Matt Durisko

Women's Basketball 1/18/2019 11:50:00 AM Chris Slack, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Edinboro Aims to Upset Top-Ranked Indiana(Pa.) on Monday

The Game Story

Edinboro's short break at McComb Fieldhouse is over and the Fighting Scots head back to the road for their next two contests, beginning with top-ranked Indiana(Pa.) on Monday, January 21 at 1:00 p.m. The contest was originally slated for Saturday, January 19, but was postponed due to impending Winter Storm Harper.
The Fighting Scots are third in the PSAC West standings at 10-4 overall, 6-3 in conference play, and are ranked seventh in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll. The Crimson Hawks are one of six Division II teams that are undefeated this season.
They rank atop the WBCA Division II Top 25, are fifth in the D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll, and are the top-ranked team in the Atlantic Region poll.
A year ago, IUP swept the season series, 2-0. The first loss accounted for Edinboro's only loss at McComb Fieldhouse a year ago in a 74-68 decision on January 13. As the road team, the Fighting Scots aimed to give IUP its first home loss of the campaign. They kept the pace with the Crimson Hawks, but IUP went 9-for-9 from the field over the final 6:43 to secure the win.
On Wednesday, the Fighting Scots played their first home contest since January 2 against Gannon. Edinboro could not overcome a cold start, as its four-game winning streak against the Lady Knights came to an end, 71-57.
Jontay Walton paced the Fighting Scots a team-high 16 points on 4-of-13 shooting and 6-of-6 free throws. The 5'6" guard increased her career scoring total to 1,080, which ranks 28th in program history. She has scored in double figures in all 14 games this season and has connected on her last 20 free throw attempts.
Michelle Jahn contributed 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Jahn ended the game having climbed to 16th on the career scoring list with 1,253 points.
Michaela Barnes and Ciara Rosten continue to climb up the all-time scoring list, en route to their 1,000th career point. Barnes added 12 points, including 6-of-7 shooting on her free throws. She has increased her career scoring total to 922. Rosten scored nine points, grabbed five rebounds, and blocked three shots. She stands at 979 points in two-plus seasons.
IUP won its 14th consecutive game on Wednesday at East Stroudsburg, 84-62. Saturday's contest will mark IUP's first in two weeks, as the ESU contest was final game of a three-game road trip. The Crimson Hawks were voted to finish second in the Western Division in the coaches' preseason poll, following the program's first Atlantic Region Championship.
A year ago, 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.
Edinboro and IUP are among the top programs in the country in scoring offense. The Fighting Scots rank second in the PSAC and 23rd in Division II, averaging 78.0 ppg., and are eighth in scoring defense at 68.8 ppg. Indiana(Pa.) is the top-ranked team in the conference in both scoring offense (10th nationally) and defense (2nd). The Crimson Hawks are scoring 81.8 ppg., while giving up 49.6 ppg. They are winning by an average of +32.1 ppg, the largest in the country.

On the Radio/Video

The Edinboro-Indiana(Pa.) game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Madi Gross and Chris Rosato providing the commentary. In addition, the contest will be streamed live as part of the PSAC Sports Network.

All-Time Series vs. Indiana(Pa.)

Edinboro leads 49-43
First Meeting: 1970-71 – Indiana(Pa.) 62, Edinboro 48
Last Meeting: 2017-18 – Indiana(Pa.) 67, Edinboro 53.
Current Streak: IUP has won nine of the last 10 contests.
Wheeler vs. Indiana(Pa.): 0-0

Last Meeting
February 21, 2018 – No. 9 Indiana(Pa.) 67, No. 11 Edinboro 53 at Indiana, Pa. - BOX | RECAP

