Senior leadership paves way for YSU women

The Penguins defeated Loyola to stay unbeaten in the Horizon League.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Senior leadership has played a key role in the Youngstown State women’s basketball team rolling to three straight victories, including two straight in the Horizon League.

A year ago, the Penguins didn’t have a senior player on the roster, and this year the seniors have taken over both on and off the floor, which showed up again Saturday afternoon in YSU’s 70-58 victory over Loyola at Beeghly Center.

The Penguins (7-6, 2-0 Horizon) are off to their best start since joining the Horizon League in 2001.

YSU coach Tisha Hill has said from the beginning of the season that her seniors would carry the load, and she praised them again Saturday.

“They’re the difference in our play right now,” Hill said, “and their leadership is trickling on down to the rest of the team.

“This was a hard-fought win and I was excited to see the defense play well again,” Hill added. “The shots started falling in the second half and our scoring was very balanced. They are now counting on one another out there.”

The Penguins put four players in double figures, and all seven players that Hill used contributed to the win.

Senior Heather Karner and junior Tiara Scott led the way with 17 points each, while junior Velissa Vaughn added 14 and senior Jessica Schloemp scored 12 and added nine rebounds.

YSU had a battle on its hands with the Ramblers (2-11, 0-2) in the first half. The lead changed hands seven times and there were three ties but neither team took control in the half.

Loyola’s biggest lead was four points, but that came early in the half, 15-11, before Vaughn connected on back-to-back 3-point shots and added a free throw to put the Penguins back in front.

Loyola’s last lead came at 1:06 in the half (32-31) before Karner scored and then senior Lauren Branson added two free throws when the Loyola bench was hit with a technical to give the Penguins a 35-32 lead, which they never relinquished.

The Penguins opened the second half with a 10-3 run to take a 45-35 advantage and never let the Ramblers get closer than eight points the rest of the contest.

YSU shot just 34.5 percent in the first half, but got hot in the second half and connected on 51.9 percent, while holding Loyola to just 33.3 percent after the Ramblers had hit on 50 percent in the opening half.

“When we’re not shooting the ball well, we have to rely on our defense to get us the stops we need to stay in the game,” Hill said.

The Penguins forced the Ramblers into 22 turnovers on the night, 13 in the second half, and those led to 30 points for the Penguins. YSU also connected on 16 of 22 free throws, compared to just 8 of 14 by Loyola.

The Penguins now will go out on the road for their next two contests in Wisconsin. They will meet UW-Milwaukee Thursday night in an 8 p.m. tip-off and then take on UW-Green Bay on Saturday at 1 p.m.. That game originally was scheduled to be played at 4 p.m., but was switched so as not to conflict with the Green Bay Packers playoff game which will kick off at 4 p.m.

mollica@vindy.com