Women rise, then fall to Bulls

The Penguins were unable to hold leads in regulation and overtime against Buffalo.
By DOUG CHAPIN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- The struggling Youngstown State University women's basketball team put together a stirring second-half comeback Wednesday night at Beeghly Center against the University of Buffalo.
However, the Penguins failed to hold a three-point lead in the final 15 seconds of regulation and a five-point lead in the last minute of overtime, dropping an 86-80 decision to the Bulls.
YSU (2-6) has lost three in a row, and Buffalo (5-1) has won the last three contests between the schools.
Erin Lawrenson sank a 3-point shot from the top of the key with 1.7 seconds showing on the clock to tie the score at 67 and send it into overtime.
Defense falters
"During the time-out we told the girls number 13 [Lawrenson] was going to take the shot, but nobody guarded her," YSU coach Ed DiGregorio said. "We stressed not giving up a 3-point shot even if we had to foul."
Buffalo set up its final play for Lawrenson, who was covered initially as she received a pass. She took one dribble to the left to free herself enough to get off the shot, one of just two she made in the game.
YSU's 3-point specialist, Devin Novak, was much more accurate, shooting 7-for-11 from the field, including 5-for-9 from 3-point range, in a 21-point performance. Her 3-pointer with 1:33 remaining in regulation gave YSU its first lead, 65-63, since the Penguins led 22-21 at the 8:34 mark of the first half.
Novak's two free throws with 15 seconds remaining put YSU ahead 67-64, setting up Lawrenson's heroics. Those free throws by Novak also were the last two points of a 12-1 run, one of two second-half streaks DiGregorio's team put together to rally from a 38-26 halftime deficit.
"At halftime we just told the girls to relax, to play smart and to not turn the ball over," DiGregorio said. "We settled down and we played our game."
Buffalo streaks to lead
A 17-4 run in the last 81/2 minutes of the first half had given Buffalo its lead. The Penguins, playing much better interior defense to start the second half, quickly cut the gap to 39-34. The Buffalo lead stayed between five and 11 points until YSU's late surge.
Besides better defense, Youngstown State also took better care of the basketball after intermission. The Penguins had 12 turnovers at halftime, but finished regulation with just 17. They continued that trend in overtime, building an 80-75 lead with 1:07 remaining.
"We were up by four or five in overtime and didn't play smart basketball," DiGregorio said. "In a tight game, you've got to play smart basketball. Not guarding the 3-point shooter and those turnovers in overtime ... we just didn't play very smart."
Down the stretch
After the Bulls cut the lead to 80-79, they forced a turnover on an inbounds pass. Jessica Kerchendorfer converted a three-point play off an offensive rebound to put Buffalo ahead 82-80 with 12 seconds remaining. A YSU turnover on the ensuing in-bounds play led to a pair of free throws for the Bulls and a four-point lead.
Sophomore forward Jen Perugini had her best game of the year for the Penguins, scoring a career-high 20 points and grabbing a season-high 15 rebounds, her first double-double of the season. Perugini was 10-of-10 at the foul line.
Novak also set another career high in scoring with 21 points. Senior guard Maggie Johnston added 13 points, Jessica Forsythe had 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and Jessica Olmstead contributed nine points and eight rebounds.
Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe led Buffalo with 22 points, including six in overtime. Kim Kilpela scored 18, Allison Bennett had 16 and Kochendorfer 14 for the Bulls, who shot 24-of-27 from the foul line. YSU was 15-of-18 at the line.
Youngstown State travels to Ohio State Friday and returns home for a Sunday afternoon matchup with Akron. The Penguins begin their Horizon League schedule Jan. 2 at home against Loyola.