting Scots' strong defensive play has played a significant role in Edinboro winning the turnover battle. They are forcing 23.6 turnovers per game, a difference of +9.2 per game. Edinboro's +9.2 turnover margin is best in the PSAC and ranks fourth in Division II.
• Michaela Barnes scored a career-high 19 points in Edinboro's win over Seton Hill. The reigning 2016-17 PSAC West Women's Basketball Freshman of the Year shot 6-of-10 from the floor, made all three of her 3-pointers, and was a perfect 4-for-4 on free throws.
• Ciara Rosten posted her fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds. The 6'2" senior forward also blocked four shots, extending her streak of at least three blocks per game to six. Rosten leads the PSAC with 3.5 blocks per game, and is third with 9.3 rpg. She also ranks sixth nationally in blocks per game.
• Cheniya Sharpe posted a near double-double vs. Seton Hill with eight points and eight rebounds. In 18.1 mpg. this year, she's averaging 6.0 points and 7.6 rebounds.
• Jontay Walton has scored in double figures in all 11 contests this year. She leads the team with 18.6 ppg., which is fifth-best in the PSAC. Walton leads the conference with 3.1 steals per game, and is second in assists, averaging 4.5 apg.

• Kutztown enters the weekend at 8-5 overall and 3-4 in the PSAC East. A year ago, the Golden Bears were projected to finish eighth in the East standings, but ended the season with the fourth-best record at 13-18 and 10-12 in conference action. While the Golden Bears are 7-1 at Keystone Arena, they are 1-4 on the road.
• Kutztown was picked to finish third in the PSAC East Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Golden Bears have made the PSAC tournament in six of the last eight seasons.
• Janet Malouf enters her 24th season at Kutztown. She is the winningest coach in program history with a 342-305 overall record.
• Kutztown ranks ninth in the PSAC in total points per game (65.7) and points allowed (67.5).
• Like Edinboro, Kutztown is relying on the turnover battle. The Golden Bears are giving up 19.2 possessions a game, but are forcing 22.5 turnovers for a +3.3 difference. That is sixth-best in the conference.
• The Golden Bears rank second in the PSAC in total steals with 141, and eight players have eclipsed double-digit steals on the year. Rylee Derr and Keifonna Ferguson each lead the way with 19 takeaways.
• Derr, a freshman combo guard/forward, is the lone Golden Bear to average double figures this season with 11.8. She has scored in double digits in 10-of-13 games this year.
• Along with fellow freshman Alexis Smith, the two have combined for 21.7 ppg. Smith ranks second on the team in points, averaging 9.9 ppg. In each game this season, either Smith or Derr have been the top scorer for the Golden Bears.
• Sierra Taylor was named the 2016-17 PSAC East Freshman of the Year. A year ago, she led the Golden Bears with 4.2 apg., and was third in scoring at 11.2 ppg. Taylor, who has missed four games this season due to injury, is averaging 3.7 ppg. and 2.1 apg.

NEXT FOR THE FIGHTING SCOTS:  Monday, January 8 vs. Pitt-Johnstown – 5:30 p.m.