#3 CALIFORNIA(PA) Vulcans (24-5, 18-4 PSAC West) at #2 EDINBORO Fighting Scots (23-3, 19-3 PSAC West)  
Wednesday, February 28, 2018, 7:00 PM | McComb Fieldhouse | Edinboro, Pa.  
LINKS: LIVE STATS | AUDIO-WFSE 88.9 | VIDEOSTREAM-WATCH 

 
ADDITIONAL LINKS 
EDINBORO: ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS 
CALIFORNIA(PA): ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATS

PSAC LINKS: PRESEASON POLL | STANDINGS | STATS

THE GAME STORY

• Edinboro wrapped up regular season play last Saturday in an 81-63 win over local rival Mercyhurst. The win secured Edinboro the second seed in the Western Division and a first-round bye. Had the Fighting Scots lost and California(Pa.) won, Edinboro would've been the No. 3 seed and would've hosted Slippery Rock on Monday. 
• Edinboro was picked to finish third in the PSAC West Coaches' Preseason Poll, but finished the regular season at 23-3 overall and 18-3 in the PSAC West. In last Wednesday's NCAA Regional rankings, The Fighting Scots rank third in the Atlantic Region. In the national polls, Edinboro is 11th in the WBCA Division II Top 25 and 23rd in the D2SIDA Top 25. 
• The Fighting Scots have posted their best record since the 2013-14 campaign and has won 10 of its last 11 contests, which includes a 79-66 win over then 14th-ranked California(Pa.). That year, Edinboro concluded their campaign with a 27-6 record and a 15-1 mark in conference play. 
• Third-seeded California(Pa.) improved its record to 24-5 overall and 18-4 in league play with an 81-70 win over sixth-seeded Slippery Rock on Monday. California(Pa.) is 24th in the WBCA Division II Top 25 and is among teams also receiving votes in the D2SIDA Top 25 poll.
• The Vulcans were picked to finish second in the PSAC West Coaches' Preseason Poll, after making their 18th consecutive PSAC Tournament appearance and third straight PSAC Championship contest, they fell in the title game to IUP 84-79, marking its first loss in the title game under head coach Jess Strohm. 
• Wednesday's contest marks the third consecutive meeting between these two programs in the quarterfinal round of the PSAC Tournament. Two years ago, California(Pa.) defeated Edinboro 75-67, and picked up a 64-61 victory last season. All things told, the last six of the last eight meetings between the two programs have been decided by 10 points or less. 
• On December 2, head coach Stan Swank became the all-time winningest basketball coach in PSAC history, after his then-560th career victory, an 81-54 decision at Mansfield. He passed Charles Chronister of Bloomsburg for the most wins all-time by a men's or women's basketball coach in the PSAC. In his 31 years at Edinboro, Swank has gone 577-304 overall and entered the year ranked ninth among active Division II coaches with 554 career wins.  
• Edinboro is averaging 78.2 ppg., good for second in the PSAC and 16th in Division II. They are third defensively in the conference, allowing 59.2 ppg. The Fighting Scots rank second in the PSAC and 14th nationally in field goal percentage defense with a 35.2 percent mark, and are holding opponents to a 28.0 pct. on 3-pointers, for third-best in the league. California(Pa.) is averaging 67.6 ppg., which is seventh in the PSAC, and is allowing opponents 57.2 ppg., for second and 18th nationally. The Vulcans are fourth in the conference in shooting with a 42.4 field goal percentage. 
• Michelle Jahn has moved within 13 points of 1,000 for her career at Edinboro. She would become the 27th player to reach 1,000 points. In addition, the junior guard has moved into the top five in career 3-pointers at Edinboro. She has made 181 three's, good for fifth place, and leads Edinboro in 3-pointers this season (49-of-149).  
• Jontay Walton (16.5 ppg.), Ciara Rosten (16.5), Michaela Barnes (13.3), and Michelle Jahn (12.3) are all scoring in double figures. Combined, they are responsible for 58.6 points (81.2 percent) of the Fighting Scots' 78.2 points per game.