11th-ranked Edinboro's nine-game winning came to an end in a 67-53 decision at No. 9 Indiana(Pa.). The Crimson Hawks clinched a share of the PSAC West title with the win and will be the No. 1 seed in the Western Division when the PSAC Tournament.
Heading into the fourth quarter, IUP led 47-44, as Carolyn Appleby hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Edinboro quickly tied the game at 47 apiece, as the Fighting Scots scored the first three points of the period at the free throw line. Ciara Rosten went 2-for-2, while Michaela Barnes split a pair at the charity stripe. However, IUP would outscore Edinboro, 20-6, the rest of the way going 9-for-9 from the floor.
Lauren Wolosik regained the lead for the Crimson Hawks on the ensuing possession, scoring on a jumper. After IUP was held to a 36.0 percent (18-of-50) clip over the first 30 minutes, Wolosik's basket became the start of the Crimson Hawks making their next nine field goals. At the same time, Edinboro, who had shot 41.9 percent (18-of-43) over the first three quarters, was held to just 1-of-9 shooting in the final stanza and scoreless for over a three minute duration.
The two teams combined for eight ties and five lead changes throughout the game. Rosten scored the first six points in the game for Edinboro and totaled eight points in the period. Yet, Indiana(Pa.) led 16-12 after 10 minutes. The Fighting Scots would trail 33-28 at the half, but scored seven of the final 11 points to end the second stanza.
After halftime, Edinboro extended its 7-4 run to 13-4. Jontay Walton, Whitney Allen, and Rosten each scored the first six points of the second half on layups. Edinboro reclaimed the lead, going back on top 34-33 at the 7:52 mark. It was the Fighting Scots first lead since 4-2 in the first quarter.
Edinboro stepped up defensively in the period, holding the Crimson Hawks to without a field goal for nearly six-and-a-half minutes. Megan Smith scored IUP's first field goal of the half with 3:38 left on a jumper for a 38-36 advantage. The Fighting Scots responded by scoring six of the next eight points. Walton converted back-to-back free throws, tying the game at 38. A jumper from Rosten followed by a Bridgette Shaffer layup put the Scots up 42-38.
The Crimson Hawks ended the contest with a 42.9 percent (27-of-63) mark and held the Fighting Scots to 36.5 percent (19-of-52) shooting. IUP made 4-of-13 3-pointers and Edinboro went 0-for-10, but the Fighting Scots made six more free throws on three more attempts than the Crimson Hawks, going 15-of-21 at the line.
Two Fighting Scots scored in double figures. Rosten led Edinboro with a double-double, scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. She shot 10-of-15 from the floor and 4-of-7 at the line. The 6'2" forward also passed out five assists and blocked two shots. Walton added 10 points, making all eight of her free throws. The 5'5" guard distributed three dimes and had a team-high three steals.
Appleby scored a game-high 26 points making 9-of-15 baskets, including three 3-pointers and was 5-for-9 at the charity stripe. Smith also added double digits with 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Brittany Robinson led IUP on the glass with eight rebounds and four blocks, while Halee Denman dished out seven assists.

