Penguins future brighter

Basketball season is over for Youngstown State, at least the playing part. Both the men's and women's team will spend a few more weeks in Beeghly Center working toward next season while March Madness goes on around the country.
While it was 20-loss seasons for both the men and women this year, the prospects for the future are bright for both teams.
First-year coach Jerry Slocum's men's team finished at 7-21, but the four Horizon League wins equaled the best the Penguins have done since joining the conference.
The Penguins also had the league's top scorer and rebounder in junior Quin Humphrey and the league's assist leader in senior Derrick Harris.
Humphrey was named to the All-Horizon League first team junior transfer Keston Roberts was named to the league's all-newcomer team.
The Penguins lose three seniors from this year's team: Harris, who was the point guard; Domonique Crawford, who averaged in double figures off the bench, and little-used Mike Adams, whose only claim to fame in two years was helping the Penguins beat Cleveland State this season.
Two top scorersare returning
While Humphrey and Roberts, the team's two top scorers return, they lose the leadership of Harris.
According to those who know in the program, the Penguins have a replacement for Harris in 6-foot-2 junior Bryon Davis, a transfer from New Mexico State who sat out this season in accordance with NCAA rules.
But Davis fills just one hole and the Penguins had a couple of others all season long, under the hoop.
YSU lacked a big man who could both score and rebound. Freshman Jack Liles, who's listed at 6-8, is going to be a good strong forward before long, but he's not the answer in the pivot.
The Penguins need someone who is going to come in and play right away and that would probably mean a junior college player. A Division I transfer would have to sit out a year.
The Penguins didn't sign anyone during the early signing period, but that doesn't mean Slocum and his staff hasn't been working trying to find the players they need.
A big man is a definite, so would be a couple of high school shooting guards, since Humphrey and Roberts will both be seniors next year.
Slocum has taken the Penguins to a definite step up this past season, now with the right help he hopes to take them to the next level.
Women had roughroad to climb
Tisha Hill and the YSU women knew they might be in for a long season after losing four starters from a year ago, including their top three scorers and two top rebounders.
The Penguins entered the season with seven new faces on the roster, including six freshmen.
Senior Ashlee Russo and junior Kristy Gaudiose tried to take on the leadership role, but the Penguins struggled scoring baskets and when they lost sophomore starting point guard Lauren Branson midway through the season with an injury, the turnovers made things even worse.
Russo, Aliyah Sabree and Michelle Holmes all completed their eligibility this year.
Gaudiose, a Poland native, led the team in scoring and returns along with the team's top rebounder, sophomore Jessica Schloemp.
The team got some relief help late in the season with the play of freshmen Monique Godfrey and Velissa Vaughn outside and freshman Megan Snorf inside, which made Hill extremely happy, but still finished 8-20.
Help is on the wayfor next season
Branson will return and the Penguins also have junior guard Kira Mowen, a transfer from Illinois, who sat out this season, to bolster the attack.
The Penguins also had three early signings: 6-1 forward Ta-Myra Davis from Akron, 6-4 center Anjalia Lyons from Maple Heights and 5-8 guard Kaitlyn March of Rochester, Pa.
Unfortunately for the Penguins most of the Horizon League's top players also return next year, including the player of the year, Nicole Soulis of Green Bay, and newcomer of the year, Traci Edwards of Milwaukee.
Pete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at mollica@vindy.com.