Chris Slack

Women's Basketball 1/4/2019 4:11:00 PM Chris Slack, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Edinboro Aims for Sixth Consecutive Win on Saturday at Seton Hill

The Game Story

After wrapping up a five-game homestand on Wednesday night, the Edinboro women's basketball team hits the road for its next three contests, beginning with Seton Hill on Saturday. The Fighting Scots head to Greensburg winners five straight, most recently upsetting 12th-ranked California(Pa.), 99-92 to start the new year.
Edinboro enters the weekend at 8-2 overall and 4-1 in the PSAC West, which is tied for second in the division with California(Pa.) and Slippery Rock. The Fighting Scots entered the campaign picked to win the PSAC West in the coaches' preseason poll and was ranked 11th in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II Top 25 Preseason Poll. They are currently ranked seventh in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll. Seton Hill, winners of three in a row, is 9-3 overall and 3-2 in the league.
Against the Vulcans, Jontay Walton scored her 1,000th career point, becoming the 28th Fighting Scot in program history to eclipse the mark. She scored her 1,000th point on a 3-pointer with 2:55 remaining in the contest. Walton, who has now scored 1,002 points at Edinboro, was one of five Fighting Scots to end the game in double figures. She ended the game with 17 points and a game-high eight assists. Ciara Rosten returned to the starting lineup and flirted with a triple-double, scoring 13 points, dishing out eight assists, and grabbing seven rebounds. The 6'2" forward returned to the hardwood in limited minutes on December 29 vs. Cheyney, but had been out of the lineup since December 8th due to injury. Michaela Barnes led the Fighting Scots with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Bridgette Shaffer scored a career-high 22 points and made 4-of-5 3-pointers. Michelle Jahn also contributed 22 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the floor, which included two 3-pointers, and 10-for-10 at the foul line.
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.
Seton Hill finished with their best win total in program history last season at 20-10 overall and 14-8 in the PSAC West, and appeared in the PSAC Tournament for the fifth consecutive year, before falling at Indiana(Pa.) in the quarterfinals. They were voted as the sixth-best team in the western division in the coaches' preseason poll.
Saturday's contest features the two top scoring teams in the country. Edinboro leads the conference and ranks 10th in Division II, averaging 82.8 ppg., and Seton Hill is second the conference and 11th nationally, scoring 82.4 ppg. The Fighting Scots are holding opponents to 63.3 ppg. for eighth in the PSAC, while the Griffins are surrendering 74.7 ppg. for 14th in the league.

On the Radio/Video

The Edinboro-Seton Hill game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9, with Chris Rosato and Chase Rowland providing the commentary. In addition, the contest will be streamed live as part of the PSAC Sports Network.

All-Time Series vs. Seton Hill

Edinboro leads 18-1
First Meeting: 1990-91 – Edinboro 98, Seton Hill 74
Last Meeting: 2017-2018 – Edinboro 75, Seton Hill 61
Current Streak: Edinboro won three straight over the Griffins
Wheeler vs. Seton Hill: 0-0

Last Meeting February 7, 2018 -- No. 13 Edinboro 75, Seton Hill 61 at Greensburg, Pa. BOX SCORE |RECAP