Head Coach: Callie Wheeler (Edinboro '06) -- 10-4, 1st year

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 rank 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 played its first home contest in two weeks on Wednesday, hosting local rival Gannon. However, the Fighting Scots got off to a cold start, missing its first seven shots and 14 straight between the first and second quarter in a 71-57 loss vs. the Lady Knights. Edinboro ended the contest tying their worst shooting percentage of the season at 31.1 percent (19-of-61). After being held to just 16 points in the first half, Edinboro scored 41 points over the final 20 minutes on 15-of-34 shooting (44.1 pct.).
On average, Edinboro's has performed its best in the fourth quarter this season. They are currently outscoring opponents, 324-240. The Fighting Scots have scored 40+ points over the final 20 minutes in three of their last four games. In addition, the Scots have posted 50+ points over the third and fourth quarter in seven games this season.
Edinboro enters Saturday's contest at 10-4 overall and 6-3 in the PSAC West. The Fighting Scots were picked to win the Western Division in the coaches' preseason poll, after clinching their fifth PSAC Championship a year ago. The Scots currently rank third PSAC West, are seventh in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll, are among teams "also receiving votes" in the WBCA Division II Top 25. Edinboro is one of the top scoring teams in Division II. The Fighting Scots' ranks second in the PSAC and 23rd in the country in scoring offense, averaging 78.0 ppg. Defensively, they allow 68.8 ppg., for eighth in the conference. In addition, the Fighting Scots are second in the league in three-point shooting (35.3), 3-pointers per game (7.7), and free throw shooting percentage (74.9).
Jontay Walton scored a team-high 16 points and made 6-of-6 free throws, extending her free throw shooting streak to 20 straight. A first-team All-PSAC West selection a year ago, the graduate student is Edinboro's leading scorer, averaging 18.7 ppg. That ranks seventh in the PSAC. In addition, Walton leads the conference in 3-point field goal percentage with a 39.7 pct. clip, ranks second in assists per game (4.6) and steals (44), and is third in free throw shooting percentage (88.2 pct.). Walton is the only Fighting Scot to score in double figures in all 14 games this season and has scored double digits in 30 consecutive games. On January 2, the 5'8" guard reached 1,000 points in her third season as a Fighting Scot, scoring 17 points in a 99-92 upset of 12th-ranked California(Pa.). She currently stands in 18th place with 1,080 points.
Michelle Jahn climbed two spots to 16th on the career scoring list with 1,253 points. The senior guard scored 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers vs. Gannon. Averaging 13.2 ppg., Jahn has been one of Edinboro's top 3-point threat during her career. She ranks sixth in the PSAC in three-point shooting percentage with a 34.8 pct. clip (32-of-92). In addition, she has made 82.7 percent of her free throws (43-of-52) this year, for ninth in the PSAC. A second team All-PSAC West selection last season, she ranks second in career 3-pointers made (228), third in 3-pointers attempted (641), and is tied for sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (.356).
Michaela Barnes is shooting 49.7 pct. from the floor for 17.8 ppg. That ranks sixth and 10th in the PSAC, respectively. Against Gannon, she scored 12 points and went 6-of-7 at the free throw line. A second-team All-PSAC West selection and the PSAC Tournament MVP a year ago, Barnes is approaching her 1,000th career point. On Wednesday, she boosted her career total to 922 points.
In addition to Barnes, Ciara Rosten is approaching her 1,000th career point. If not for injuries this year, the 6'2" forward would have already reached the plateau. The redshirt senior has 979 points while missing three full games and parts of three others. The PSAC West Athlete of the Year and Defensive Athlete of the Year, Rosten is averaging 12.0 ppg., and 7.8 rpg. In the Fighting Scots last outing vs. Gannon, she contributed nine points, five rebounds, and three blocks. Rosten leads the PSAC in blocks per game (2.0) and total blocks (22). She is also Edinboro's leading rebounder, collecting 7.8 rpg.
Bridgette Shaffer has been Edinboro's leading rebounder in six contests this year. The 5'8" redshirt junior has collected +5.0rpg. in all but three games this season. Shaffer is averaging 8.9 ppg., and is the team's second-leading rebounder with 7.0 rpg.