• The Fighting Scots make their ninth straight trip to the PSAC Tournament and their 23rd appearance overall under head coach Stan Swank. 
• Edinboro has won three of the past seven PSAC Titles (2011, 2012, and 2014) and captured four titles overall, with the first coming in 1990. 
• The Fighting Scots have amassed a 26-17 record in the postseason since their first appearance in 1989. 
• Edinboro has won at least one postseason contest in each of the past eight seasons. 
• This is the third straight meeting between Edinboro and California(Pa.) in the quarterfinals of the PSAC Tournament. 
• A year ago, the Fighting Scots defeated Seton Hill in the PSAC First Round contest, 82-50, before falling California(Pa.) in the quarterfinals, 64-61.

• The Edinboro-California(Pa.) game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9. Dakota Palmer will be handling the play-by-play with Madison Gross providing color commentary. Trey Staunch will help call for the first half of the women's contest.
• 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. California(Pa.) 

• Edinboro leads 44-41
• First Meeting: 1970-71 – Edinboro 52, California(Pa.) 35 
• Last Meeting: February 3, 2018 – No. 15/25 Edinboro 79, No. 14/19 California(Pa.) 66 at Edinboro, Pa.
• Current Streak: Edinboro won the last contest
• Swank vs. California(Pa.): 34-38 

This Year's Meetings 
December 30, 2017 – No. 10/25 California(Pa.) 74, No. 12/11 Edinboro 71 at California, Pa. BOX | RECAP  

• The Vulcans handed Edinboro its first loss of the season as Shatara Parsons converted a pair of 3-point plays in the final 90 seconds. Leading 68-67, Parsons converted her first 3-point play with 1:23 remaining. Jontay Walton cut the deficit to 71-69 with a layup, but Parsons added her second 3-point play with 50 seconds left for a 74-69 advantage. 

• Michaela Barnes' two free throws trimmed the lead to three, and the Fighting Scots had one last chance, but Ayana Vaughn's 3-pointer with seven seconds to play was off the mark. 

• Edinboro was the better shooting team on the day, making 50.9 percent (28-of-55) of its baskets, while the Vulcans shot 44.8 percent (30-of-67) from the floor. The two teams combined for six ties and nine lead changes throughout the game. 

• Cal outscored Edinboro 21-13 in points off turnovers. The Fighting Scots forced 17 turnovers, but the Vulcans pressured Edinboro into 23 turnovers, to go with 13 steals. 

• Ciara Rosten scored 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting. The 6'2" senior also grabbed seven rebounds blocked three shots, before fouling out. Walton added 18 points, and Michaela Barnes contributed 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting. 

• Whitney Allen was tasked with guarding Parsons, who leads all PSAC's players with 23.3 ppg. She was held to 18 points on 6-of-12 from the floor, but shot a perfect 6-for-6 on free throws. Parsons also recorded seven rebounds and four blocks. 

• Three other Vulcans scored in double figures. DJ Hahn also ended the game with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. Mia Cushon came off the bench for 14 points, and Abbey Sporio nearly recorded a double-double with 10 points and eight boards, to go along with five steals. 

February 3, 2018 – No. 15/25 Edinboro 79, No. 14/19 California(Pa.) 66 at Edinboro, Pa. BOX | RECAP  

• Edinboro clinched a playoff spot in the PSAC Tournament on Saturday and ended a three-game skid to California(Pa.) with a 79-66 upset at McComb Fieldhouse. 
  Both teams starting forwards experienced foul trouble early in the contest. For Edinboro, Ciara Rosten was limited to six minutes in the opening half with two fouls and Whitney Allen picked up three fouls in 12 minutes of action. Natalia Casals and Shatara Parsons both picked up two fouls for California(Pa.) in nine and 12 minutes of play, respectfully. In the third quarter, DJ Hahn committed three fouls and Parsons picked up two more, as each totaled four in the game. Hahn fouled out in the fourth period. 