No. 13 Edinboro moved to within a game of capturing their eighth consecutive 20-win season with a 75-61 victory at Seton Hill.
The Fighting Scots jumped out to a 9-3 advantage, but cushioned the lead to 24-14 after one quarter, thanks to a 9-0 run with seven points scored by Michaela Barnes and two by Ciara Rosten. Edinboro also held a 16-4 advantage in the paint.
Edinboro's first-half lead grew to as much as 16 points on two occasions in the second frame. The Scots did the majority of the work in the first half without Jontay Walton, who was limited to just 12 minutes.
After leading 37-30 at the half, Edinboro's lead was trimmed to four points at 39-35 and 48-44 over the first 5:40 of the third period. That would be as close as the Griffins would get the rest of the way, as the Scots ended the final 4:09 of the frame on a 9-2 run for a 57-46 lead. Barnes, Rosten, Walton, and Michelle Jahn each scored a layup, while Rosten split a pair of free throws. Edinboro led by double digits the rest of the way.
Edinboro never trailed in the contest, and ended the night shooting 43.7 percent (31-of-71) from the floor, 6-of-13 on 3-pointers, while connecting on 7-of-13 free throws. Seton Hill posted a 30.9 percent (21-of-68) clip, including 9-of-25 from behind the arc and 10-for-14 at the free throw line.
Michaela Barnes scored a game-high 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting and made 5-of-7 3-pointers. Ciara Rosten collected a double-double with 25 points and 15 rebounds. The 6'2" forward blocked seven shots, which moved her into a tie for the most blocks in a season at Edinboro. Jontay Walton was the only other Fighting Scot in double figures with 12 points. Whitney Allen and Michelle Jahn helped Edinboro on the glass, bringing down 12 and 11 boards, respectively
Seton Hill's Courtney Cecere came off the bench to score a team-best 14 points in 21 minutes. Jenna Kaufman (13 points), Lindsey Mifsud (11) and Cheyenne Trest (11) also scored in double figures.

Head Coach Callie Wheeler (Edinboro '06) -- 8-2, 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 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 is currently riding a five-game winning streak, after entering the 2019 portion of its season with a 99-92 win over No. 12 California(Pa.) on Wednesday. The Fighting Scots head back on the road for the first time in nearly a month, as they played their last five contests at McComb Fieldhouse. Edinboro is currently tied for second place in the PSAC West at 8-2 overall and 4-1 in the Western Division. The Fighting Scots also rank seventh in the latest D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll.
The 99 points scored against California(Pa.) was a season-high, and marked the fifth time this season Edinboro has tallied 90-or-more points. The Fighting Scots have also scored 50+ points in the second half in each of their last five games. Edinboro leads the PSAC and ranks 10th in Division II in scoring at 82.8 ppg. The Fighting Scots allow 69.3 ppg., which ranks eighth in the conference.
Jontay Walton scored her 1,000th career point against the Vulcans, becoming the 28th Fighting Scot to score 1,000 points in their career. With 2:55 left in the game, the 5'6" graduate student connected on a key 3-pointer, giving Edinboro a 92-84 lead. Walton, who has now scored 1,002 points her career, finished the game with 17 points. A graduate student, Walton was named a first team All-PSAC West selection a year ago. She ranks second on the team and is eighth in the PSAC in scoring with 18.4 ppg., and is the only Fighting Scot to score in double digits in each game this season. Her 54 assists and 30 steals rank fourth in the conference. Through 10 games, she ranks fifth in the PSAC in 3-point field goal percentage with a 37.5 pct. clip (21-of-56), and is sixth in free throw shooting at 84.6 percent (55-of-65)
Michaela Barnes scored 23 points vs. California(Pa.) on 9-of-12 shooting. In addition, she has scored 23 points in each of Edinboro's last three contests. The 5'5" guard leads Edinboro in scoring at 19.8 ppg., which ranks sixth in the PSAC. In the last six games, she has averaged 24.4 ppg. That includes a school-record 42 points vs. East Stroudsburg. Barnes was named a second team All-PSAC West selection and the PSAC Tournament MVP last season. The junior is currently rising on the career scoring list. In two-plus seasons, she has scored 871 career points.
Ciara Rosten made her return to the starting lineup against Cal. She played in limited minutes off the bench in the Fighting Scots previous game vs. Cheyney, but had missed three consecutive contests due to injury. In the win over Cal, the 6'2" forward flirted with a triple-double, as she finished with 13 points eight assists, and seven rebounds. The reigning PSAC West Athlete of the Year and Defensive Athlete of the Year held Seairra Barrett, the second leading scorer in the nation, to only 14 points. Barrett entered the contest scoring 26.1 ppg. Through seven games, Rosten has averaged 12.4 ppg. and is Edinboro's top-rebounder, bringing down 8.1 rpg. The redshirt senior, is quickly approaching 1,000 career points, as she increased her total in the last game to 934.
Michelle Jahn scored a season-best 22 points vs. Cal, which included a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line. The 5'7" guard ranks fourth on the team in scoring at 14.4 ppg. She is also Edinboro's top 3-point threat, having made 23-of-65 3-pointers. A second team All-PSAC West selection last season, the senior ranks 20th in career scoring with 1,212 points. She also ranks third in career 3-pointers made (219) and 3-pointers attempted (614), and is seventh in 3-point field goal percentage (.357).
Bridgette Shaffer contributed a career-high 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, and five rebounds vs. Cal. Since starting seven games ago, the 5'8" redshirt junior has averaged 13.2 ppg. and 7.4 rpg. Shaffer has also scored in double figures in four consecutive contests.
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.

