admin
Mon, 09/09/2024 - 20:39
Edited Text
Shawn Ahearn, Coordinator
Sports Information and Promotions
Office: (814) 732-2776, ext. 234
Pax: (814)732-2596
Home: (814)734-9152
Internet: saheam@edinboro.edu

EDINBORO
UNIVERSITY
OF PENNSYLVANIA
EDINBORO, PA. 16444

For Immediate Release
February 24, 1997

Contact: Tom O’Connor, Asst. SID

Scots’ Women’s Basketball Team to Host Millersville
In First-Round PSAC Tournament Game
(EDINBORO, Pa.) ~ The Edinboro University women’s basketball team will host Millersville University
on Tuesday (Feb. 25) evening in the first round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference postseason
tournament. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m at EUP’s McComb Fieldhouse. The Scots (19-7 overall, 10-2 PSAC),
along with Shippensburg University (10-2 PSAC-West), finished as co-chan^ions of the PSAC-West. Edinboro,
who spht the season series with Shippensburg, received the No. 1 seed in the West by virtue of their two
victories vs. California University. Shippensburg spht the season series with California, the No. 3 seed in the
West. MiUersville (17-8 overall, 8-4 PSAC-East) finished tied for third in the Eastern Division. The Marauders
received the No. 4 seed in the East by virtue of their season-finale loss to Kutztown University Saturday, Feb.
22) night. The winner of Tuesday night’s game wih advance to the PSAC ‘Tinal Four,” held this weekend at the
highest remaining Eastern Division school. Should ah four Eastern Division schools lose to the West on Tuesday
night, the PSAC Final Four would be held at Edinboro University.
The Coaches
The Fighting Scots are coached by tenth-year veteran Stan Swank. In ten-plus seasons at Edinboro,
Swank has compiled a 169-105 (.617) record. With a win Tuesday night. Swank would post his fourth 20 or
more win season with the Scots. Swank, a graduate of Purdue University (1976), is assisted by Andrea Williams.
Millersville is led by Mary Fleig, who is 100-76 (.568) in her seven years with the Marauders. Fleig is
assisted by Betsy Witman, Darlene Newman and Tonya Matthews.
Last Time In the PSAC’s
As a No. 4 seed last season. The Scots defeated No. 1 seeded Kutztown University, 98-83, on the road in
the first round of the 1996 PSAC postseason tournament. After advancing to the ‘Tinal Four” round of the
tourney, the Scots fell to eventual runner-up Shppery Rock University, 67-60.
The Marauders last qualified for the PSAC postseason tournament in 1995, when they dropped a 68-48
decision to Clarion University.
0

All Time Series
Millersville has won all three of the meetings between the two schools, the most recent being a 65-53
victory over the Scots in the 1990-91 season.

-More-

■iL

Edinboro Women’s Basketball Release....Page Two
Scouting The Scots
The Fighting Scots have won their three previous games and have lost only twice since Dec. 30th (64-62
at Clarion on Jan. 29 and 94-76 at Shippensburg on Feb. 8). In their most recent game, the Scots defeated
California (Pa.) University, 73-71, to capture PSAC-West co-chanq>ion honors and the No. 1 seed for the
tournament. Freshman guard Jessica Rowe’s layup with sk seconds left in the game gave the Scots the victory.
Sophomore guard Meghan Miller led the Scots in scoring for the third-straight game, as she scored a game-high
22 points. Jimior forward Heather Gates, the NCAA-Division II leader in rebounding, at 14.7 boards per
contest, grabbed 14 rebounds in the win over the Vulcans. ‘Tt (the Cahfomia game) was a great win for our
team,” said head coach Stan Swank. “The game was a playoff-type of game for both teams. It was a great game
heading into the playoffs.” Gates currently leads the Scots in scoring average (15.1 ppg), rebounds (14.7 rpg),
steals (2.8 stlpg) and blocked shots (1.0 blkpg). Miller, the second leading scorer on the Scots (14.6 ppg)
currently ranks third in the PSAC in free throw percentage (.802), connecting on 85-106 attenq)ts from the free
throw line. Junior center Amy Rapelje (13.6 ppg) leads the PSAC in field goal percentage (.534), connecting on
150-281 field goals. In addition to Miller, Gates and Rapelje, Rowe (11.0 ppg) also averages double figures in
scoring. Top three-point shooters for the ‘Boro include: Meghan Miller (1.46 3-pt fg/g-fifth in the PSAC) and
junior reserve forward Kelly Mankowski (1.39 3-pt fg/g-seventh in the PSAC).
As a team, the Scots average a PSAC-best 80.5 points per contest and are outscoring opponents by an
average of 12.3 points per game. The Scots lead the PSAC in tiiree-point field goal percentage (.416) and rank
second in the conference in three-point field goals made per game (5.4).
Scouting the Marauders
Millersville had a three-game winning streak snapped Saturday (Feb. 22) evening, when they dropped a
56-46 decision at Rutztown University. Sophomore guard Becky Stoner led the Marauders with 11 points and
junior forward Jaime Martzall had a team-best 10 rebounds in the setback. Prior to Rutztown, the ‘ Ville
registered road wins over Philadelphia Textile (84-73 on Feb. 17) and East Stroudsburg (69-44 on Feb. 15).
Although the Marauders do not have a player in the top 15 in scoring in the PSAC, Millersville does have
a well-balanced offensive attack. The Marauders are led by senior forward Kia Damon, freshman guard Janell
Smith and junior forward Jami Wallig. Damon (11.6 points per game). Smith (11.0 ppg) and Wallig (10.4 ppg)
all average in double figures for the Marauders. Wallig (5.9 rebounds per game), along with junior forward
Jaime Martzall (5.9 rpg) lead MU in rebounding. Becky Stoner, who averages 9.6 points a game, is currently
fourth in the PSAC in steals (2.8 stlpg) and is also fifth in assists (4.1 apg) in the conference.
As a team, Millersville averages 68.4 points a game, while allowing 63.2 points a contest-fifth-best in the
PSAC.
Edinboro At Home/Millersville On The Road
Edinboro is 12-2 at home this season, including a perfect 6-0 in conference play at McComb Fieldhouse.
Millersville is 7-6 on the road this season.
Quoting Coach Swank
“Millersville is a very quick and scrappy team,” said Swank. “They play great defense and are very
intense throughout the game. We have been playing well of late,” continued Swank, “but we can play even
better, especially on offense.”