• With 4:43 remaining in the stanza, Rosten split a pair of free throws, giving Edinboro a 45-35 lead. While her free throws were part of a 12-3 run to end the quarter, it put the Fighting Scots, who never trailed in the contest, up by double digits the rest of the game. Edinboro led by as much as 16 points on two occasions in the fourth quarter. The Vulcans rallied to within 10 points on two occasions in the final minute, but Michele Jahn made 3-of-4 free throws to end the game. 

• Edinboro shot 42.9 percent (24-of-56) from the floor, 2-of-7 on 3-pointers and both shot and converted a season-high 29-of-35 free throws. In the second half alone, the Fighting Scots were 22-for-28 from the line. California(Pa.) made 37.5 percent (27-of-72) of its baskets, including 3-of-7 from long range and went 9-for-14 at the line. The Vulcans entered the game with the second-best scoring defense in the PSAC and ranked 15th nationally, allowing 55.9 ppg. The 79 points they allowed were the second-most they have given up this season, but is tied for the most among PSAC opponents. 

• The Fighting Scots held a 45-35 advantage on the glass and recorded four more blocks than California(Pa.). Cal outscored Edinboro 18-15 in points off turnovers and had a slight edge in second chance points (18-17). 

• Four Fighting Scots scored in double figures. Jontay Walton led Edinboro with a team-high 19 points and five assists. The 5'5" guard also shot 7-of-8 from the line and blocked a career-high two shots. Rosten posted a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. The 6'2" forward also had a career day at the line, making 9-of-12 for her most free throws made and attempted in a game. She also blocked three shots. Barnes also scored 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Jahn was the last Fighting Scot in double figures, as she too had a career day at the charity stripe, making 9-of-10 free throws. Whitney Allen was Edinboro's second-leading rebounder with 10 boards. 

• Mia Cushon was the lone Vulcan in double figures, scoring a game-high 25 points on 10-of-21 shooting. In addition to grabbing eight rebounds, she joined Abbey Sporio and Hahn in registering three steals apiece. Parsons was held to nine points, three rebounds and two steals in 25 minutes. She entered the contest as the leading scorer in the PSAC and ranked eighth nationally, averaging 21.6 ppg. Bianca Jasper also had eight rebounds and had five assists.
  

The Head Coaches 

Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76) -- 577-304, 31st Year 

• Stan Swank is in his 31st season as the Edinboro women's basketball head coach. He has led the Fighting Scots to eight straight 20-win seasons and nine straight PSAC Tournament berths. He has compiled a 189-49 overall record during this period. In total, Swank has had 14 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 577 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 among active 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 ranked 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.  

California(Pa.): Jess Strom (Penn State, 05) -- 162-44, 7th Year 

• A Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Hall of Famer, Strom graduated from Penn State where she was a four-year starter for the Nittany Lions. 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 was named interim head coach. 
• Strom, who ranks third with 162 career wins, guided the Vulcans to their first NCAA Championship title during the 2014-15 season, and has an 12-3 record in postseason play. She has made the PSAC Tournament in every season at the helm and has also won double-digit contests in all seven years. 
• Last season, she was named the 2016-17 WBCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. She is also a two-time PSAC West Coach of the Year recipient (2014 and '15). 