Scouting the Griffins

Seton Hill outscored Slippery Rock, 16-3 over the final 5:11 of the game on Wednesday to pick up a 73-65 road victory. The Griffins, winners of three straight, are 9-3 overall and 3-2 in the PSAC West.
Head coach Mark Katarski guided Seton Hill to its best win total in program history last season at 20-10 overall and 14-8 in the PSAC West. Under his guidance, the Griffins have qualified for the PSAC Tournament in each of their first five seasons in the league. In his sixth year as head coach, he's compiled an 84-72 overall record. His resume also includes the 2016-17 PSAC West Coach of the Year award. Prior to his arrival at Seton Hill, he spent six seasons as the head coach at Division III Chatham, and has an 139-174 overall record. Kartaski also spent two seasons an assistant coach on the Division I Niagara women's basketball team.
This season, Seton Hill was picked to finish sixth in the PSAC West coaches' preseason poll, as the Griffins lost four of their top five scorers from last season, which includes three starters. Despite the loss, Seton Hill has had the same starting five in all 12 contests this season.
Seton Hill is among the leaders in Division II in scoring offense and rebounding. The Griffins are averaging 82.4 ppg, which ranks just behind Edinboro for second in the PSAC and 11th in the nation. Defensively, they have given up 74.7 ppg., which is 14th in the PSAC. On the glass, the Griffins lead the conference and rank 13th nationally, collecting 45.6 rpg., and are winning the battle of the boards by +4.5 rpg.
Megan Marecic, a graduate student transfer from Drexel, is Seton Hill's leading scorer, rebounder, and 3-point shooter. She is averaging 17.3 ppg., 8.2 rpg. (sixth in PSAC), and had made 32-of-81 (38.1 pct.) 3-pointers. Marecic is atop the PSAC in free throw shooting with an 89.2 pct. (33-of-37) mark at the line.
Cheyenne Trest, the reigning PSAC West Freshman of the Year, is contributing 12.3 ppg., second on the team. The 5'7" guard also leads the team in assists with 41. As a freshman, she was named the PSAC West Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week nine times.
After scoring 12 points total in 12 games a year ago, junior Lexi Civittolo currently ranks third in scoring with 10.5 ppg.

Next for the Fighting Scots

The Fighting Scots travel to Kutztown for the final PSAC crossover contest of the season on Wednesday, January 7, with a scheduled tip-off at 5;30 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

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

#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' 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 for Sixth Consecutive Win on Saturday at Seton Hill

Players Mentioned

#12 Whitney Allen

#2 Michaela Barnes

#20 Michelle Jahn

#15 Ciara Rosten

#1 Bridgette Shaffer

#5 Jontay Walton

Players Mentioned

#12 Whitney Allen

#2 Michaela Barnes

#20 Michelle Jahn

#15 Ciara Rosten

#1 Bridgette Shaffer

#5 Jontay Walton