YSU BASKETBALL \ Today’s game
WOMEN
YSU (4-5) at OHIO STATE (7-2)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Value City Arena at Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus
Radio: WKBN-AM (570)
Coaches: Tisha Hill (Indiana) is 35-86 in her fifth season with the Penguins. Jim Foster (Temple) is 137-34 in his fifth season with the Buckeyes and 634-257 overall in 28 years as a head coach.
YSU starters: Jessica Schloemp, 6-3 senior (6.3 points per game, 7.4 rebounds); Ashley Pendleton, 6-0 junior (8.8 ppg, 5.0); Lauren Branson, 5-6 senior (5.4 ppg, 2.1); Kelsey Gurganus, 5-10 junior (8.1 ppg, 3.1); Heather Karner, 5-10 senior (12.2 ppg, 5.0).
Ohio State starters: Star Allen, 5-11 junior (8.4 ppg., 3-4); Jantel Lavender, 6-4 freshman (17.1 ppg. 10.3); Ashlee Trebilcock, 5-9 junior (8.1 ppg. 7.2); Shavelle Little, 5-8 sophomore (4.3 ppg. 3.0); Marscilla Packer, 5-9 senior (15.2 ppg. 3.4).
Game notes: Youngstown State has lost two in a row after dropping a 79-56 decision at Cincinnati on Saturday. The Penguins are 1-4 on the road and have run out of gas in their last two outings. Senior Heather Karner continues to lead the Penguins in scoring with a 12.2 per game average. She is the only Penguin who is averaging in double figures. Gurganus had a career-high 14 points in the loss to Cincinnati. Ohio State comes into the contest ranked 17th in one collegiate poll and 19th in another. The Buckeyes have won two straight beating Washington 71-54 on Sunday. Their only two losses have come at No. 3 ranked Maryland and at home to No. 24 ranked Auburn. The Buckeyes are 5-1 at Value Center Arena.
Series: This will be just the third meeting between the teams and Ohio State has won both previous games. The last time the teams met was in 2002 with the Buckeyes posting a 76-45 victory at home. The only other meeting came back in 1979 when the Penguins lost a 62-56 decision in the old OAISW Tournament.
Next up: The Penguins will continue on the road Friday when they travel to meet Akron in a 5:30 p.m. tipoff. The contest will be part of a doubleheader with the YSU men and the Zips meeting in the second game at 8 p.m.
Pete Mollica