• Edinboro is making its ninth straight appearance in the PSAC Tournament and is playing California for the third straight season in the quarterfinal round. The Fighting Scots posted a 23-3 overall mark in the regular season and went 19-3 in the PSAC West. They secured the second seed in the playoff and a first-round bye for the first time in four seasons, following an 81-63 win over Mercyhurst this past Saturday. Edinboro was picked to finish third in the PSAC West Coaches Preseason Poll. Stan Swank's group has posted its best mark to date since the 2013-14 campaign, when the Fighting Scots posted a 27-6 record and went 15-1 in conference action. 
• With the second-best record in the tournament, a scenario could occur where Edinboro hosts the PSAC semifinal and championship contests. However, for that to happen, the Fighting Scots would have to win Wednesday's contest and top-seeded IUP would have to lose at home to fourth-seeded Seton Hill. 
• Edinboro has posted 20-win seasons each of the last eight years, going a combined 189-49 overall. During that span, they have made four NCAA Tournament appearances, one Elite Eight appearance, and two Atlantic Regional Championship berths. The Fighting Scots have also won three PSAC Championship titles during that stretch. 
• The NCAA released the Division II Regional rankings last Wednesday. For the second straight week, Edinboro was third in the Atlantic Region, with Virginia Union first and IUP second. The top eight teams from each region will qualify for the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championships. In the national polls, Edinboro is 11th in the WBCA Division II Top 25 and is 23rd in the D2SIDA Top 25.  
• Edinboro is averaging 78.2 ppg., which is second in the PSAC and 16th in Division II. Defensively, they are allowing 59.2 ppg., good for third in the conference. Opposing teams have been held to a 35.2 percent clip, which ranks second in the conference and 14th in the country.   
• The Fighting Scots have allowed less than 70 points in 13 of the last 15. Edinboro extended its streak by holding Mercyhurst to 63 points last Saturday. The Scots are winning by an average of 19.1 ppg., which is second in the PSAC and ninth nationally.  
• Edinboro ranks third in the PSAC and 15th in the country in turnover margin (+5.7). The Fighting Scots average 13.9 turnovers a game, which is third in the conference. They also stand second in the PSAC in rebounding margin at 5.1.  
• The Fighting Scots are one of the top three-point shooting teams in the PSAC. They are second in 3-point field goal percentage at 35.1 pct.  
• Stan Swank is the winningest basketball coach in PSAC history. In December, he picked up 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 or women's basketball coach in the PSAC. In his 31 years at Edinboro, Swank has gone 577-304 overall and entered the year ranked ninth among Division II coaches with 554 career wins.  
• In Edinboro's win over Mercyhurst, the Fighting Scots led by as much as 21 points at 53-32 early in the third quarter. The Lakers would outscore Edinboro 8-1 over the final four minutes, to trail 57-45 after 30 minutes. Mercyhurst cut Edinboro's lead to eight points at 60-52 in the first minute of the frame, but a 9-2 Fighting Scot run put Edinboro up by double-digits the rest of the game at 69-54. Sophomore Michaela Barnes scored a game-high 24 points, shooting 11-of-19 from the floor, with a 3-pointer and a free throw. Ciara Rosten and Jontay Walton, who were recognized in a pre-game ceremony, each contributed 17 points. Rosten made 7-of-13 field goals and grabbed 11 rebounds for her 17th double-double of the campaign. The 6'2" forward also added five assists and a pair of blocks. Walton led the Fighting Scots with six assists and three steals. 
• Ciara Rosten recently set Edinboro's season record for blocks shots, and currently has 98. With two more blocks, she'll become the first Fighting Scot in program history to block 100 shots in a season. She leads the PSAC and ranks fifth in the country in both blocked shots per game (3.8), and total blocks. In just two seasons, Rosten has already climbed to third in career blocks at Edinboro with 149. She has also blocked at least two shots in 25 straight contests. The 6'2" senior averages 16.5 ppg., and 11.7 rpg., which leads the PSAC and is sixth in Division II. She has recorded 16 double-doubles, tops in the PSAC and ninth nationally. She even ranks second on the team in assists with 85. 
• Jontay Walton is also tied with Rosten in points per game, scoring a team-high 16.5 ppg. She ranks third in the PSAC in assists per game (4.3), steals per game (2.7), steals (70), an is fourth in assists (105). The 5'5" guard has recorded a 2.02 assist-turnover ratio, which is fourth in the conference. She has made 43-of-101 3-pointers.  
• Michelle Jahn has scored 987 career points, leaving her 13 shy of becoming the 27th Fighting Scot with 1,000 points. The 5'8" guard is averaging 12.3 ppg. Jahn is Edinboro's top 3-point threat with 49 in 149 attempts. She ranks fifth in career 3-pointers made (181) and is fifth in career 3-pointers attempted (516).  
• After being named the PSAC West Freshman of the Year in 2016-17, Michaela Barnes has broken out to average 13.3 ppg. after scoring 8.7 ppg. last year. The sophomore guard is shooting a highly-respectable 47.1 percent from the floor and has made 31-of-64 3-pointers.

