#12 CALIFORNIA(PA) Vulcans (10-0 Overall, 4-0 PSAC West) at EDINBORO Fighting Scots (7-2, 3-1 PSAC West)
Wednesday, January 2, 2019, 5:30 PM | McComb Fieldhouse | Edinboro, Pa.
LINKS: LIVE STATS | AUDIO-WFSE 88.9 l WATCH
ADDITIONAL LINKS
EDINBORO: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
CALIFORNIA(PA): ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS
The Game Story
- Edinboro heads into the new year beginning PSAC West play on Wednesday, January 2, as the Fighting Scots host No. 12 California(Pa.) in their final game of a five-game homestand. The Fighting Scots are on a two-game winning streak against the Vulcans. Each team won on its home court in the regular season, while Edinboro picked up a decisive 89-45 win over Cal in the quarterfinals of the PSAC Tournament, en route to its fifth PSAC championship in program history.
- Wednesday's contest features two of the top four teams in the PSAC West. The Fighting Scots rank fourth in the Western Division at 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the PSAC West, while the Vulcans are atop the conference at 10-0 overall and 4-0 in the league play. Edinboro is ranked seventh in the latest Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) Atlantic Region poll. Cal is ranked 11th in the D2SIDA Media poll and are 12th in the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) Division II Top 25.
- Edinboro came back from a 10-day holiday break this past Saturday, as the Fighting Scots improved their winning streak to four games with a 97-57 win over Cheyney this past Saturday. In the win over the Wolves, five Fighting Scots scored in double figures. Junior Michaela Barnes scored a game-high 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting, connecting on her only 3-pointer attempted, and shooting 8-of-8 at the foul line. Jontay Walton contributed 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting. The 5'6" guard distributed six assists, had six steals, and collected five rebounds. Walton, a graduate student, is 15 points shy of eclipsing 1,000 points for her career with 985. Michelle Jahn scored 16 points, while Bridgette Shaffer posted 11 points and brought down a team-high six boards. Sarah Fischer came off the bench to contribute 10 second-half points.
- Ciara Rosten made her way back to the hardwood against Cheyney, after missing Edinboro's previous three games due to injury. The 6'2" forward scored two points, grabbed four rebounds, and had blocked one shot in 12 minutes of action.
- For the Vulcans, Wednesday's contest will be their first game in two weeks, as Cal last competed on December 19 with an 84-57 victory over East Stroudsburg. The 14-day break in Cal's longest of the season.
- The Fighting Scots finished with a 27-4 record a year ago, winning the PSAC championship and advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional. Four starters return from that squad. All-American Ciara Rosten leads the way. The 6'2" senior was an honorable mention WBCA All-American, while also being named the PSAC West Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to Rosten, Jontay Walton was a first team All-PSAC West choice, while Michelle Jahn and Michaela Barnes were second team selections.
- California(Pa.) was picked to finish third in the Western Division, just two spots behind Edinboro. A year ago, the Vulcans ended the season with a 24-7 record and 18-4 mark in the PSAC West. After falling to Edinboro, 89-45, in the quarterfinals of the PSAC Tournament, they met Indiana(Pa.) in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional first round, where their season wrapped up, following a 90-65 loss.
- Edinboro is averaging 81.0 ppg., which ranks second in the PSAC. Defensively, the Fighting Scots are allowing 66.8 for eighth in the conference. California(Pa.) is scoring 75.7 ppg., for fourth-best in the league play, while giving up 56.0 ppg., which ranks second in the PSAC.
On the Radio/Video
- The Edinboro-California(Pa.) game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Madi Gross providing the commentary. In addition, the contest will be streamed live as part of the PSAC Sports Network.
All-Time Series vs. California(Pa.)
- Edinboro leads 45-41
- First Meeting: 1970-71 – Edinboro 52, California(Pa.) 35
- Last Meeting: 2017-18 – Edinboro 89, California(Pa.) 45 – PSAC Tournament
- Current Streak: Edinboro won the last two meetings
- Wheeler vs. California(Pa.): 0-0
Last Meeting February 28, 2018 -- Edinboro 89, California(Pa.) 45 at Edinboro, Pa. BOX SCORE | RECAP
- Edinboro, ranked 11th in Division II, used a suffocating defense and balanced offense to advance to the PSAC Final Four with an 89-45 win over 24th-ranked California(Pa.) in the PSAC quarterfinals.
- The Fighting Scots got off to a fast start and never looked back, scoring the first 15 points of the game before Cal finally got on the board with 2:42 remaining in the first quarter. While holding Cal scoreless for over seven minutes, the Edinboro defense forced Cal to miss its first nine shots and turn the ball over four times.
