GANNON Lady Knights (13-10, 10-7) at No. 13/18 EDINBORO Fighting Scots (19-2, 15-2 PSAC West)
Saturday, February 10, 2018 1:00 PM | McComb Fieldhouse | Edinboro, Pa.
LINKS: LIVE STATS | AUDIO-WFSE 88.9 | VIDEOSTREAM-WATCH

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

PSAC LINKS: PRESEASON POLL | STANDINGS | STATS

• 13th-ranked Edinboro plays its next two games at McComb Fieldhouse, starting on Saturday against Gannon. The Fighting Scots are 3-0 over the last two seasons against Gannon, including 7-3 marks over the last ten matchups and as the home team. Edinboro is 19-2 overall and is tied with Indiana(Pa.) for the best conference record in the PSAC at 15-2. California(Pa.) joins Edinboro and IUP as the only teams from the Western Division to clinch a playoff berth. Gannon is in fifth place in the PSAC West at 13-10 overall and 10-7 in conference play.
• Saturday marks the third annual 'Hoops for Harlie' contest, which is dedicated to the memory of former Girard High School standout Harlie Rae Bolt, who tragically passed away following a short battle with leukemia. All proceeds raised throughout the day will benefit "Halos for Harlie" Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
• In addition, It's Make-A-Wish Awareness Day at Edinboro. The annual event and fundraiser has featured a wish reveal at halftime of the men's game the previous four years. Edinboro has ranked among the top Division II institutions in Make-A-Wish donations each of the last four years, including 2016-17, when Edinboro was fourth with just under $14,000.
• On Wednesday, Edinboro picked up its sixth straight win and fifth consecutive on the road in a 75-61 victory at Seton Hill. The Fighting Scots rank 13th in the WBCA Division II Top 25 and 18th in the D2SIDA Top 25.
• The Lady Knights are looking to end a two-game skid, following back-to-back losses to No. 20 California(Pa.), 62-50 on Wednesday and No. 13 Indiana(Pa.) last Saturday, 60-45. Gannon had won six straight heading into the IUP contest, with its last loss coming to Edinboro on January 10.
• This past Saturday, Edinboro earned a spot in the PSAC Tournament with a 79-66 win over then-No. 14/19 California(Pa.). Edinboro has made the playoffs now nine straight seasons and is on the verge of its eighth consecutive 20-win season. Over the eight-year span, Edinboro has posted a 185-48 record.
• Edinboro is in a stretch with three of four contests at McComb Fieldhouse. The Fighting Scots traveled to Seton Hill for its lone road contest this past Wednesday. Slippery Rock heads to McComb on Wednesday. Edinboro is 8-1 at home this year.
• The Fighting Scots are averaging 79.2 ppg., for second in the PSAC and 15th nationally. They are third defensively in the conference giving up an even 60.0 points per game. The Lady Knights have a scoring average of 63.2 ppg for 11th in the conference, but have given up the sixth-fewest points at 64.0 points per game.
• 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 573-303 overall, and entered the year ranked ninth among Division II coaches with 554 career wins.
• Jontay Walton (16.9 ppg.), Ciara Rosten (15.2), Michelle Jahn (13.2), and Michaela Barnes (13.2) are each averaging double figures per contest this season. Combined, they are responsible for 58.5 points (73.9 percent) of the Fighting Scots' 79.2 points averaged per game this year. Against Seton Hill, they combined for 71 of 75 points scored.
• On Monday, Rosten was named PSAC West Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week for the third time this season. Edinboro has received this award five times with Jahn and Walton each earning it once. In the win at Seton Hill, Rosten tied the single season blocks record of 81 and also tied her career-high seven blocks. In addition, she recorded her 12th double-double of the year with a season-high 25 points and 15 rebounds. She leads the PSAC in blocks per game (3.86), blocks (81), rebounds per game (11.4), rebounds (240) and double-doubles (12). In Division II, she ranks third in blocks and blocks per game, ninth in rebounds per game, 12th in rebounding and 13th in double-doubles.
• Jahn is 55 points away from reaching 1,000 career points at Edinboro. She scored six points at Seton HIll, and tied her career-high of four steals. In addition the 5'8" guard is four 3-pointers away from moving into the top 5 in program history. She has made 175 3-pointers in her career and is 43-of-127 from 3-pointers.
• Sophomore Michaela Barnes had a career night in the win over Seton Hill on Wednesday. The reigning PSAC West Freshman of the Year scored 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting and 5-of-7 3-pointers. She also dished out five assists. Her shooting numbers overall and from beyond the arc, in addition to the five assists are also career-highs.
• Maggie Mitchell is one of three Lady Knights scoring in double figures this season. A PSAC West Second Team selection a year ago, she is averaging 16.2 points per game and became the 29th Lady Knight to score 1,000 points in her career this season. In the loss to Cal on Wednesday, she scored 12 points, dished out eight assists and grabbed five rebounds.

