#15/25 EDINBORO Fighting Scots (11-1, 7-1 PSAC West) vs. PITT-JOHNSTOWN Mountain Cats (7-6, 4-4 PSAC West)
Monday, January 8, 2018 5:30 PM | McComb Fieldhouse | Edinboro, Pa.
LINKS: LIVE STATS | AUDIO-WFSE 88.9 | VIDEOSTREAM-WATCH

ADDITIONAL LINKS
EDINBORO: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
PITT-JOHNSTOWN: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS

PSAC LINKS: PRESEASON POLL | STANDINGS | STATS

The Game Story

• Edinboro has started the 2018 calendar year off with back-to-back wins at McComb Fieldhouse. The Fighting Scots improved to 11-1 overall and 7-1 in the PSAC West, after defeating Kutztown on Saturday, 86-65, and Seton Hill on Wednesday, 90-70.
• Edinboro heads into the week ranked 15th in the WBCA Division II Top 25 and 25th in the D2SIDA Poll. The Fighting Scots started the 2017-18 campaign winning their first nine games of the season, before losing in a close 74-71 contest at #10 California(Pa.) on December 30. The 9-0 start to the season was the second best since the 2011-12 Fighting Scots won their first 24 games.
• Monday's contest is Edinboro's third straight at McComb Fieldhouse, where the Scots are undefeated at 5-0. The Fighting Scots don't leave Erie County over their next four contests, as they travel to Gannon on Wednesday, followed by a two-game homestand against #3/2 Indiana(Pa.) and Clarion.
• Pitt-Johnstown fell to 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the PSAC East on Saturday, as the Mountain Cats lost to Gannon, 76-68, marking their fourth straight defeat.
• Edinboro was picked to finish third in the PSAC West Coaches' Preseason Poll. A year ago, they finished fourth in the West at 21-9 and 16-6 in conference action, and qualified 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 565-302 overall, and entered the year ranked ninth among Division II coaches with 554 career wins.
• Pitt-Johnstown was picked to finish eighth in the PSAC West Preseason Coaches' Poll. Last season, UPJ finished last in the east at 8-20 overall and 4-18 in the conference.
• In the win over Kutztown, Cheniya Sharpe and Ayana Vaughn scored career-highs in points, with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
• Jontay Walton (18.8 ppg.), Michelle Jahn (14.3), Ciara Rosten (14.0), and Michaela Barnes (11.6) are each averaging double figures per contest this season. Combined, they are responsible for 58.7 points (70.9 percent) of the Scots 82.8 points they've averaged per game this year.

Edinboro on Radio/Video

• The Edinboro-Pitt-Johnstown 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.

All-Time Series vs. Pitt-Johnstown

• Edinboro leads 14-10: Edinboro has won eight straight games against Pitt-Johnstown, and 11 of the last 12 meetings.
• First Meeting: 1978-79 – Edinboro 89, Pitt-Johnstown 58
• Last Meeting: February 4, 2017 – Edinboro 78, Pitt-Johnstown 53
• Current Streak: Edinboro has won eight straight contests.
• Swank vs. Pitt-Johnstown: 13-8

Last Meeting

February 4, 2017 – vs. Edinboro 78, Pitt-Johnstown 53 BOX | RECAP

• Edinboro clinched its seventh straight playoff spot in a 53-41 road win against Pitt-Johnstown. The Fighting Scots won their fourth straight on the road, and improved to 18-4 overall and 14-2 in the PSAC West. For UPJ, the loss marked its fifth in a row, as the Mountain Cats fell to 7-16 overall and 2-14 in the conference action.
• The Scots defense was the difference in the win, as Edinboro forced the Mountain Cats into 32 turnovers, capitalizing on 20 steals for a 29-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
• At the start of the game, the Fighting Scots fell into a slump, making 2-of-14 shots in the opening stanza, and trailed 14-8 and the end of 10 minutes.
• In the second quarter, Edinboro embarked on a 9-0 run, and surpassed UPJ for good on a Jontay Walton free throw at 8:12. Walton, who scored her free throw as part of a traditional 3-point play, made the lone field goal in the Fighting Scots run.
• The Scots held UPJ to 13 points in the second and third quarters, while scoring 26 points for a 44-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Edinboro led by as much as 19 points with 5:50 remaining in the game.
• While the Scots picked up the win, they were held to 23.9 percent (17-of-71) from the field, and made 5-of-21 3-pointers. The Mountain Cats made 29.3 percent (12-of-41) of their shots, and made 2-of-12 3-pointers.
• Walton led Edinboro with 12 points off the bench, before fouling out after playing 20 minutes. Michelle Jahn scored 11 points, and recorded a career-high five steals. Ciara Rosten scored ten points, and led the Fighting Scots with seven rebounds.
• Edinboro also lost the rebounding battle, 53-34, as Olivia McCabe grabbed a career-high 22 boards. She completed a double-double, leading all players with 18 points.

