WOMEN'S BASKETBALL YSU faces tough tourney trail

The Penguins face Oral Roberts in the Mid-Con Tournament opener Saturday.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- It's been a difficult season for Youngstown State women's basketball coach Ed DiGregorio. It isn't going to get any easier this weekend.
The Penguins (10-17, 6-10) play Oral Roberts (17-10, 11-5) in the opening round of the Mid-Continent Conference tournament in Fort Wayne, Ind., Saturday at 5 p.m.
YSU is the seventh seed in the tournament and Oral Roberts, which was upset by the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the regular season finale, is the second seed.
Swept: The Penguins were swept by the Eagles in regular season, 74-71 in Tulsa, Okla. on Dec. 2, and 69-58 at Beeghly Center on Feb. 8.
The loss by Oral Roberts to UMKC significantly altered the tournament pairings. Had Oral Roberts won that game, the Penguins would have been paired with Oakland, which beat YSU by 25 points on Feb. 26.
"We definitely match up much better with Oral Roberts than we do with Oakland," said DiGregorio. "I don't know of anybody that can match up with Oakland when they shoot like they did against us."
DiGregorio is still dismayed over the game against Oakland, when YSU trailed by just four points with 14 minutes remaining in the game.
"Our top three shooters were 1-for-23 in that game," he said. "Shooting is a mental process. The physical part of it we take care of every day in practice, but the mental part we have no control over.
"I know one thing for sure, we are not going to stop shooting the basketball," he added. "I told our shooters that if you're open shoot the ball, because Saturday it is going to come down to who shoots the ball the best.
Fairly even: "Oral Roberts is an excellent basketball team, but we match up with them pretty well," DiGregorio said. "When we played them early in the year we had a lead going into the final minutes but couldn't hold it. The second time here we shot poorly."
Oral Roberts also shot poorly against UMKC, just 21 percent.
"It can happen to anyone," DiGregorio said. "We've always played well in the tournament."
Senior Alyson Vogrin is the key; she must score for the Penguins to have a chance. The Boardman native is averaging over 13 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Vogrin, who was named to the all-conference first team on Wednesday, will need help.
Senior guard Jen Lyden has had problems all season, but may be back to full strength for the tournament. After being diagnosed with diabetes several weeks ago, her treatment has restored her strength and stamina and she played her best game against Oakland.
Another bright spot might be senior Amanda Scott, who had career highs of 16 points and nine rebounds in the regular season finale.
"Amanda will get the start on Saturday and hopefully she can continue what she started on Monday," DiGregorio said.
Freshman Heather Harris and junior Monica Vicarel will round out the starting lineup, while freshman Cathy Hanek and senior Nikki Pope will be the first off the bench.
Top player: They will have to deal with conference player of the year, Oral Roberts' Krista Ragan.
The 5-foot-7 junior averaged a team-high 16.6 points per game. The Mid-Con's newcomer of the year, 6-2 Jennette Bolovinos, averaged 10.6 points per game and a team-best 5.8 rebounds per game.
The Eagles' other starters are 6-2 sophomore Shayne McKenzie (5.1 points), 5-9 senior Dana Whittaker (6.1) and 5-7 freshman Cori Williston (5.1).
The winner of the game will play either No. 3 seed Western Illinois or No. 6 Chicago State in the semifinals on Monday at 2:15 p.m.