Scouting the Crimson Hawks

Indiana(Pa.) is 14-0 overall, 9-0 in the PSAC West, and are ranked atop the WBCA Division II Top 25. The Crimson Hawks are the lone undefeated team in the PSAC and one of six remaining programs in Division II women's basketball. On Wednesday, the Crimson Hawks picked up an 84-62 win at East Stroudsburg. IUP has won its last 28 regular season contests at the Kovalchick Complex.
IUP head coach Tom McConnell is 132-34 in six seasons as head coach, and has went 85-105 in seven seasons as the men's basketball coach at Saint Francis (Pa.). He has led the Crimson Hawks to one 30 and three 20- win seasons in five years, four NCAA tournaments and has two PSAC West regular season titles, a PSAC tournament crown. Last season, he guided the Crimson Hawks the best regular season record in the PSAC and win total in program history at 30-4 overall and 20-2 in the Western Division. After advancing to the PSAC Final Four, they won their first Atlantic Region Championship in program history. After punching their ticket to the Elite Eight, they fell in the semifinals to national runner-up Ashland, 92-68.
IUP ranks 10th in Division II in offense at 81.8 ppg., and second in scoring defense, giving up 49.6 ppg.
IUP's biggest loss from a year ago is Megan Smith, a two-time All-PSAC West recipient. Smith led the team in scoring (18.4 ppg.) and 3-point shooting (40.5 pct., (89-of-220)). However, the Crimson Hawks return three starters from the 2017-18 team in seniors Carolyn Appleby, Brittany Robinson, and Lauren Wolosik.
Appleby paced IUP in the win over the Warriors with a season-high 25 points. She leads the Crimson Hawks in scoring (18.0), assists (57), and is tied for most 3-pointers made (23-of-59). The 5'5" guard ranks seventh in program history with 142 career 3-pointers and eighth in career assists with 330 assists. A two-time All-PSAC West selection, she was named Atlantic Region Tournament MVP and was named to the Elite Eight All-Tournament Team last season. In addition, she was named the 2017-18 PSAC Tournament MVP.
Guard Lauren Wolosik chipped in 19 points vs. East Stroudsburg. The redshirt senior has averaged 11.4 ppg., in nine games. She leads IUP in steals (25) and is second in assists). The 5'9" guard is aiming to become the first player in program history to amass 1,000 points and 400 assists in their career. She currently sits with 845 points and 338 assists.
Robinson posted her first double-double of the campaign at East Stroudsburg, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The forward is averaging 10.8 ppg. and 6.4 rpg. She ranks third in program history with 143 blocks.
Joining the senior trio as double-digit scorers is junior Lexi Griggs. Starting in all 14 games, she has averaged 10.0 ppg., 6.5 rpg., She has increased her scoring average from last season by +7.3.

Next for the Fighting Scots

Edinboro travels to Clarion on Wednesday, January 23 for a 5:30 p.m. contest. Afterwards, the Fighting Scots will play their next four games at McComb Fieldhouse.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Whitney Allen: F; 6' 1"; Graduate Student

#2 Michaela Barnes: G; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#15 Ciara Rosten: F; 6' 2"; Senior

#5 Jontay Walton: G; 5' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#1 Bridgette Shaffer: G; 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore

#2 Michaela Barnes: G; 5' 5"; Junior

#20 Michelle Jahn: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#15 Ciara Rosten: F; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#1 Bridgette Shaffer: G/F; 5' 8"; Redshirt Junior

#5 Jontay Walton: G; 5' 6"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#12 Whitney Allen
: 6' 1"; Graduate Student
: F

#2 Michaela Barnes
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: G

#15 Ciara Rosten
: 6' 2"; Senior
: F

#5 Jontay Walton
: 5' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: G

#1 Bridgette Shaffer
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#2 Michaela Barnes
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G

#20 Michelle Jahn
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#15 Ciara Rosten
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: F

#1 Bridgette Shaffer
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Junior
: G/F

#5 Jontay Walton
: 5' 6"; Graduate Student
: G

Edinboro University Athletics

Scoreboard

Scoreboard

Edinboro Aims to Upset Top-Ranked Indiana(Pa.) on Monday

Players Mentioned

#12 Whitney Allen

#2 Michaela Barnes

#15 Ciara Rosten

#5 Jontay Walton

#1 Bridgette Shaffer

#2 Michaela Barnes

#20 Michelle Jahn

#15 Ciara Rosten

#1 Bridgette Shaffer

#5 Jontay Walton

Players Mentioned

#12 Whitney Allen

#2 Michaela Barnes

#15 Ciara Rosten

#5 Jontay Walton

#1 Bridgette Shaffer

#2 Michaela Barnes

#20 Michelle Jahn

#15 Ciara Rosten

#1 Bridgette Shaffer

#5 Jontay Walton