- Edinboro would lead 18-4 after one period of play, holding Cal to 2-of-13 from the floor. The Fighting Scots outscored the Vulcans, 22-6, in the second quarter for a 40-10 lead at the half. Cal made just 4-of-31 shots in the first half (12.9 pct.) with 10 turnovers. Edinboro also held a 28-16 rebounding advantage.
- Any hopes Cal had of a second-half comeback quickly vanished as Edinboro scored the first six points of the second half on a Ciara Rosten jumper, two Michaela Barnes' free throws, and a Michelle Jahn layup. That made it 46-10 with 6:49 to play in the third quarter.
- Edinboro led 66-27 after three quarters. The lead reached its high-water mark with 5:24 remaining as Allison Thompson's layup gave Edinboro a 47-point lead at 77-30.
- The Fighting Scots featured five players in double figures. Michelle Jahn, who became the 27th player to score 1,000 career points for the Fighting Scots late in the first half, finished with a game-high 21 points. She made 7-of-14 field goals, including 4-of-8 3-pointers, and 3-of-3 free throws. She added three steals.
- Ciara Rosten turned another dominating performance in the paint. She had her 17th double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, and she accounted for seven of Edinboro's 10 blocks.
- Michaela Barnes added 14 points while sitting out a good portion of the first half with two fouls. Ayana Vaughn came off the bench to contribute 13 points, and even blocked three shots. Jontay Walton finished with 12 points.
- Edinboro shot 50.8 percent from the floor (31-of-61), including 6-of-13 on 3-pointers, and made 21-of-24 free throws. Cal was held to 25.8 percent (17-of-66), making 4-of-12 3-pointers, and going 7-of-14 at the line. The Fighting Scots held a 52-31 advantage on the glass, with Whitney Allen pulling down 13 boards. The Fighting Scots committed 15 turnovers and Cal 14. Edinboro outscored Cal, 46-22, in the paint.
- Emily Suckling led Cal with 10 points. Shatara Parsons, the PSAC's second-leading scorer at 21.6 ppg. coming into the game, missed her first 11 shots and went just 3-of-19, finishing with eight points.
- Callie Wheeler was officially named Edinboro's fifth head coach on May 23, 2018, replacing long-time head coach Stan Swank. The former Edinboro standout served as Swank's assistant coach for the previous 11 years before assuming the head coaching duties. Edinboro enjoyed great success during Wheeler's 11 seasons at Swank's side, posting a 239-86 record in her 11 seasons on the bench. That includes a string of eight straight 20-win seasons, including last year when the Fighting Scots ended the season with a 27-4 record. Edinboro won its fourth PSAC Championship in her 11 years and went on to reach the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional semifinals. It marked the fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in her tenure as assistant coach, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2013-14.
- Any doubts of Wheeler's ability to take over as head coach were alleviated when Wheeler filled in for a pair of games in late January last year. With Swank away from the team for his father's funeral, Wheeler guided the Fighting Scots to a 74-52 win at Slippery Rock, followed by a 73-54 victory over a Mercyhurst team, which had defeated California (Pa.) in its previous game.
- Wheeler played for the Fighting Scots from 2002-06, and ranks as one of the all-time greatest players in Edinboro history. She became Edinboro's sixth Kodak/WBCA All-American as she earned honorable mention All-American honors. That capped a brilliant senior season in which she was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year and was a first team All-PSAC West selection. In addition, she was selected as the Nancy Acker Award winner in 2006.
- The 5'5" guard finished as Edinboro's second-leading scorer at 12.5 ppg. as a senior, and also added 5.1 rpg. More importantly, she set a school record with 249 assists while turning the ball over just 89 times. She led the PSAC in both assists and steals, finishing with 95 in the latter category.
- Edinboro had had just one triple-double in its history prior to 2005-06, when Wheeler accomplished the fete twice. The first came against Seton Hill (20 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists), followed by 29 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in her final home appearance vs. Shippensburg.
- As a junior, Wheeler earned second team All-PSAC West accolades after averaging 10.4 ppg. and handing out 225 assists, along with recording 91 steals. The assists ranks third all-time. She led the Fighting Scots to a 21-10 record that season, along with the team's first berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs since 1998.
