Edinboro Wins Fifth PSAC Women's Basketball Title
CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
INDIANA, Pa. --- Edinboro won the 2018 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship with a 77-66 victory over Millersville Sunday afternoon at the Kovalchick Complex in Indiana, Pa.
The Fighting Scots improved to 26-3 on the season and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA DII Women’s Basketball Tournament. EU claimed its fifth PSAC title and first since 2014.
EU sophomore Michaela Barnes was named the Most Valuable Player after scoring 18 points and grabbing five rebounds in the title game.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Michaela Barnes, Edinboro
The Marauders fell to 18-12 while PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year Alayah Hall and Courtney Dimoff dropped 16 points apiece. MU’s Lauren Lister contributed 15 points.
Both offenses shined in the first half while both shot 50% or better.
EU’s Jontay Walton led all scorers with 22 points while senior Ciara Rosten produced a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
The NCAA DII Selection Show is slated for 10 PM Sunday.
FINAL - March 4 (at IUP)
No. 2 (W) Edinboro 77, No. 3 (E) Millersville 66
Box Score
EU Recap
MU Recap
SEMIFINALS - March 3 (at IUP)
No. 2 (W) Edinboro 106, No. 1 (E) West Chester 78
Box Score
EU Recap
WCU Recap
No. 3 (E) Millersville 89, No. 1 (W) IUP 86 (3OT) - Longest WBB Postseason Game in PSAC history
Box Score
MU Recap
IUP Recap
QUARTERFINALS - February 28
No. (W) 1 IUP 67, No. 4 (W) Seton Hill 52
Box Score
IUP Recap
SHU Recap
No. 3 (E) Millersville 91, No. 2 (E) East Stroudsburg 76
Box Score
MU Recap
ESU Recap
No. 1 (E) West Chester 81, No. 4 (E) Kutztown 72
Box Score
WCU Recap
KU Recap
No. 2 (W) Edinboro 89, No. 3 (W) California 45
Box Score
EU Recap
CAL Recap
1ST ROUND - February 26
No. 4 (E) Kutztown 73, No. 5 (E) Bloomsburg 60
Box Score
KU Recap
BU Recap
No. 4 (W) Seton Hill 78, No. 5 Gannon (W) 65
Box Score
SHU Recap
GU Recap
No. 3 (E) Millersville 51, No. 6 (E) Mansfield 38
Box Score
VILLE Recap
MANS Recap
No. 3 (W) California 81, No. 6 (W) Slippery Rock 70
Box Score
CAL Recap
SRU Recap
CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The 2018 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament 12-team field has been set following the conclusion of the regular season Saturday.
The top six teams from each division earned an opportunity to win the PSAC Women’s Basketball Championship while the top two teams from each division earned a first-round bye.
The highest remaining seed from the West will host the semifinals and finals.
The IUP Crimson Hawks grabbed the No. 1 seed in the West and seek to repeat as PSAC Champions after winning the title last year with an 84-79 victory over California. IUP entered the week at No. 9 in the latest NCAA DII Rankings. Boasting a 25-2 mark, coach Tom McConnell’s will enter the postseason on an eight-game win streak while his squad sits at third in scoring offense (75.1) while his defense has allowed the fewest points per game (52.9). Megan Smith is ranks fifth in the PSAC in scoring (17.7) while leading the league in three-point percentage (43.7).
IUP will host the winner of Seton Hill and Gannon Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in a quarterfinal.
Edinboro swiped the No. 2 seed in the West while sporting an overall record of 22-3. Jontay Walton and Ciara Rosten are tied for ninth in scoring (16.5) while Rosten leads the conference in rebounds (11.7), field goal percentage (50.1) and blocked shots (96). The Fighting Scots are No. 11 in the country and will host the winner of Cal and Slippery Rock at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 in a quarterfinal.
No. 24 Cal earned the No. 3 slot in the West while boasting a 23-5 record and will be led by senior Shatara Parsons. Parsons is second in the PSAC in scoring (21.6) and leads the conference in steals (84). The Vulcans will welcome SRU Monday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
SRU grabbed the No. 6 seed and enter the postseason with a 12-15 mark. Sophomore Brooke Hinderliter paces The Rock in scoring at 13.9 per contest.
SHU claimed the No. 4 slot in the West and will host Gannon Monday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. SHU is fourth in the conference in scoring (73.7). SHU’s Jenna Kaufman is sixth in the PSAC in rebounds (8.1). The Griffins are 4-4 in their last eight contests.
GU landed the No. 5 seed and enters the postseason on a three-game win streak following a four-game losing skid. Maggie Mitchell is tied for second in the PSAC in three-point percentage (38.6) and is fifth in assists per game (4.0).
In the East, West Chester ran away with the division while earning the No. 1 seed and are currently riding a 17-game win streak. The Golden Rams are 22-4 overall and haven’t lost since Dec. 19, 2017. WCU is the lone PSAC to average more than 80 points per contest (82.4) while Porscha Speller paces the offense at 16.6 points per game. Mia Hopkins is second in field goal percentage (49.8) and fourth in rebounding (8.8).
The Golden Rams will host the winner of Kutztown and Bloomsburg Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 PM in a quarterfinal.
East Stroudsburg claimed the No. 2 seed in the East despite ending the season on a four-game losing skid. The Warriors offense averages 71.3 points per game; which is fifth best in the league. Jordan Hertz sparks the ESU while distributing 4.5 assists per contest.
The Warriors will host the winner of Mansfield and Millersville Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 PM in a quarterfinal.
Millersville earned the No. 3 slot after posting a 15-11 mark during the regular season. Alayah Hall is one of nine PSAC athletes to average more than 17 points per game (17.1). Kendra Bamberger is seventh in the conference in rebounds (8.0). The Marauders will host Mansfield Monday, Feb. 26 at 6 PM.
Mansfield earned the No. 6 seed and will make its first playoff appearance in 11 years. The Mountaineers earned the final slot in the East after a win against Cheyney on the last day of the regular season. MU split with Millersville while each team won its respective home game.
KU earned the No. 4 seed and finished the regular season 17-11 and are winners of five of its last six. The Golden Bears average 67.1 points per game while allowing 67.5. KU hosts a first-round contest Monday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 PM.
BU claimed the No. 5 slot and are fifth in scoring defense (62.7). Meghan Corridoni is averaging a blocked shot per game. The Huskies are winners of seven straight after falling in seven consecutive contests.
The tournament victor earns an automatic bid to the NCAA DII Women’s Basketball Tournament.
Monday, February 26 - 1st Round
No. 5 (East) Bloomsburg at No. 4 (East) Kutztown – 5:30 PM
No. 5 (West) Gannon at No. 4 (West) Seton Hill – 6 PM
No. 6 (East) Mansfield at No. 3 (East) Millersville – 6 PM
No. 6 (West) Slippery Rock at No. 3 (West) California – 7 PM
Wednesday, February 28 - Quarterfinals
Winner of SHU/GU at No. 1 (West) IUP – 5:30 PM
Winner of MANS/MILL at No. 2 (East) East Stroudsburg – 5:30 PM
Winner of KU/BU at No. 1 (East) West Chester – 5:30 PM
Winner of SRU/CAL at No. 2 (West) Edinboro – 7 PM
Saturday, March 3 - Semifinals (Top remaining West Seed will host)
Semifinal 1 will be at 1 p.m.
Semifinal 2 will be at 3:30 p.m. (Top remaining West seed)
Sunday, March 4 - Final
SF 1 Winner vs. SF 2 Winner - TBA