WOMEN'S HOOPS Substitute Johnston keys YSU past Zips

Maggie Johnston, bothered by sore knees, came off the bench to help the Penguins beat Akron, 68-59.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Senior Maggie Johnston didn't start Sunday for the Youngstown State women's basketball team.
She didn't practice Saturday because her sore knees were bothering her. That didn't stop her from coming off the bench to ignite the Penguins to a 68-59 victory over the University of Akron before 1,476 fans at Beeghly Center.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the Penguins, who are 3-7 and won't play again until Jan. 2 when they open Horizon League play at home against Loyola of Chicago.
Johnston, a 5-5 guard from Lewistown, Pa., came into the game with just more than 14 minutes remaining in the first half and the struggling Penguins down, 16-8.
In the next four minutes, Johnston launched the Penguins on a 10-2 run that pulled them into a 19-18 lead.
"Maggie didn't practice Saturday and her knees were really bothering her," YSU coach Ed DiGregorio said. "But she came to play today and we have to have her to be successful."
Perugini nets 20
Johnston's floor play opened things up underneath for 6-2 sophomore Jen Perugini, who tied her career-high total with a 20-point effort.
Johnston, sophomore Jessica Olmstead and junior Devin Novak each added 12 points as the Penguins put four players in double figures.
"It's my job to make things happen out on the floor and today they were working," Johnston said. "We seemed to be coming together today and hopefully things will change for the better for us."
The Penguins shot a whopping 63 percent from the field in the first half, as they pulled to a 43-30 halftime advantage. They finished the game shooting 57.1 percent for the day, hitting 28 of 49 shots from the field and were 8-for-12 from 3-point range or 66.7 percent.
The only downside was that the Penguins committed 26 turnovers, although many of them came late in the contest when DiGregorio emptied his bench and the Zips were employing a full-court press.
"We just can't seem to get our young kids going this year," DiGregorio said. "We got to give them a chance today, but they almost blew the lead for us."
Akron (1-8), a team that has lost 32 of its last 33 games, was led by Jen Arnold with 21 points while Dominique Harris added 17.
It was Arnold who scored 10 of the Zips first 16 points that got Akron into the early lead.
But then, the Penguins began connecting from 3-point range as Olmstead, Novak and Johnston all hit long-range shots in the 10-2 run.
YSU has 12-0 run
Akron led one more time 21-19 on Arnold's third 3-pointer, but the Penguins went on a 12-0 run to pull to a 31-21 lead that they never relinquished.
The Penguins made 17 of 27 shots from the field in the first half, and were 7-for-9 from 3-point range as they led 43-30 at intermission.
YSU extended its lead to 17 points as the second half began, and when Novak hit another shot from behind the arc they led 52-34 with 14:47 remaining.
The Zips cut the lead to 13 points 58-45 with nine minutes remaining, but the Penguins came right back to go on top by 17 with 4:33 remaining.
DeGregorio began substituting and the Zips took full advantage. Akron went on a 12-0 run and YSU committed five straight turnovers in that span and the lead quickly dwindled to five points 64-59.
Jessica Forsythe scored with 1:33 remaining to end the three minute draught as Akron failed to score over the final minute and a half.
mollica@vindy.com