Double trouble: YSU falls in 2 OTs

The Penguins played one of their best games of the season.

By JOHN KOVACH

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State women’s basketball team turned in one of its finest performances of the season Saturday against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in a Horizon League game at Beeghly Center.

But the Penguins, who came from behind twice to tie the game in regulation (71-71) and after the first overtime (81-81), were unable to summon another comeback in the second overtime and fell, 94-87, before an announced attendance of 2,319 fans.

Traci Edwards, a 6-foot-2-inch junior center, poured in a game-high 35 points, including five in the first OT and six in the second OT, to lead Milwaukee.

The Panthers scored the first 10 points of the second OT to streak away to a 91-81 lead.

Lindsay Laur, a 6-0 senior freshman, added 16 points for Milwaukee, including a big 3-point goal to start the second overtime and launch the Panthers’ last spurt.

YSU was led by Tiara Scott, a 6-0 junior forward who scored 24 points including 11 of the Penguins’ double-overtime points — seven in the first OT and five in the second.

Scott also hit a crucial basket with 5.8 seconds left in regulation to pull her team into a 71-71 tie to force overtime.

And when Milwaukee streaked to a 76-71 lead in the first OT, Scott responded by scoring seven of YSU’s next 10 points to keep her team in contention.

“It was one of our gutsiest efforts. We continued to fight and fight,” said coach Tisha Hill of YSU (10-12, 5-6 HL), who blamed mistakes in overtime for the loss. “We had mental lapses in our post play and we didn’t communicate well when [Laur] hit that big 3 to start the second overtime.

“We had some lapses in our rotational coverage [on defense]. [Laur] made a big shot at a big time.”

Hill also blamed the loss on her team committing 31 personal fouls and losing key players who fouled out.

“Those probably were the most fouls called against us this season and [maybe] since I have been coach here,” Hill said. “Our players were very aggressive. Milwaukee got all the calls.”

Fouls took YSU’s toll down the stretch.

“Fouls weakened our team,” Hill said. “Our rotation in the post was weakened. We only had one player left to put into the post, and she didn’t have too much experience.”

Edwards, a force underneath the hoop who made 11-for-20 from the field and 13-for-21 from the foul line to power Milwaukee (12-10, 7-4 HL), agreed with Hill that YSU’s defense faltered in the second OT.

Edwards said that on Laur’s 3-point goal, “[YSU] decided to switch [defensive roles] and something happened and they messed up and Laur got free.

“We were able to make shots and play defense [the rest of the way].”

Edwards said her teammates were getting her the ball underneath.

We have been focusing lately on getting the ball into the post,” she said.

Edwards also had game-highs of 19 rebounds and five steals. She and Laur also got a lot of support from Maurika Hickman, a 6-6 freshman guard, with 14 points and Aubri Rote, a 5-8 senior guard, with 13. Hickman had four 3-point goals.

Scott, who also had 10 rebounds, and Heather Karner and Ashley Pendleton combined for 64 of YSU’s points. Karner, a 5-10 senior guard, and Pendleton, a 6-0 junior forward, had 20 points apiece. Karner had four 3-point goals.

Velissa Vaughn added 10 points and three steals to aid YSU while Lauren Branson contributed nine assists and Pendleton three blocks.

YSU’s next game is Thursday at Detroit at 5:30 p.m.