WOMEN'S HOOPS Penguins invade Buffalo tonight

Freshman Barbora Fabianova will play in her second contest for YSU.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Barbora Fabianova did just about everything possible for her high school team.
Now the native of Prievidza, Slovak Republic, is hoping to do the same for the Youngstown State women's basketball team.
Fabianova, a 6-foot-1 freshman forward, was one of YSU coach Ed DiGregorio's top recruits last year, and she was expected to contribute immediately for the Penguins.
But during the first week of practice this fall, Fabianova suffered an ankle injury and missed the team's first three games. She saw her first action last Saturday in a 69-49 loss at Chicago State.
Tonight: Fabianova and the Penguins will return to action tonight when they travel to Buffalo for a 7 p.m. non-conference game.
This will be the third straight road game for the Penguins (2-2), who still have six more to go before returning home early in January.
Fabianova came to the Penguins from Kennedy Catholic High, where in her senior season she led the Eagles to a 29-3 record and the Class A Pennsylvania state championship.
"She is such an outstanding offensive player and a versatile athlete," DiGregorio said. "But the injury has put her behind and she is working very hard to make up that time."
Fabianova played 20 minutes against the Cougars on Saturday and scored five points, sinking a 3-point goal on her first shot. She also had four rebounds and three assists, but committed five turnovers as the Penguins had a season-high 31 in the game.
Transition: Earlier this season, Fabianova talked about the move to Division I college basketball from high school.
"It's much quicker and more physical, but I feel with a lot of work I can make the switch," she said. "There are a lot of good young players on this team and once we get use to one another we should be OK."
While Fabianova just got her first taste of college ball, another freshman has been improving by leaps and bounds.
Jen Perugini, a 6-2 forward, has become a leader in rebounding and scoring for the Penguins, reaching double figures in both categories in all four games.
She is averaging over 12 points and 15 rebounds a game, including a high of 23 rebounds in a win over Akron.
Reinforcement: Sophomore Heather Harris has taken over a role as scorer. She is averaging over 16 points a game, including a season- and career-high 23 points against Akron.
Junior point guard Maggie Johnston, a 5-5 transfer from George Mason, sprained an ankle early in the game against Akron and didn't play at all against Chicago State. DiGregorio is hoping she'll be ready tonight.
"She's the leader out on the floor, she makes the offense go and leads the defense," DiGregorio said. "We really miss her."
Sophomore guard Cathy Hanek also will miss tonight's game after suffering a concussion Saturday.
If Johnson isn't ready, senior Monica Vicarel will start at the point, with Fabianova getting her first start as the other guard. Perugini and Harris will be at forward and senior Jen Horner at center.
Previous game: Buffalo (1-4), coached by Cheryl Dozier in her fourth season, beat the Penguins 74-54 at Beeghly Center, but YSU leads the series 10-4.
Buffalo is coming off a 56-43 loss to St. Bonaventure Sunday.
The Bulls will start 5-9 junior Kate McKeeken-Ruscoe and 5-6 sophomore Virginia Jennings at guards, with 6-1 junior Rachel Martin at center and 5-9 freshman Allison Bennett and 6-1 sophomore Jessica Kochendorfer at forward.
McKeeken-Ruscoe and Kochendorfer are averaging 12 points a game for the Bulls.