- Wheeler likely ranks at the top in a long line of standout point guards at Edinboro. While not taking over as the starter until her junior season, she concluded her career with 682 assists, despite missing the final seven games of the 2003-04 campaign due to an injury. That figure is second all-time in the PSAC. In addition, Wheeler finished with 283 career steals, a figure which ranks fourth all-time at Edinboro. She fell just shy of reaching 1,000 points for her career, finishing with 932.
- The Iorfido name (Wheeler's maiden name) is well known in Edinboro Athletics, where her family has had quite an impact. Her father, Rich, was a standout linebacker for the Edinboro football team from 1970-72, and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in April 2007. Callie joined her father as a member of the Edinboro Hall of Fame in October 2016. Younger sister Mandie was a standout catcher on the softball team, and a two-time All-PSAC West performer.
Scouting the Fighting Scots
- Edinboro comes in riding a four-game winning streak after ending the 2018 portion of their season with a 97-57 win over former PSAC foe Cheyney last Saturday. The victory left the Fighting Scots at 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the PSAC West. They began the year picked to win the PSAC West and were ranked 11th in the WBCA Division II preseason poll before dropping out. The Fighting Scots rank seventh in the latest D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll. Wednesday's contest vs. California(Pa.) wraps up a five-game homestand.
- After missing the previous three games with an injury, All-American Ciara Rosten returned against Cheyney. The senior forward played 12 minutes and contributed two points and four rebounds. A year ago, Rosten was the PSAC West Athlete of the Year and was also the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year.
- Bridgette Shaffer was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week for the week ending December 19. The redshirt junior has played extremely well since joining the starting lineup. She is averaging 8.4 ppg. and 7.1 rpg., but as a starter over the last six games, those figures are 10.8 and 8.3, respectively.
- Jontay Walton scored 17 points against Cheyney and has now pulled within 15 points of 1,000 for her career with 985 points. In addition to Walton, Rosten has 921 career points, and Michaela Barnes has boosted her total to 848 points while averaging a team-leading 19.4 ppg. in 2018-19. Barnes is sixth in the PSAC in scoring. She is averaging 25.8 ppg. over the last four games, with a school-record 42 points vs. East Stroudsburg.
- The 97 points against Cheyney was a season-high, and marked the fourth time Edinboro scored 90-or-more points. The Fighting Scots rank second in the PSAC and 15th in Division II in scoring at 81.0 ppg. Defensively, the Fighting Scots have allowed 66.8 ppg., which ranks eighth in the conference. The Fighting Scots also rank fifth in field goal percentage defense at 38.6 percent. Edinboro ranks third in rebounding, grabbing 42.2 rpg. and in free throw shooting with a 73.3 pct. clip.
- Edinboro looks to extend a streak of eight straight seasons with 20-or-more wins. During that period, the Fighting Scots own a 193-50 record. They won their fifth PSAC championship a year ago, and fourth since 2011.
- The Fighting Scots feature four returning All-PSAC performers, led by Ciara Rosten. The 6'2" senior was named to three All-American teams a year ago. She earned WBCA honorable mention All-American accolades, along with being named a D2CCA second team All-American and third team Division II Bulletin All-American. In addition, she was selected the D2CCA Atlantic Region Player of the Year, and the PSAC Athlete of the Year and Defensive Athlete of the Year. Rosten is a preseason Division II Bulletin honorable mention All-American. Rosten returned to the lineup, after missing missed Edinboro's three games due to injury. In six contests this season, the 6'2" forward has averaged 12.3 ppg. and 8.3 rpg., which ranks third in the PSAC. She currently ranks second in career blocks (178) and 14th in career rebounds (619), along with eighth in career rebounds per game (9.2). She has scored 921 points in two-plus seasons.
- Jontay Walton joined Rosten as a first team All-PSAC West selection after leading the Fighting Scots in scoring (16.5 ppg.), assists (132), and steals (73) a year ago. The 5'6" graduate student currently ranks second on the team and eighth in the PSAC in scoring with 18.8 ppg., and has distributed a team-high 46 assists. Her 5.1 apg. and 3.3 spg., both rank second in the conference, respectively. She's shooting 86.9 percent (53-of-61) at the free throw line, for third in the PSAC and sixth with a 36.4 percent mark on 3-pointers.
- Michaela Barnes and Michelle Jahn were accorded second team All-PSAC West honors a year ago. After earning PSAC West Freshman of the Year honors in 2016-17, Barnes was the MVP of last year's PSAC Tournament. The 5'5" junior ended the year third on the team in scoring at 14.2 ppg., while finishing fourth on the team in assists (65) and third in steals (36). Barnes currently leads the Fighting Scots offensively, averaging 19.4 ppg. That ranks sixth in the PSAC. She has scored in double figures in seven straight games and has been Edinboro's top scorer in three of the last four games. Barnes is shooting 49.2 percent (58-of-118) from the floor, which ranks seventh in league play.
