It's not pretty, but YSU gets 'W'

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- It wasn't pretty by any means, but Youngstown State's women's basketball team came up with a victory Thursday night, beating Division II Clarion, 58-47, at Beeghly Center.
The Penguins (2-8) snapped a six-game losing streak despite struggling most of the game against the Eagles (3-5).
"I'm just pleased that we came out of there with a victory," said YSU coach Tisha Hill.
"We knew Clarion coming in with two straight wins would be playing with a lot of confidence and I'm proud of the way our team did not let things get away from them early on."
Statistically the game was anything but impressive since the Penguins shot just 29.2 percent from the field, including 23.5 percent in the second half, while the Eagles weren't much better, shooting 32 percent for the game and 22.2 percent in the second half.
The Penguins controlled both boards, getting 47 total rebounds, including 21 offensive, but rarely capitalized on those efforts.
YSU, with just 14 field goals, won the game at the foul line. Clarion made 16 field goals.
Fine at the line
It wasn't that the Penguins were that accurate from the free throw line, they just went there so many more times than the Eagles.
YSU hit 25-of-43 attempts at the line, just 58 percent, but they made them when they needed them down the stretch.
The Penguins scored their final 14 points of the game at the line. In the final minute of play, after Clarion had pulled to within five points (50-45) YSU was 8-of-12.
"It's been difficult to see these kids work so hard all week long in practice and then have nothing go right when the game rolls around," Hill said. "We needed this win to get ready for conference play next week."
The Penguins had three players in double figures, led by junior Heather Karner with 15, including 12 in the first half. Nikita LaFleur added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore Monique Godfrey finished with 12 points.
Jessica Albanese led the Eagles with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Back and forth
Clarion scored the first two baskets of the game, but then went seven minutes before scoring again, although the Penguins could only build a 9-4 advantage.
YSU pulled to a 16-10 lead on a 3-point shot by Karner, but the Eagles rallied back to tie the game at 16-16 on six straight points by Albanese.
The game was tied twice more, but the Penguins never trailed again pulling out to a 30-24 halftime lead on another 3-pointer by Karner just before the buzzer.
The Eagles started getting into foul trouble early in the second half as starter Sara Pratt picked up her fifth personal with 10:19 remaining as YSU took a 37-28 lead.
YSU extended its lead to 10 points, 40-30, with just under eight minutes remaining, but the Eagles cut it to seven, 47-40, with 3:48 left and then five, 50-45, on two free throws by April Gratton with 1:12 remaining.
That's when the Eagles began fouling to get the ball back and the Penguins kept connecting at the line. Velissa Vaughn made 4-of-6 and LaFleur 3-of-4 down the stretch to put the game away for the Penguins.
The Penguins will take a break for the Christmas holiday and then return to action with two more home games, both in Horizon League play.
YSU will meet Wright State Dec. 28 in a 7:05 tip-off and then play Butler in a 2:05 tip on Dec. 30 which is part of a doubleheader as the YSU men meet Loyola in the second game at 4:05 p.m. at Beeghly.
mollica@vindy.com