YSU’s defense lacking in 77-64 defeat at CSU

The Penguins also shot poorly and lost their ninth game.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

CLEVELAND — Defense was one thing that the Youngstown State women’s basketball team forgot to pack for their trip to Cleveland State Saturday afternoon.

The Penguins played very little defense against the Vikings and the results showed in a 77-64 defeat before just 209 fans at the Wolstein Center.

“I was very disappointed in our defensive effort,” said YSU coach Tisha Hill. “We just allowed too many easy baskets and too many second- and third-chance points.”

The Penguins (9-9, 4-3 Horizon League), who had their two-game winning streak snapped, didn’t shoot well, either, finishing at 39 percent (26-of-66). YSU shot just 36 percent (11-of-31) in the second half, including 0-for-10 from the 3-point line.

Cleveland State (11-7, 5-2) shot 48 percent for the game (29-for-60) and 55 percent (16-of-29) in the second half and outrebounded the Penguins 44-31. The majority of the Vikings’ baskets were easy, uncontested layups.

YSU had more offensive rebounds (16) than defensive (15), while the Vikings also had 16 offensive boards but 28 on the defensive end.

“It’s pretty tough to get defensive rebounds when they are making easy layups,” said Hill.

Cleveland State, which broke its third-place deadlock with the Penguins in the Horizon League standings, scored 24 points off those 16 offensive rebounds, while the Penguins made just 15 points off their 16.

“This was a big game for both teams and give Cleveland State credit; they played a great game today and did everything that we didn’t,” Hill said. “There is still a lot of basketball left to play this season and we just have to regroup, correct some mistakes and get ready for next weekend.”

The Penguins, who are 2-8 on the road this year, including 0-3 in the Horizon, have two more road games next week when they travel to Valparaiso Thursday night and Butler Saturday.

YSU put three players in double figures, led by junior Kelsey Gurganus with 14 points, all in the first half. Junior Tiara Scott added 12 points and senior Heather Karner had 10.

The real thorn in the Penguins’ side was Cleveland State sophomore Kailey Klein, who scored 30 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Senior Robyn Hoying added 16 points and Jessica Roque had 10.

The contest was close for the first 30 minutes, with 10 ties and four lead changes. Neither team led by more than three points but the Penguins went over six minutes without a field goal as Cleveland State took a 23-15 lead.

Cleveland State led 28-20 with 5:12 remaining in the half when Gurganus caught fire. She scored 11 straight points over the next three minutes and tied the score twice on jump shots, the final time at 34-34. Senior Lauren Branson and Karner followed with two more baskets and YSU led 38-34 before Roque hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to close the gap to 38-37.

YSU pulled out to a 46-40 lead in the early minutes of the second half, sparked by two baskets by Scott, but then the Vikings came back. They tied it at 48, then took the lead for good with a 6-0 run. YSU closed the gap to 59-57, but another Viking run, 8-0 this time, put them up by 10 points (67-57) with 5:37 remaining.

Klein hit seven straight points for the Vikings as they upped the lead to 12, but the Penguins could get no closer scoring just three points over the final three minutes.

mollica@vindy.com