Scouting the Vulcans 

• California(Pa.) heads to Edinboro following an 81-70 win over No. 6 Slippery Rock in the PSAC first round contest. The Vulcans rank sixth in the NCAA Atlantic Region rankings, are 24th in the WBCA Division II Top 25, and are among teams "also receiving votes in the D2SIDA Top 25. They join IUP as one of two teams from the Western Division to have defeated every PSAC opponent they faced at least once this season. 
• Jess Strom is in her seventh season as the Vulcans head coach. She has led the Vulcans to the PSAC Tournament in all seven seasons at the helm, posting an 11-4 overall record and 3-3 mark in the quarterfinals. The former four-year starter at Penn State led Cal to the 2015 NCAA Division II National Championship. She has led the Vulcans to a 162-44 record, ranking third in career victories at Cal. She has guided California(Pa.) to four NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to at least the Atlantic Regional Championship three times. 
• The Vulcans have held every PSAC opponent to under 70 points, with the exception of Edinboro and IUP. However, Edinboro was the only conference foe to score over 70 points in both meetings. 
• California(Pa.) is averaging 67.6 ppg., which is seventh in the PSAC, and is allowing opponents 57.2 ppg., for second and 18th nationally. The majority of the Vulcan's points have come inside the paint. They are fourth in the conference in shooting with a 42.4 field goal percentage. Additionally, they have made 84 3-pointers on the campaign, which is 92 fewer than Edinboro and the fewest in the PSAC. 
• Cal makes defense a priority. The Vulcans allow just 57.2 ppg., for second in the PSAC and 18th in Division II. They lead the PSAC in steals per game (13.9) and total steals (402). The Vulcans also rank sixth in Division II in steals and seventh in steals per game. Cal ranks first in the conference and eighth nationally in turnover margin (+8.1). They are also forcing 23.7 turnovers a game, which is best in the PSAC and is sixth nationally. 
• In the win over The Rock, five Vulcan players scored in double figures. Shatara Parsons scored a game-high 21 points, making 4-of-5 field goals and 13-of-16 free throws. Jiahna Floodfrancis added a career-high 18 points. DJ Hahn contributed 11 points with three 3-pointers. Abbey Sporio and Gina Vallecorsa each contributed 10 points. 
• Senior Shatara Parsons is second in the PSAC and ranks 10th in the country in scoring at 21.6 ppg. The 6'0" forward also leads the conference with 86 steals, and has 75 blocked shots, good for second in the PSAC behind Edinboro's Ciara Rosten. She also leads the Vulcans on the glass, averaging 7.6 rpg. Mia Cushon is a close second with 7.2 rpg. 
• Parsons has been named PSAC West Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week on six occasions this season. She last received this accolade on Monday, following back-to-back 30-point and 10-rebound contests against Seton Hill and Clarion. 
• Mia Cushon is the only other player scoring in double figures. The junior guard averages 14.5 ppg. She is tied with teammate with Abbey Sporio in steals with 71, the second-most in the PSAC. 
• Former Warren(Pa.) High School standout DJ Hahn averages 9.6 ppg. She is the Vulcans top 3-point shooter this year, shooting 37-of-122 from behind the arc.