Edinboro on Radio/Video

• The Edinboro-Gannon game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9. Gabe Hypes will handle the play-by-play with Shane Mattern on 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. Gannon

• Edinboro leads 36-22: Edinboro has won eight of the last 11 contests. The Fighting Scots have also won seven of the last 10 meetings against Gannon at McComb Fieldhouse.
• First Meeting: 1969-70 – Edinboro 29, Gannon 26
• Last Meeting: January 10, 2017 – No. 14/22 Edinboro 87 Gannon 53 in Erie, Pa.
• Current Streak: Edinboro has won the last three contests.
• Swank vs. Gannon: 24-17

• Edinboro outscored Gannon, 32-9, in the second quarter and never trailed in an 87-53 win over Gannon at the Hammermill Center. With the win, the Fighting Scots won their fourth consecutive contest, improving to 14-1 overall and 9-1 in the PSAC West, while the Lady Knights fell to 7-8 on the season and 4-5 in conference play.
• Edinboro entered the contest ranked 14th in the WBCA Division II Top 25, and were 22nd in the D2SIDA Poll.
• Following a 22-13 lead after the opening stanza, Edinboro jumped out to a 37-15 lead, going on a 12-0 run over the first 3:16 of the second quarter. Michaela Barnes and Michelle Jahn each scored five points apiece during the streak. Gannon's Maggie Mitchell put a stop to the Fighting Scots run with back-to-back free throws at 5:09. The Fighting Scots continued to control the pace in the quarter, scoring 15 of the final 20 points on 5-of-9 3-pointers for a 54-22 halftime lead.
• The Fighting Scots closed the opening half with a 60.0 percent (21-of-35) clip from the field and made 8-of-11 3-pointers. Edinboro led 25-13 in rebounds, outscored Gannon 12-2 in points off turnovers and had a 13-4 advantage in assists.
• In the second half, Edinboro increased its lead to as much as 42 points at the 7:34 mark of the fourth quarter.
• Edinboro ended the game making 49.3 percent (33-of-67) of its shots, including 11-of-21 3-pointers and 10-of-13 free throws. The Lady Knights shot 30.8 percent (20-of-65) from the field, while going 6-for-25 from behind the arc and 7-for-10 at the charity stripe.
• The Fighting Scots won the battle of the boards, 46-35, dished out nine more assists (20-11) and outscored the Lady Knights, 14-2 in points off turnovers.
• Ciara Rosten had a career night for the Fighting Scots, setting career-highs with 22 rebounds and six assists. The 6'2" senior forward also scored 14 points for her sixth double-double of the season, in addition to blocking six shots. That extended her streak of three or more blocks in a game to eight straight.
• The rest of Edinboro's starting five scored in double figures. Michaela Barnes added 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting, with three 3-pointers, and was a perfect 4-for-4 at the line. Jontay Walton scored 16 points, making 7-of-11 baskets, including two 3-pointers. Michelle Jahn contributed 13 points, while Whitney Allen had 10 points, six boards and six dimes. Bridgette Shaffer came off the bench for a season-high eight points.
• Three Lady Knights scored in double figures, with Sydney Mitchell coming off the bench for a team-best 12 points and eight rebounds. Chelsea Rourke scored 11 points and Maggie Mitchell contributed 10 points.
• Edinboro is 3-0 over the last two seasons against Gannon, including a 7-3 record over their last ten matchups.

The Head Coaches
Edinboro: Stan Swank (Purdue '76) -- 573-303, 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 nearing his eighth. He has compiled a 185-48 overall record during this 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 573 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 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.

• Brunelli has won more games during his first four seasons than any coach in program history.
• Under Brunelli, Gannon made the PSAC Tournament in his first three seasons at the helm, including a pair of NCAA Tournament berths. After missing the PSAC Tournament last year, Gannon has now made the playoffs in 18 of the last 20 seasons.
• Brunelli's 28-4 debut season is the best first-year performance by a Gannon women's basketball head coach in program history.
• Prior to Gannon, Brunelli served as the head coach at Anderson for five seasons. The Trojans won three Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championships and earned three NCAA Tournament bids during his tenure.

