WOMEN'S HOOPS YSU snaps losing streak

The Penguins had no trouble with winless Robert Morris, 99-81.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- What a difference a healthy Youngstown State University women's basketball team makes.
The Penguins, who were still not completely healthy but better than they have been, played 40 strong minutes Sunday and rolled to a 99-81 victory over Robert Morris College at Sewall Center.
Senior Jenny Horner had a career-high 22 points, while sophomore Heather Harris added 21 points and sophomore Jessica Forsythe came off the bench to score 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds in only 18 minutes.
Sophomore Cathy Hanek also was in double figures with 15 points.
"I thought Cathy Hanek had her best game overall this year, and Jenny [Horner] and Heather [Harris] played like they are capable of doing," said YSU coach Ed DiGregorio. "We also got a great effort from Jessica [Forsythe] off the bench."
Playing through injury: Junior point guard Maggie Johnston, still nursing an injured ankle, played 16 minutes and scored just four points but dished out six assists and had two steals.
Add that to the fact that the team's second-leading scorer and top rebounder, freshman Jen Perugini, didn't even dress for the game because of a sprained ankle.
YSU (3-5) snapped a four-game losing streak.
"When we're healthy we can play," said DiGregorio. "Maggie [Johnston] makes a big difference when she's in there. She just makes things happen with her penetration."
Perugini, who injured her ankle in practice on Friday, was on crutches, but could be ready for Saturday's game at Toledo.
The Penguins started slowly, falling behind 9-2 in the early minutes, but a quick 7-0 run tied the score at the 14:40 mark.
Taking control: The game see-sawed back and forth until Harris and Hanek scored back-to-back buckets to give YSU the lead for keeps. The Colonials (0-5) tied the score 19-19, but YSU ran off eight straight points, including four from senior guard Monica Vicarel to take command 27-19.
The Penguins hit another 7-0 run as the half was winding down, including five by Horner, to increase their lead to 34-22. They led 44-33 at halftime.
The Penguins started to find the range from 3-point land in the second half, hitting three in the first three minutes, one each by Harris, Hanek and freshman Barbora Fabianova, and pulled into a 17-point lead, 57-40.
The Penguins were still in front by 17 (69-52) at the 10-minute mark. Then, at the six-minute mark, Robert Morris made a brief run by scoring seven straight points to get to within 10 points, 79-69.
Putting it away: But that was as close as the Colonials got as the Penguins made 8-of-11 free throws down the stretch. Sophomore Devin Novak capped the scoring with two baskets in the final minute, one a 3-pointer, to finish off the Colonials.
The Penguins shot 48 percent (36 of 75) from the field and were 21 of 33 from the foul line. Robert Morris, led by Missy Spangler's 28 points, shot 48.3 percent from the field (29 of 60). The Penguins were 6 of 20 from 3-point range and the Colonials 9 of 25.
Robert Morris outrebounded the Penguins 47-38, led by Spangler's 11, and she also dished out four assists.
The Penguins committed just six turnovers, while forcing Robert Morris into 25. The Penguins also had 12 steals to zero for the Colonials.
mollica@vindy.com