- A year ago, Jahn finished fourth on the team in scoring at 12.9 ppg. The 5'7" senior is one of the top 3-point threats in the PSAC, making 64-of-182 (35.2 pct.) from beyond the arc. This year, her scoring average has gone up to 13.6 ppg., which ranks third on the team. She's also made 21-of-61 3-pointers. Jahn went over 1,000 career points in last year's PSAC playoff game vs. California(Pa.), and currently ranks 22nd in career scoring with 1,174 points. Over her career, she's made 217 3-pointers, which third-best in program history. With five more three-pointer's, Jahn will tie Meghan Miller, who made 222 3's in her career. Jahn also ranks fourth in 3-pointers attempted (603), and seventh in 3-point field goal percentage (.356).
Scouting the Vulcans
- California(Pa.) returns to the hardwood for the first time in two weeks. The Vulcans have rested since their 84-57 win over East Stroudsburg on December 19. Cal is currently one of nine undefeated teams in Division II basketball with a 10-0 overall record and 4-0 mark in the PSAC West. The Vulcans is ranked 11th in the Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) Media poll and are 12th in the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) Division II Top 25.
- Last season, Cal finished 24-7 overall and 18-4 in the PSAC West and was picked to finish third in the extremely competitive West Division in the coaches' preseason poll. The Vulcans secured a fourth-straight, 20-win season while earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in six years.
- Head coach Jess Strom, a former three-time All-Big Ten selection at Penn State, entered the season ranked fifth in Division II in winning percentage (.782) among DII active coaches. Strom has led the Vulcans to a 175-46 overall record in seven seasons as head coach, highlighted by the 2015 NCAA Division II National Championship. Prior to arriving at California(Pa.), she served as an assistant coach at Appalachian State, before taking the same spot with the Vulcans. During the 2011-12 campaign, Strom served as Cal's interim head coach. She is a two-time PSAC West Coach of the Year recipient (2014 and '15), and was named the 2016-17 WBCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.
- Cal is averaging 75.7 ppg. the fourth-most in the PSAC and is allowing 56.0 ppg., for second in the conference and 25th nationally. The Vulcans have won nine of their 10 contests by double digits, winning by an average of 19.7 ppg.
- While losing forward Shatara Parsons, a WBCA honorable mention All-American, Cal welcomed back Seairra Barrett, who missed the 2017-18 campaign with an injury. A 6'0" redshirt senior, Barrett has led Cal to a 10-0 start, ranking 12th in the latest WBCA Division II Top 25. Nine of Cal's ten wins have come by 13-or-more points.
- Barrett has enjoyed a star-studded career. She was named the 2015 PSAC West Freshman of the Year, then was a second team All-PSAC West choice in 2016 and a first team in 2017, along with earning honorable mention All-American honors in '17. She ranks first in the PSAC and second in Division II in scoring at 26.1 ppg., accounting for one-third of Cal's scoring. She has moved up to eighth in career scoring with 1,543 points.
- Cal is one of the better teams in the country in forced turnovers. Through 10 games, Cal has caused their opponents to surrender the ball an average of 26.5 times per game and record 14.8 spg. Both statistics rank atop the PSAC and are third in the country. With 148 total turnovers this season, Cal has a +10.6 in turnover margin for first in the league and fifth nationally.
- Barrett leads the conference and ranks 10th in the country with 3.5 spg. Senior Abbey Sporio is also near the top of the conference, ranking third with 2.90 spg.
- As a team, the Vulcans are rank second in the PSAC in assists per game, averaging 18.0 apg. Their 1.13 assists-turnover ratio is also third-best in the PSAC. Sophomore Bianca Jasper ranks second in the conference play with 51 assists and has a 3.64 assist-turnover ratio, which is atop the PSAC and fifth in Division II.
- Cal hasn't attempted many 3-pointers, as they rank 16th in the conference with 148 attempts and is 11th making 5.3 3-pointers per game. Junior Gina Vallecorsa is Cal's top threat from behind the arc, averaging two 3-pointers per game. DJ Hahn, a native of Warren, is also a key 3-point threat. The 5'10" guard/forward has shot 18-of-43 overall, with seven of her makes being 3's.
Next for the Fighting Scots
- The Fighting Scots head back on the road for a three-game road trip, starting on Saturday, January 5 at Seton Hill. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m.
