Just fine on the line: Penguins win again

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown State women's basketball team might not be the greatest field goal shooting team around but the Penguins certainly can shoot free throws.
For the second game in a row, YSU was deadly from the charity stripe, giving them a 69-62 victory over Coppin State Wednesday night at Beeghly Center.
The Penguins (4-7) have won two straight for the first time this season.
YSU, which was 21 of 26 from the foul line Monday night at Akron, was even better against the Eagles, hitting 33 of 36 for 91.7 percent.
Local connection
For the second straight game, the local 1-2 punch of the Penguins -- Ashlee Russo and Kristy Gaudiose -- led the way.
Russo, a Boardman High product, had a career high 21-point effort including 11 of 12 from the foul line, while Gaudiose, a Poland High standout, finished with 26 points and had her first career double-double with 11 rebounds.
The Penguins still only shot 35.9 percent from the field and were outscored 26-14 in field goals made, but YSU did connect of 8 of 17 3-point shots.
"I'm just extremely pleased to be going to the holidays on a two-game winning streak," said head coach Tisha Hill. "It was a very physical game but we also played very hard and very tough on defense."
Hill was also pleased with the foul shooting.
"We've emphasized to them often that it could come down to that in any game and we had to prepare for it," she said. "Our veterans have really taken upon themselves to work very hard at the foul line."
Senior Michelle Holmes had her second straight double figure game, coming off the bench for the Penguins with 10 points.
Overcoming obstacles
The Penguins only scored seven field goals in the second half and only one in the final 10 minutes of the game but they connected on 19 of 20 free throws and played good defense to keep the Eagles trailing.
YSU led by as many as 12 points in the second half (54-42) with just over eight minutes remaining but the Eagles (1-6) battled back and used a 6-0 run at the two minute mark to pull within two points, 62-60.
The Penguins sealed the victory by making seven of eight free throws in the final minute.
The Penguins once again came out strong and after falling behind 4-2, reeled off eight straight points, including 3-point goals by sophomore Lauren Branson and Russo to take a 10-4 advantage.
The Penguins then made 5 of 11 3-point goals during the first 20 minutes, one of their best starts of the season.
The Penguins were better from the field in the first half, but still not great as they connected on just 7-of-19 for 36.8 percent.
But they also made 14 of 16 free throws.
Seizing control
Coppin State hit on just 35.7 percent from the field in the half and never got closer than five points to the Penguins in the half.
The Eagles went on a 7-2 run during the final three minutes of the half to close to within 28-23, but Gaudiose canned her second 3-pointer of the half and Russo made two free throws as the Penguins took a 33-27 lead at intermission.
The Penguins will now take a break for the Christmas holiday. When they return to action on Dec. 29, they will begin Horizon League play at Butler in a 7 p.m. tip-off in Indianapolis.