PREVIEW

PREVIEW
YSU basketball
MEN
Who: YSU (1-6) vs. Duquesne (1-5).When: Saturday, 3:25 p.m. Where: Beeghly Center.Radio/TV: WNIO-AM 1390; WYFX 17/62 (10:30 p.m.).Coaches: Jerry Slocum is in his first season at YSU (1-6) with a career record of 581-331 in 31 seasons; Danny Nee is in his fifth season at Duquesne with a 40-83 record and in his 26th career season as a head coach with a 407-357 mark.
Series: This is the 10th meeting between the teams, with the Dukes holding an 8-1 advantage. The teams last met a year ago at Duquesne with the Dukes posting a 78-54 victory. This will be the first time the two teams have played at Youngstown since the 1951 season. YSU's only win in the series came in 1997-98 76-73 at Duquesne.
YSU starters: Quin Humphrey, 6-4 junior guard (17.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists); Keston Roberts, 6-4 junior guard (13.7, 2.9, 1.7); Derrick Harris, 6-2, senior guard (8.3, 3.7, 5.1); Colin LaForme, 6-10 sophomore forward (3.3, 3.2, 0.5); Dwight Holmes, 6-6 junior forward (1.7, 1, 1).
Duquesne starters: Chauncey Duke, 6-6 sophomore guard (5.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2 assists); Bryant McAllister, 6-3 senior guard (17, 3.8, 4.9); Jack Higgins, 6-5 senior guard (8.3, 3.5, 3); Ryan Lambert, 6-7 sophomore forward (7.2, 4.2, 3); DeVario Hudson, 6-6 sophomore forward (9.5, 4.8, 1.6).
Game notes: The Penguins have lost five straight games, four of them on the road, and are 0-5 this year on the road and have lost 28 straight non-conference games dating to the 2001 season. The Penguins are 1-1 at home. Junior guard Quin Humphrey has been the only steady performer for the Penguins as he has been in double figures in all seven games, averaging 17.6 points and has had three double-doubles and was a rebound away from two more. Humphrey had 16 points a year ago against the Dukes along with 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Duquesne has played two of the same opponents YSU has met in Oakland and Akron and the Dukes lost both games 77-53 at Oakland and 79-61 at Akron. Duquesne is averaging just 61.5 points a game while allowing 72.5.
Next up: The Penguins will remain at home on Wednesday to meet James Madison in a 7:35 p.m. tip-off at Beeghly. The YSU women will play Coppin State in the first game of the doubleheader at 5:15 p.m.
WOMEN
Who: YSU (2-6) vs. Indiana State (6-2).When: Saturday, 1:05 p.m. Where: Beeghly Center.
Radio/TV: WNIO-AM (1390); WYFX 17-62 (Sunday, 12:30 a.m.).
Coaches: Tisha Hill is in her third season with the Penguins, with an overall record of 18-46. Jim Wiedie is in his seventh season as the Sycamores' head coach with an 87-62 record.
The series: This is only the third meeting between the teams with series tied at 1-1. YSU won the last meeting in 1981-82, 63-61 while the Sycamores took the first meeting in 1980-81, 93-91 in overtime. Both games were on neutral floors and this will be the first game between the two on either campus site.
YSU starters: Lauren Branson, 5-6 sophomore guard (6.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists); Monique Godfrey, 5-8 freshman guard (3.7, 2.7, 2.6); Kristy Gaudiose, 5-7 junior guard (7.3, 3.3, 1.1); Michelle Holmes, 6-2 senior center (9.3, 3.4, 1.1); Jessica Schloemp, 6-3 sophomore forward (8.4, 4.8, 0.1).
Indiana State starters: Melanie Boeglin, 5-6 senior guard (17 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists); Stephanie Lisch, 5-10 junior guard (11.5, 5.3, 0.5); Kristen Weddle, 6-0 senior guard (10.4, 4, 1); Lisa Verhoff, 5-8 senior guard (10, 3.1, 1.1); Rachel Maenpaa, 6-1 junior forward (9.6, 7, 1.3).
Game notes: The Penguins despite losing three straight, have been playing good defense. YSU leads the Horizon League in scoring defense, allowing just 63.5 points per game. The Penguins' problem is that their offense is only scoring at 54.9 points a game and the last two outings have been held to under 50 points. YSU does not have a player averaging in double figures. Senior Michelle Holmes is the closest at 9.3. Indiana State has four players averaging in double figures, is averaging 77 points a game and three times this season the Sycamores have gone over the 90 point mark, including 98 points against Horizon League member UW-Green Bay and 93 against Loyola of Chicago. YSU is shooting 35.3 percent from the field and just 21.8 from 3-point range, while Indiana State shoots 43.4 percent from the field and 35.5 from behind the arc.
Next up: The Penguins will be on the road again Monday when they travel to meet Akron at the Rhodes Arena in a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Pete Mollica