JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley senior girls basketball forward Erin Danik has verbally committed to Fairmont State University.

The 6-foot-2 forward, recruited by some Division I programs, plans to major in biology and go into pre-med. She is carrying a 3.9 grade point average.

“I thought about playing Division I basketball, but I need to take care of my academics first,” Danik said. “Fairmont State has an excellent program in my field.

“In terms of basketball, I felt a strong connection with the coaching staff and I love the surroundings down there.”

Fairmont State is coming off a 20-8 season, its eighth 20-win campaign in the past 13 years. The Falcons are on a streak of 13 consecutive winning seasons.

“Erin was looking for the academics that fit her major,” Seneca Valley girls basketball coach Rob Lombardo said. “She had to love the school and she had to love the coaching staff. She found it all.”

Head coach Steve McDonald has put together a career record of 319-151 — a nearly 70 percent winning rate — in 16 years at Fairmont.

“The coaches allow you to be yourself there. I felt very comfortable with them,” Danik said. “If the head coach leaves in a year or two, plans are for the assistant to step up as the new coach.

“I won’t be in a situation where I’m there two years and they totally uproot the staff.”

Danik averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds for Seneca Valley last season. She will be a third-year starter this coming season and she started a number of games as a freshman.

“At 6-foot-2, Erin can handle the basketball, she can shoot the 3, she can post up ... At the Division II level, she’ll be able to utilize that entire skill-set,” Lombardo said.

The Raiders have not gotten past the first round of the WPIAL playoffs the past two years.

“That’s my biggest goal, to be part of the senior class that gets past that first round.” Danik said.

She also hopes to reach the 1,000-point plateau next year.

“It would take a big senior year, but (1,000) is within reach and I’m challenging myself to get there,” Danik said.

Danik has 573 points, 449 rebounds and 94 blocked shots in her prep career. She has a shot at SV’s career rebound (666) and blocked shots (119) records her senior year.

“The 1,000 points are attainable for her, too,” Lombardo said. “She would have to average around 18 points per game, but Erin is very capable of doing that.”

Danik played part of last season with a broken finger, but still set the Seneca Valley career free throws made record with 195 and tied the program’s single-game blocked shot record of eight.

Among the Division I schools actively recruiting Danik were Loyola, Bryant, Lehigh, New Hampshire, Cornell and Dartmouth.

“Between myself and her AAU coaches, we probably heard from 36 schools or so,” Lombardo said. “It was a joy going through the recruiting process with Erin Danik.

“She definitely had her academics in mind and she wanted to go to a campus-style college with a rural setting.”

Fairmont State had five players average in double figures last season. One of them graduated and the other four are seniors this year.

“That’s a good basketball program that keeps getting better,” Lombardo said. “They replace good senior classes with good incoming classes. Erin will be part of that.”