Penguins win final, 60-54

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- It was senior night for the Youngstown State women's basketball team, but it was a freshman who helped the Penguins to victory.
Freshman Monique Godfrey scored 14 points and added five assists, sparking the Penguins to a 60-54 victory over Loyola of Chicago in their final regular season contest at the Beeghly Center.
Into seventh place
The Penguins (8-19, 4-12) moved into seventh place in the Horizon League standings and barring an upset win by Loyola Saturday against league-leading UW-Milwaukee, they avoided competing in the tournament play-in game next Tuesday night.
YSU coach Tisha Hill, who spoke to both her team and those in attendance after the game from midcourt, praised her seniors.
"They've been a great group of leaders and just a pleasure to have around," Hill said.
"I also want to thank you, the fans, for all the support you have given this team this season and hopefully we can bring another game back here for you all to see."
The Penguins are the designated host school for the Horizon Tournament's semifinals and final, but they must win their quarterfinal game, which will probably be at Green Bay, in order to host.
Godfrey was joined in double figures by junior Kristy Gaudiose with 14 points and senior Michelle Holmes with 10.
Three seniors honored
Holmes, Ashlee Russo and Aliyah Sabree, the team's three seniors, were honored in a pre-game ceremony.
Loyola (3-23, 3-12), which had only six healthy players on its roster for the contest, was led by Marquise Hanser with a game-high 21 points.
The Penguins shot 40.7 percent from the field (24-of-59), including 45.2 in the first half (14-of-31) and 35.7 (10-of-28) in the second, while Loyola hit just 35.1 percent of its shots (20-of-57) for the night.
Led by sophomore Jessica Schloemp's nine rebounds, the Penguins topped the Ramblers 38-37 on the boards and for the first time in four games YSU finished with less than 20 turnovers, making just 10 on the night.
The contest was very close over the first 12 minutes of the game with the score being tied four times and 12 lead changes.
First half run
The Penguins trailed 21-20 with 8:26 left in the half, when Gaudiose hit a basket to regain the lead and the Penguins then went on a 13-2 run to pull to a 10 point margin 33-23.
Godfrey, who scored the final six points of the half, had 12 of her 14 points in the first half and the Penguins held a 35-26 margin.
Gaudiose hit a 3-point basket to pull the Penguins to a 40-29 margin early in the final half, but the Ramblers then battled back going on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to 45-40 with 12:33 remaining.
Gaudiose and Toni Roscoe each hit 3-point shots to put YSU back into a 48-40 lead, but the Ramblers pulled to within one point 50-49 at the 6:35 mark.
Held off rally
YSU went back on top 56-49, before Loyola made one last run getting to within two points 56-54, but the Penguins scored the final four points to preserve the win.
The Penguins will now have to wait until after Saturday's final games to find out just where they finish in the standings, but it more than likely will be seventh place and a trip to UW-Green Bay on March 2 in the tournament's quarterfinal round.
mollica@vindy.com