Lady Scots Capture Home Playoff Game on 'Fighting Cancer' Day

Edinboro women’s basketball clinched a home playoff game Saturday in a win over Clarion on the annual “Fighting Scots Fighting Cancer” day. The Scots won 80-49 and are now 18-8 overall and 13-7 in the PSAC West.

“This win definitely helps our confidence because we had a tough loss against IUP, and right now, we’re fourth in the conference, and we’re trying to make moves to get more towards the top,” Katie Fischer said.

Edinboro designated this year’s Fighting Cancer day to former Girard high school basketball player Harlie Rae Bolt, who passed away from leukemia shortly after the end of the spring 2015 semester. All proceeds from the game went to the “Halos for Harlie” Leukemia and Lymphoma society.

Instead of a moment for silence for Harlie, her life was celebrated with a round of applause from the crowd of 800.

The Scots got off to a bit of a slow start in the game, but closed the first quarter out on a 9-0 run to take the lead, 18-11, and didn’t slow down after that.

Clarion ran the full court press early in the game, which could have contributed to the slow start.

“We need some nice cuts off that and got some things early,” head coach Stan Swank said of the team’s ability to adapt to the press.

“They did hit a spot where they slowed us down, but I don’t think it really hurt us.”

They carried momentum into the second quarter and opened up with a 13-5 run and took a 38-27 lead into halftime.

Edinboro opened up the second half on a 16-4 run to take a 54-31 lead. Their lead was never less than 20 points for the rest of the game.

Four Fighting Scots were in double figures on the night. Aignee’ Freeland led the way with 18 points, along with 8 rebounds. Lauren Hippo had 17 points, going 5-6 from the field and a perfect 3-3 from three-point range.

“That’s nice,” Swank said of his players in double digits, while smiling.

“It allows us to have a nice balanced attack. I think when you have a balanced attack it makes it very difficult for the other team.”

Michelle Jahn had 13, 9 of them coming from beyond the arc. Katie Fischer had 12 and 10 assists to gain her sixth double-double of the season.

The Scots won the rebound battle, 47-32, and outscored the Golden Eagles, 32-22, in the paint.

“Once we controlled the boards, we really controlled the game,” Swank said.

The women’s next game is Saturday, Feb. 20 in their final regular season home game against Seton Hill.

Michael McLaughlin is the Sports Editor for The Spectator and he can be reached at sports.spectator@gmail.com.

RELATED ARTICLES