YSU’s offense falters in loss to Canisius

The Penguins had their lowest scoring output in losing their eighth game.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Youngstown State’s women’s basketball team held the nation’s top 3-pointing team to 3-for-22 from behind the arc, but had its lowest scoring of the season in dropping a 56-38 decision to Canisius on Wednesday at the Koessler Center.

Camisha Alexander scored 11 points to lead YSU (1-8) while Marie Warner had a game-high 13 for Canisius.

The Penguins out-shot the Golden Griffins 31.8 percent to 29 percent, but they committed 20 more turnovers and were out-scored by 11 at the free-throw line.

YSU trimmed an 18-point second-half deficit to 41-33 with just over eight minutes remaining but got no closer.

The Penguins turned the ball over on back-to-back possession and did not score until the 3:17 mark when the margin was back to 15.

Canisius, which entered the game ranked ninth nationally in free-throw shooting at 78.5 percent, was 15-for-21 in the second half.

A long scoring drought and 19 turnovers put the Penguins into a 26-13 hole at halftime.

The Penguins led 3-2 on Camisha Alexander’s trey at the 16-minute mark, but Canisius scored the next five points to go up 7-3.

Another Alexander 3-pointer made the score 13-10 with 7:48 remaining, but YSU was held without a field goal for the next 6 1/2 minutes.

Canisius led 21-10 until YSU scored three straight, and the Golden Griffins scored five points in the final minute to go up 13.

Canisius (5-4) came into the game leading the country in 3-point field goal percentage, making 47.1 percent of their attempts in its first eight games.

The Penguins will play at home for the first time in 17 days when they entertain Akron on Saturday at 2:05 p.m.