Abby Sallot

Women's Basketball 2/8/2019 11:25:00 AM Trey Staunch, Sports Information Intern

Edinboro in Search of Another Upset of California(Pa.)

After wrapping up a four-game homestand on Wednesday night, the Edinboro women's basketball team hits the road to take on 17th-ranked California(Pa.) on Saturday. On Wednesday, with four players in double figures, Pitt-Johnstown snapped Edinboro's four-game winning streak . The Mountain Cats outscored the Fighting Scots, 23-10, in the final quarter and thanks to a 50.0 percent shooting performance in the second half, claimed a 73-68 victory.
Both Edinboro and California(Pa.) are coming off losses in their previous games. The Vulcans last played last Saturday, suffering a 72-61 loss at Slippery Rock. Edinboro enters the game with a 14-6 overall record and is 9-5 in PSAC action. Cal comes in at 18-2 overall and 12-2 in league play. The Vulcans are ranked 17th in the latest WBCA Division II Top 25. While trailing Cal by three games for the second playoff spot in the PSAC West, Edinboro could gain a huge tiebreaker advantage with a win in the Convocation Center after handing Cal its first loss of the season, 99-92, on January 2 at McComb Fieldhouse.
Edinboro comes into the contest having won the last three meetings against Cal and seven of the last nine. First-year head coach Callie Wheeler has matched the record for most wins by a first-year coach at Edinboro with her 14th a week ago vs. Salem.
Edinboro ranks second in the PSAC and 12th in Division II in scoring offense, averaging 79.4 ppg., and is ninth in the conference in scoring defense at 69.5 ppg. California(Pa.) comes into the matchup ranked fourth in the PSAC in scoring offense (73.3 ppg.) and second in scoring defense (59.5 ppg.).
Three of the top six scorers in the PSAC will be sharing the floor Saturday afternoon. Michaela Barnes comes in ranked fifth at 20.0 ppg., with backcourt partner Jontay Walton ranked sixth at 18.7 ppg. for the Fighting Scots. For Cal, redshirt senior Seairra Barrett comes into the contest ranked second in the PSAC and seventh in Division II at 23.4 ppg. She is also ranked fourth in the PSAC with 8.5 rpg.
For the first time in program history, Edinboro has four players with 1,000-or-more career points on the roster. Three of those players accomplished the feat this season. Michelle Jahn ranks 15th at Edinboro with 1,313 career points. Walton is 21st at 1,191 points, Barnes stands 28th with 1,073 points, and Ciara Rosten is currently 30th with 1,055. All told, the foursome have combined for 4,632 career points at Edinboro.

On the Radio/Video

The Edinboro-California(Pa.) game can be heard on WFSE-FM 88.9 with Madi Gross on the call. The game can also be viewed live as part of the PSAC Network.

All-Time Series vs. California(Pa.)
Edinboro leads 46-41
First Meeting: 1970-71 – Edinboro 52, California(Pa.) 35
Last Meeting: 2018-19 - Edinboro 99, Calfornia(Pa.) 92
Current Streak: Edinboro has won the last three contests
Wheeler vs. California(Pa.): 1-0

LAST MEETING
January 2, 2019 – Edinboro 99, California(Pa.) 92 at Edinboro, Pa. -- Box Score | Recap

In a rematch of last year's PSAC quarterfinals, Edinboro found itself trailing by 12 points in the first quarter, only to come roaring back and hand 12th-ranked California(Pa.) a 99-92 defeat, the first loss of the season for the Vulcans.

All five starters scored in double figures as the Fighting Scots scored a season-high 99 points and topped 90 points for the fifth time in 10 games. Edinboro shot a season-high 60.7 percent from the floor and made 9-of-12 3-pointers. Michaela Barnes led Edinboro with 23 points, while Bridgette Shaffer chipped in a career-high 22 points, as did Michelle Jahn. Jontay Walton scored 17 points to top the 1,000-point mark for her career at Edinboro with 1,002 points, while Ciara Rosten returned to the lineup and totaled 13 points. California(Pa.) also had five players in double digits, led by Abbey Sporio and Gina Vallecorsa with 18 apiece.
California(Pa.) jumped out to an 18-6 with under four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Edinboro answered with a 14-2 run to knot the score at 20-20 with 20 seconds remaining on Jontay Walton's jumper, before Gina Vallecorsa's 3-point play gave Cal a 23-20 lead after ten minutes.
Cal scored the first basket of the second quarter for a 25-20 lead, but Edinboro countered with a 9-0 run. Michelle Jahn accounted for the first seven points on four free throws and a 3-pointer.The Fighting Scots would build a six-point lead on three occasions before heading into the locker room at intermission with a 48-43 lead.
Edinboro shot an incredible 84.6 percent in the third quarter, making 11-of-13 field goals, while building the lead to 72-62 after three quarters. Cal would take its last lead of the game at 55-54 with 6:39 remaining in the period, but the Scots ended the half on an 18-7 run.
The Fighting Scots would extend the lead to 80-64 with 8:08 remaining as Jahn and Bridgette Shaffer drained three's and Michaela Barnes scored on a layup. The lead was still at 15 points at 87-72 with 5:16 to play thanks to a Barnes' layup, when Cal began a comeback. Over the next three minutes, the Vulcans outscored Edinboro, 16-5, to suddenly close the gap to 92-88.
The Vulcans had an opportunity to pull to within two following a steal, but they would commit two turnovers on their next two possessions, and Barnes drained a 3-pointer from the right wing to build the margin back to 95-88 with just 49 seconds remaining. Jahn made four free throws in the final 11 seconds as Edinboro handed Cal its first loss of the season.