 The Head Coaches

Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76) -- 565-302, 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 565 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.

Pitt-Johnstown: Mike Drahos (Bethany (WVa.) 06) 43–79, 5th Year

• Head coach Mike Drahos is in his fifth season as the Pitt-Johnstown head coach. In his first season at the helm, he led the Mountain Cats to a PSAC Tournament berth.
• Prior to his arrival in Johnstown, Drahos spent five seasons as an assistant coach at West Liberty. The Hilltoppers posted a 107-47 record in his five years with the programing, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2010 and '11.
• His coaching career began at his alma mater, Bethany, where he served as an assistant coach on the men's basketball team for two years. During his playing days at Bethany, Drahos was a two-time Presidents' Athletic Conference Player of the Year and three-time first team all-conference selection.

Scouting the Fighting Scots

• Edinboro enters the weekend with a 11-1 overall record and is 8-1 in the PSAC West. The Fighting Scots started the week improving to 5-0 at home, following wins over Kutztown (86-65) on Saturday and Seton Hill (90-70) on Wednesday. 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 in the standings 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 Poll.
• The Fighting Scots are averaging a conference-high 82.8 ppg., and are holding opponents to 61.7 ppg., for fourth in the PSAC.
• Edinboro has held opponents to under 80 points in each contest this season. The Scots have also posted 80 or more points in all but two games during the campaign.
• The Fighting Scots' lead the PSAC in winning the turnover battle by a 8.67 margin per game.
• Five Fighting Scots scored in double figures in the 86-65 win over Kutztown on Saturday. Jontay Walton led all players with 21 points and four steals. The 5'5" guard shot a perfect 11-for-11 on her free throws. She has scored in double figures in all 12 contests this year, leading the team with 18.8 ppg., and fifth-best in the PSAC. Walton is leading the conference with 3.1 steals per game, and is second in assists per game (4.4).
• Cheniya Sharpe came off the bench for a career-high 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting and 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. She collected her first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds, including nine boards in the second half and five on the offensive glass. In 18.5 mpg. this season, she's averaging 6.8 points and 7.8 rebounds.
• Ciara Rosten notched her third straight double-double and fifth of the season with ten points and 11 rebounds. She also blocked four shots, extending her active streak of at least three blocks in a game to seven in a row. The 6'2" senior forward leads the PSAC with 3.5 blocks per game, and ranks seventh nationally.
• Ayana Vaughn scored a career-high 13 points for the Fighting Scots on Saturday. The 5'8" guard scored all her points in the second half, as she converted on 5-of-7 attempts from the field, and went 3-of-5 her 3-pointers.
• Michaela Barnes followed a career-high performance of 19 points against Seton Hill with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting and 3-of-4 free throws.

Scouting the Mountain Cats

• Pitt-Johnstown heads into Monday's contest with a 7-6 overall and are 4-4 in the PSAC West. A year ago, the Mountain Cats were projected to finish in last place in the East standings, and indeed finished ninth with a 8-20 overall record, while going 4-18 in conference action.
• This year, UPJ was picked to finish eighth in the PSAC West Coaches' Preseason Poll. They currently sit in seventh place in the most recent standings.
• Mike Drahos enters his fifth season at Pitt-Johnstown and has compiled a 43-79 record since taking over as head coach.
• Pitt-Johnstown is scoring 63.2 ppg. this year, which ranks 12th in the PSAC, but are holding opponents to 61.7 ppg., which is tied with Edinboro for fourth-best in the conference.
• In seven road games this season, the Mountain Cats are 5-2.
• Four teams have held UPJ to single digits in a quarter this season. The Mountain Cats have scored under ten points in at least one quarter in each of their last three road games.
• Olivia McCabe eclipsed 1,000 career points against Gannon on Saturday. She leads the Mountain Cats with 16.3 ppg., for tenth in the PSAC. The 6'0" senior forward is averaging a double-double this season, with a conference-best 11.4 rpg.
• Gabrielle Smith is the second on the team in scoring, and the only other player on UPJ averaging double figures on the year with 14.5 ppg. Smith's 47.4 shooting percentage is sixth in the PSAC, and two spots higher than McCabe (46.8).