RICHMOND, Va. – The Edinboro women's basketball team continued its impressive postseason run on Friday night at Virginia Union's Barco-Stevens Hall, handing fifth-seeded Virginia State an 80-55 defeat in the first round of the Atlantic Regional. The fourth-seeded Fighting Scots improved to 27-3, while Virginia State's season ends at 23-6. 

Edinboro will now face Bowie State, the eighth seed, on Saturday night in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs upset top-seed and host Virginia Union, 63-56. Glenville State, seeded second, and Indiana(Pa.), the third seed, meet in the other semifinal after defeating West Chester and California(Pa.), respectively, on Friday afternoon. 

The Fighting Scots used a strong start and a fast finish to subdue the athletic Trojans. Virginia State came in leading the CIAA and ranking tenth in Division II at 55.7 ppg. Edinboro blitzed the Trojans for 22 points in the opening ten minutes, grabbing a 22-8 lead. 

Edinboro made 4-of-8 3-pointers in the first quarter while Virginia State was just 4-of-17 from the floor. The Fighting Scots never trailed in the game after Jontay Walton opened the game making one-of-two free throws. The lead would grow to 11-2 less than six minutes into the game. Walton and Whitney Allen made 3-pointers, followed by a Michaela Barnes' layup and another by Walton. 

The lead grew to double digits with three minutes left in the quarter at 16-4 on another Walton 3-pointer. The redshirt junior had nine points in the opening stanza. 

Virginia State scored back-to-back baskets to make it 16-8. That would be the last time it was under double figures after Ciara Rosten scored on a layup. Michelle Jahn closed out the quarter with a four-point play just before the buzzer. 

Edinboro built the lead to 36-13 midway through the second quarter, but Virginia State closed the quarter on a 14-3 run to pull within 39-27 at the half. 

Edinboro opened the third period with the first seven points to boost the lead to 46-29. Barnes scored on a conventional 3-point play, with Rosten and Barnes following with a pair of free throws each. Virginia State would twice close to within 12 points, but Edinboro ended the quarter on a 7-2 run to close out the third period with a 17-point advantage at 59-42.  

The lead never got under 15 points in the fourth quarter. Edinboro would outscore the Trojans, 21-13m in the final period, closing the game on an 11-4 run. 

Edinboro had four players score in double figures, led by Walton with 20 points. She made 6-of-12 field goals, including 3-of-7 3-pointers, and went 5-of-6 at the line. Jahn added 20 points, making 6-of-13 field goals, 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, and was 3-for-3 at the line.  Barnes finished with 15 markers (5-of-11 field goals, 5-of-5 free throws.   

Rosten was once again dominant in the paint. The PSAC West's Athlete of the Year and Defensive Athlete of the Year, she posted her 20th double-double, and flirted with a quadruple-double. The 6'2" senior contributed 13 points, 17 rebounds, seven assists, and seven blocked shots. Allen added nine points and nine rebounds. 

Mia Fitts led Virginia State with 14 points, with Alexis Smith adding 13. Chrisanna Green pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds. 

Edinboro shot 47.3 percent from the floor (26-of-55) against a Virginia State team that was holding opponents to 37.0 percent from the field. The Fighting Scots made 8-of-18 3-pointers, while the Trojans came in leading Division II in 3-point field goal percentage (23.8 pct.). The Scots made 20-of-24 free throws. 

Virginia State finished at 31.4 percent from the floor (21-of-70), including 3-of-14 3-pointers, and went 8-for-17 at the line. 

Edinboro outrebounded the Trojans, 42-28. The Scots were guilty of 16 turnovers compared to seven for Virginia State. However, the Trojans had just a 14-12 advantage in points off turnovers.