Friday, November 30, 2007
The Penguins blew a
17-point first-half lead, but still held off the Rockets.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State women’s basketball team blew a 17-point first-half lead, then battled to pull out a 55-48 victory over Toledo Thursday at Beeghly Center.
The Penguins (2-3) posted their second straight win after opening the season with three straight road losses, while the Rockets (2-3) are winless on the road this year.
Clutch free throw shooting by junior Kelsey Gurganus helped the Penguins pull out the win.
Gurganus, who shared team-high scoring honors with junior Ashley Pendleton with 13 points, connected on 9-of-10 shots from the charity stripe including six straight down the stretch to maintain the YSU lead.
“Our first half was the best half we’ve had this season,” YSU head coach Tisha Hill said. “We knew that Toledo was a second half team and they proved it tonight, but our kids stayed right in there and battled to the end to pull it out.”
The Penguins dominated the Rockets in the first half as they jumped out to a 9-2 advantage and extended that to 22-9 with 6:30 remaining in the half.
They shot 48 percent in the half while the Rockets struggled hitting just 8-of-30 shots and also committed 13 turnovers which the Penguins converted into 15 points.
Although the Penguins never trailed in the contest, they let the Rockets back in the game during the first 10 minutes of the second half.
The Penguins pulled to their biggest lead, 32-15 with just seconds left in the half before the Rockets scored right at the buzzer.
“I’m happy with the way this team battled down the stretch,” Hill said. “I could see it in their eyes during time outs. They were all about business.”
The Penguins pulled to their biggest lead, 32-15 with just seconds left in the half before the Rockets scored right at the buzzer.
YSU had just extended its lead to 19 points, 36-17, on two free throws and a hook shot by Pendleton.
But a cold spell that produced just one basket over the next seven minutes had YSU in trouble while the Rockets were scoring 19 points.
Toledo pulled to within two points, 38-36, with about 11 minutes remaining.
The Penguins settled down and Gurganus scored 10 of her 13 points over the final nine minutes.
Toledo stayed within range thanks to the play of Allie Clifton, who had a game-high 15 points, but they couldn’t overtake the Penguins.
“Toledo was a good team, they came in averaging 71 points a game and we held them to 55,” Hill said. “Our defense stepped up tonight.”
Senior Jessica Schloemp, who finished with a double-double on 11 points and 11 rebounds, canned a rebound shot with 1:15 remaining to put the Penguins up 51-45.
Gurganus and senior Lauren Branson each connected on free throws over the final 40 seconds to put the game on ice.
“We started out the year with three tough losses and now we’ve got two big wins and you can just see the confidence building in this team,” Gurganus said.
Hill said that Schloemp’s effort was “the quietest double-double I’ve every seen.”
“That’s what I really like about this group, any night somebody is capable of stepping up and taking over the scoring lead,” Hill said. “Now we just have to get a few more into the act.”
The Penguins will now go back on the road on Saturday when they travel to St. Francis, Pa., for a 7 p.m. tip off in Loretto, Pa.
mollica@vindy.com