WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Penguins make up deficit, but fall to CSU

Cathy Hanek was the only YSU player in double figures, with 15.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State suffered through a horrible shooting performance, then rallied in the second half before losing to Cleveland State 56-51 in a women's Horizon League game Thursday night at Beeghly Center.
The Penguins (2-19, 0-10 HL) made just 6-of-26 shots in the first half and trailed by 10 points, before putting on a second-half rally that died in the final minute of play.
YSU trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half, but got to within three, 52-49, after Jen Perugini's 3-point basket with 1 minute, 35 seconds remaining.
The Penguins scored just two points the remainder of the game, though, and Cleveland State (10-10, 7-2 HL) made 5-of-8 free throws down the stretch.
Pros, cons
"Offensively, we just couldn't knock down the shots in the first half," said YSU coach Tisha Hill. "The team has come together and has learned how to battle down the stretch.
"I don't know what it is, but we've got to start the game with more intensity," she added. "This is February and we're not going to try and reinvent the wheel or anything."
The Penguins were led by junior Cathy Hanek with 15 points, although she was just 6-of-18 from the field. She was the only YSU player to score in double figures.
YSU finished 18-of-61 (29.5 percent) from the field, including 12-of-35 (34.3 percent) in the second half. The Penguins were outrebounded 25-18 in the first half but each team finished with 44. Junior Jessica Olmstead led YSU with eight.
Cleveland State, which beat the Penguins 88-54 in their first meeting this season, was led by senior Ashley Schrock, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Marie Rickards added 11 points, hitting 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
Canfield High graduate Erin Martin added nine points for the Vikings and had six steals.
Not only couldn't the Penguins make a shot in the first half, but their first four possessions ended without them even attempting one. They committed 14 turnovers in the first half and finished with 18 for the game.
First basket
YSU's first basket came at the 17:55 mark and the second wasn't until 13:45 remained in the first half. The Penguins were held without another basket until 9:47 to go. By that time they trailed 19-7.
CSU's lead increased to 16 points (26-10 with 3:52 remaining. Youngstown State scored the final six points of the half to trail by 10.
The Penguins fell behind 32-20 with 15:22 remaining in the game, then outplayed Cleveland State the rest of the way.
Youngstown State slowly whittled away at its deficit. A 3-pointer by Hanek made it 45-42 with 4:33 remaining, and after a stop, Tara Fleming's driving layup made it a one-point game.
Rickard made a 3-pointer with 3:36 remaining, then Hanek missed a pair of free throws. YSU freshman Ashley Russo sank two, though, to bring YSU back to within two points, 48-46.
Martin connected on four straight free throws, the final two with 1:51 to play, before Perugini sank a long 3-pointer with 1:35 remaining.
The Penguins missed five shots in the next minute, falling behind 55-49, before Russo scored with 40 seconds to play, but that was their final basket.
Saturday doubleheader
YSU plays host to Loyola (Ill.) Saturday at Beeghly Center in the first game of a doubleheader at 5:15 p.m. The YSU men will meet UW-Green Bay in the second game at 7:35 p.m.
mollica@vindy.com