WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM PICKED THIRD IN PSAC WEST PRESEASON POLL

EDINBORO, PA - The Edinboro University women's basketball team was picked for third place in the 2004-05 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Coaches Preseason Poll released on Wednesday. The Fighting Scots finished the 2003-04 season with an 18-10 record, and were third in the Western Division with a 6-6 ledger.

To no one's surprise, defending national champion California(Pa.) is the preseason favorite with three starters returning. The Vulcans went 11-1 in league play and were 35-1 overall. Shippensburg is second. The Lady Raiders were 19-11 a year ago. Clarion holds down the fourth position with a 15-12 record, while Slippery Rock, despite returning all five starters, is only picked fifth at 13-14. Indiana(Pa.) (14-12) is sixth while Lock Haven (8-18) was picked seventh.

The coaches also chose their All-PSAC Preseason Team. The team included two players each from California(Pa.) and Clarion, but none from Edinboro. Sara McKinney, last year's Player of the Year, and Megan Storck represented California(Pa.), with Heather Cigich and Shay Godwin selected from Clarion. Slippery Rock's Stacey Green and Shanna Oaddams of Shippensburg completed the team.

Edinboro returns two players who started all 28 games a year ago, and head coach Stan Swank will also welcome back a pair of guards who missed considerable time due to injury. Maria DiVecchio (Erie, PA/Villa Maria) enters her third season as a starter. The 5'11" junior was a second team All-PSAC West selection after averaging 14.1 ppg. and 4.9 rpg. She'll start at forward along with Megan Zitner (Milan, OH/Edison), who is now fully recovered from a knee injury that forced her to miss the 2002-03 season. The 5'11" senior averaged 8.9 ppg. and 5.2 rpg., but did show the type of game she exhibited in 2001-02 until late in the year. As a sophomore Zitner averaged 11.2 ppg. and 7.7 rpg.

Senior Jodi Calderone (Freedom, PA/Ambridge) missed the entire PSAC West portion of the season a year ago due to a broken hand. The 5'5" guard played in just 14 games, averaging 8.9 ppg. with 28 three-pointers. Calderone is a strong defender and the team's top three-point threat. Junior Callie Iorfido (Ambridge, PA/Ambridge) takes over at point guard for Courtney Thompson. Iorfido missed the final seven games due to an injury, but was enjoying an outstanding campaign up until that point. She ranked among the PSAC leaders in assists (100), steals (57) and assist-turnover ratio (100-56). Iorfido averaged 7.3 ppg.

Junior guard Jessi Montie (Erie, PA/McDowell) is sure to see plenty of playing time after averaging 7.0 ppg. last year. The guard corps is further bolstered with the addition of Calderone's sister, Kelly Calderone (Freedom, PA/Ambridge). A transfer from the University at Buffalo, the 5'8" sophomore is another strong outside shooter who averaged 5.1 ppg. with 18 three-pointers a year ago.

Edinboro opens the 2004-05 campaign on Friday, November 19 in the Millersville Classic. The Fighting Scots face a difficult opener, playing NCAA Playoff entrant Barton, who was 24-6 a year ago.

~ Fighting Scots ~

Edinboro Athletic Press Release Index

Created on ... November 10, 2004