The Fighting Scots

Probable Starters  

Scouting the Fighting Scots

• With one more win, Edinboro will capture its eighth consecutive 20-win season. On Wednesday, the Fighting Scots won their 19th contest of the season over Seton Hill, 75-61. During the streak, Edinboro has posted a 185-48 overall record for four NCAA Tournament appearances, including one elite eight appearance and two Atlantic Regional Championship berths. The Fighting Scots have also won three PSAC Championship titles during that stretch, and are appearing in their ninth straight PSAC Tournament. A year ago, Edinboro was picked to finish third in the PSAC West, after going 21-9 overall and 16-6 in conference play.
• The Fighting Scots rank 13th in the WBCA Division II Top 25 and 18th in the D2SIDA Top 25.
• 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 basketball coach in the PSAC. In his 31 years at Edinboro, Swank has gone 573-303 overall, and entered the year ranked ninth among Division II coaches with 554 career wins.
• Ciara Rosten was named PSAC West Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week on Monday for the third time this season. The women's basketball has received this award five times this season, with Michelle Jahn and Jontay Walton each receiving the award one time.
• Rosten leads the PSAC in blocks per game (3.86), blocks (81), rebounds per game (11.4), rebounds (240) and double-doubles (12). In Division II, she ranks third in blocks and blocks per game, ninth in rebounds per game, 12th in rebounding and 13th in double-doubles.
• Six of their last nine opponents have failed to reach 57 points. In total, 11 opponents have been held to under 60 points this season.
• Edinboro is averaging 79.2 ppg., which is second in the PSAC and 15th in Division II. The Fighting Scots have scored over 73 points in their last six contests, and have scored over 70 points in 18 games this year. Defensively, they are allowing 60.0 ppg., for third in the conference. The Scots are winning by an average of 19.2 ppg., which is second in the PSAC and 10th nationally.
• Edinboro is winning the turnover battle against opponents by a 6.1 margin per game. That ranks second in the PSAC and 13th in Division II. The Fighting Scots are also giving up the ball nearly 14.1 times a game, which is the second-fewest in the conference.
• Sophomore Michaela Barnes had a career night at Seton Hill on Wednesday. The reigning PSAC West Freshman of the Year scored 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting and 5-of-7 3-pointers. She also dished out five assists. Her shooting numbers overall and from beyond the arc, in addition to the five assists are also career-highs.
• Rosten scored a season-high 25 points against the Griffins. She went 10-of-18 from the floor and 5-of-8 from the line. She also grabbed 15 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the year and sixth in a row. The 6'2" forward extended her block streak of at least two per game to 20, as she tied her career-high seven blocks. With 81 blocks this season, she has tied the single season record at Edinboro with Samantha Blazetic and Agnes Michalow.
• Jontay Walton was the last Fighting Scot with double digit points, as she contributed 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, had six assists, grabbed five rebounds and blocked one shot. Walton leads the PSAC is second in the PSAC with 4.3 apg., and is third with 60 steals.
• Whitney Allen brought down double-digit rebounds with 12, while Michelle Jahn grabbed a season-high 11 boards and tied her career-high four steals.
• Jahn is 55 points away from reaching 1,000 career points at Edinboro. She scored six points at Seton HIll, and tied her career-high of four steals. In addition the 5'8" guard is four 3-pointers away from moving into the top 5 in program history. She has made 175 3-pointers in her career and leads Edinboro is 3-pointers this season on 43-of-127 from behind the arc.

• Gannon is currently in fifth place in the PSAC West with a 13-10 overall record and a 10-7 conference mark. The Lady Knights have dropped their last two contests to California(Pa.) (62-50) and IUP (60-45), after winning six consecutive. Gannon's winning streak started after losing at home to Edinboro on January 10, 87-53.
• The Lady Knights were picked to finish fifth in the PSAC West Coaches' Preseason Poll. A year ago, Gannon finished seventh at 9-19 overall and 9-13 in conference action. The Lady Knights missed the PSAC Tournament for the first time in five years, after finishing three spots behind the final two playoff spots.
• Jim Brunelli is in his fifth season at Gannon. He has posted an 88-52 record with the Lady Knights, has guided them to four of the last five PSAC Tournaments and have earned three berths in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
• Gannon is averaging 63.2 ppg., for 11th in the PSAC, but are sixth in defense with 64.0 points per game. After giving up a season-high 87 points to Edinboro back in the first meeting of the season, the Lady Knights have held their last eight opponents to under 70 points.
• The Lady Knights are the best free-throw shooting team in the conference and rank 13th in Division II with a 79.6 percent clip. They are averaging 13.4 makes per game on nearly 17 attempts.
• After facing the top 3-point shooting team in the PSAC in Seton Hill, Edinboro now faces the second-best team from behind the arc in Gannon. The Lady Knights rank second with 7.2 3-pointers a game and 165 total 3-pointers this year. They are behind Edinboro for third place with a 35.3 percent mark on their 3-pointers.
• Senior Maggie Mitchell leads Gannon with 16.2 points per game. The 5'8" guard became the 29th player in program history to score 1,000 points in a 61-59 win at buzzer at Seton Hill on January 31. She has also dished out 92 assists this season, which is one more than Edinboro's Jontay Walton. With an average of four assists per game, Mitchell joins Walton as two of four players in the PSAC to average at least four assists this season.
• Chelsea Rourke is averaging 11.6 ppg., for second on the team. She leads Lady Knights defensively with team-highs in rebounds (6.2) and blocks (25).
• Nicole LaCava is the third scorer in double figures with 11.4 ppg., and is second in rebounds per game with 5.6.