Head Coach: Callie Wheeler (Edinboro '06) -- 14-6, 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

The Fighting Scots wrapped up a four-game homestand against Pitt-Johnstown Wednesday night. The Fighting Scots saw their four-game winning streak come to an end, as the Mountain Cats knock off the Fighting Scots, 73-68. Edinboro is now 14-6 overall and 9-5 in the PSAC West. The Scots stand third in the Western division and are looking to clinch a tenth consecutive PSAC playoff berth.
Jontay Walton led three players in double figures against UPJ with 20 points, adding six assists and six steals. Ciara Rosten registered her fifth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds, going a perfect 6-of-6 at the line. Michaela Barnes also scored 18 points, going 7-of-8 from the charity stripe.
Edinboro showcases two of the top six scorers in the PSAC in Michaela Barnes and Jontay Walton. Barnes comes into the game ranked fifth at 20.0 ppg., while Walton is averaging 18.7 ppg., good for sixth. Both have been frequent visitors to the free throw line, with Barnes making 112-of-135 and Walton 112-of-132. Walton is third in the conference in free throw percentage (84.8 pct.), with Barnes sixth (83.0 pct.). A 5'5" guard, Barnes is shooting 52.3 percent from the field (138-of-264), good for fifth in the PSAC. Walton, a 5'6" guard, stands second in the PSAC in steals (2.9 per game), fourth in assists (4.6 per game), and is tenth in 3-point field goals made per game (2.0). Walton has scored in double figures in all 20 games this season, and Edinboro's last 36 games dating back to last season.
Michelle Jahn provides Edinboro with a third standout at guard. The 5'7" senior is averaging 12.3 ppg. and is the team's top 3-point threat with 46 in 128 attempts. She is fourth in the PSAC in 3-point field goal percentage (35.9 pct.) and fifth in 3-pointers made per game (2.3). In addition, she stands seventh in free throw percentage (82.8 pct.). Jahn ranks second in career 3-pointers made (242) and career 3-pointers attempted (677), and is sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (.357).
Ciara Rosten has battled injuries this season, missing four contests, but comes in averaging 13.0 ppg. and a team-leading 7.9 rpg., good for sixth in the PSAC. She stands 12th in career rebounds (696) and second in career blocked shots (207). The reigning PSAC West Athlete of the Year and Defensive Athlete of the Year ranks second in the PSAC in blocks per game (2.4) and in total blocks (39).
Bridgette Shaffer provides the Fighting Scots with another deadly outside threat, and though just 5'8", is averaging 7.1 rpg., good for 13th in the PSAC. The redshirt junior is averaging 8.3 ppg. and has made 36-of-87 3-pointers.

Scouting the Vulcans

California(Pa.) returns to the hardwood after suffering their second loss of the season to Slippery Rock, 72-61, a week ago. Like Edinboro, Cal remains one of the powerhouse teams in Division II basketball with an 18-2 overall record and 12-2 mark in the PSAC West. The Vulcans are 17th in the WBCA Division II Top 25.
Head coach Jess Strom, a former three-time All-Big Ten selection at Penn State, entered the season ranked fifth in Division II in winning percentage (.782) among DII active coaches. Strom has led the Vulcans to a 183-48 overall record in eight seasons as head coach, highlighted by the 2015 NCAA Division II National Championship. 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 served as Cal's interim head coach. She is a two-time PSAC West Coach of the Year recipient (2014 and '15), and was named the 2016-17 WBCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.
Cal is averaging 73.3 ppg., the fourth-most in the PSAC and is only allowing 59.5ppg., for second in the conference. In addition, the Vulcans lead the PSAC and rank third in Division II in turnover margin at +10.1. They force almost 25 turnovers per game.
While losing forward Shatara Parsons, a WBCA honorable mention All-American, Cal welcomed back Seairra Barrett, who missed the 2017-18 campaign with an injury. A 6'0" redshirt senior, Barrett has enjoyed a star-studded career. She was named the 2015 PSAC West Freshman of the Year, then was a second team All-PSAC West choice in 2016 and a first team in 2017, along with earning honorable mention All-American honors in '17. She ranks second in the PSAC and seventh in Division II in scoring at 23.4 ppg., accounting for almost one-third of Cal's scoring. She also ranks fourth in the PSAC in rebounds at 8.5rpg., and leads the PSAC is steals with 3.2 steals per game.
Gina Vallecorsa, a 5'9" junior, is the only other Vulcan scoring in double figures at 10.2 ppg. She is Cal's top 3-point threat, making 32-of-80 from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Bianca Jasper ranks sixth in the PSAC with 79 assists and has a 2.63 assist-turnover ratio, which is good for third the PSAC and 12th in Division II.

Next for the Fighting Scots

Edinboro will return home to face Seton Hill on Wednesday, February 13. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#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

#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 in Search of Another Upset of California(Pa.)

Players Mentioned

#2 Michaela Barnes

#20 Michelle Jahn

#15 Ciara Rosten

#1 Bridgette Shaffer

#5 Jontay Walton

Players Mentioned

#2 Michaela Barnes

#20 Michelle Jahn

#15 Ciara Rosten

#1 Bridgette Shaffer

#5 Jontay Walton