YSU PREVIEW | Basketball

MEN
Who: YSU (6-12, 3-5) vs. Cleveland State (8-10, 4-4)When: 5:30 p.m. todayWhere: Convocation Center, ClevelandRadio: WNIO-AM (1390)Coaches: Jerry Slocum is in his first season at YSU with a career record of 586-337 in 31 seasons; Mike Garland (21-52) is in his third season with the Vikings.Series: This is the 65th meeting between the teams and the Penguins hold a 33-31 advantage. When the two teams met earlier this month the Vikings pulled off a 63-50 victory at Beeghly Center.Game notes: The Penguins are coming off a 78-70 loss to league-leading UW-Milwaukee Thursday night at Beeghly. The Penguins got to within two points of the Panthers with just over a minute remaining, but didn't score again. The Penguins played one of their worst games of the season in the first meeting with the Vikings at Beeghly. Junior guard Quin Humphrey continues to lead the Penguins with a 19.4 scoring average and also leads the team in rebounding (9.0). He recorded his eighth double-double of the year against Milwaukee getting 13 points and 11 rebounds. Cleveland State is coming off a 55-51 loss to Butler in Cleveland Wednesday. The Vikings had won four straight league games prior to that.Next up: The Penguins will have little time to rest as they travel to Wright State Monday for a 7 p.m. contest.
WOMEN
Who: YSU (5-14, 1-7) vs. Illinois-Chicago (8-11, 4-4)When: 7 p.m. todayWhere: UIC Pavilion, ChicagoRadio/TV: NoneCoaches: Tisha Hill (21-54) is in her third season with the Penguins. Lisa Ryckbosch (37-37) is in her third season with the Flames.The series: This will be the 13th meeting with UIC holding a 7-5 advantage. The Flames have won the last six meetings, including both games a year ago, 73-65 at YSU and 56-48 in Chicago. YSU's last win in the series came in 2001-02 when the Penguins beat the Flames twice.Game notes: The Penguins have dropped two straight and seven of their last eight. Thursday night they fell to Loyola, 75-65. Their only league win has come against Cleveland State. Senior guard Ashlee Russo leads the Penguins with a 10.0 average, while sophomore Jessica Schloemp has been playing very well and leads the team in rebounds and has had two straight double-double performances. UIC is coming off a 75-52 home win over Detroit, snapping Detroit's five-game winning streak. UIC shot 61 percent from the field.Next up: The Penguins return home Thursday to begin a three-game home stand against Butler at 5:15 p.m. The YSU men will play host to UIC in the second game.
Pete Mollica