Thursday, January 22, 2004
Butler dealt YSU its 16th straight defeat.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State failed to score in the final 5 minutes, 39 seconds and suffered its 16th straight loss, 55-45 to Butler University, Wednesday at Beeghly Center.
The Penguins tied the score at 45 with 5:39 remaining on two free throws by Tara Fleming, but over the remainder of the game they missed 10 field goal attempts, two free throws and committed four turnovers.
"I'm disappointed in our effort," YSU (1-16, 0-7 Horizon League) coach Tisha Hill said. "I thought, effort-wise, we took a step backward.
"Down the stretch it's a confidence factor," she added. "We executed pretty well and we got some good looks, but we just haven't been making many of them."
Player of the game
The Penguins were led by the 6-foot-3 Fleming, a junior who scored 12 points and had five rebounds. She was the only YSU player to score in double figures. She also set a school record with seven blocked shots before she fouled out in the final seconds.
"I thought Tara played very well, but she needs help. She can't do it by herself," Hill said.
"All this [16 straight losses] has been tough on them and on me," she added. "I want them to be rewarded for their efforts. This team needs to come together and we need to get better quickly."
Cortney Urquhart came off the bench to lead the Bulldogs (6-11, 2-4) with 15 points, while Nancy Bowden, the team's leading scorer coming into the game, added 10 points, eight assists and five steals. Dionne Goodwin had 10 rebounds as the Bulldogs dominated the boards, 45-29.
Positive signs
The Penguins led 23-21 at intermission, but back-to-back baskets by Goodwin and Ellen Hamilton pushed Butler into the lead, 26-23, which the Bulldogs stretched to as many as five points, 36-31, with 12:25 remaining.
The Penguins still trailed 45-41 with 7:28 remaining, but Jessica Olmstead made a basket and, with 5:39 to go, Fleming added a pair of free throws to tie the score.
The Penguins turned the ball over on their next two possessions and Butler made them pay, taking a 48-45 lead. YSU went cold from the floor and Olmstead missed a pair of free throws down the stretch.
The Penguins play host to Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne Saturday at 2 p.m. in a non-conference game at Beeghly Center.
mollica@vindy.com