YSU falls third time; Niagara wins, 65-51

By Chuck Housteau

The Penguins pulled close, 47-44, but poor shooting eventually finished them off.

YOUNGSTOWN — Coach Cindy Martin isn’t pleased with her Youngstown State University women’s basketball team’s 0-3 start.

Saturday, the Penguins dropped a 65-51 decision to Niagara at Beeghly Center.

The Penguins displayed glimpses of the type of team they could become by showing plenty of hustle and defense in the 14-point loss.

Poor shooting, however, doomed the Penguins throughout the contest and especially down the stretch after YSU pulled to within 3 points, 47-44, with 5:53 remaining in the contest.

The Purple Eagles (1-2) closed out the game on an 18-7 run to grab the victory.

“We’re never going to be a good shooting team this year,” Martin said. “That’s the type of team we inherited. We inherited a team that’s OK from the three-point line, but not great.

“I think we can do some things to improve by taking higher percentage shots and making our free throws,” Martin said.

The Penguins got in trouble early in the game after taking a 9-8 lead on a Kaitlyn March basket with 15:53 remaining in the first half.

YSU went nearly nine minutes without scoring as the Purple Eagles went on a 17-0 run to grab a 25-9 lead.

“It felt like 15 minutes,” Martin said. “We just couldn’t connect. We were getting good shots but we just couldn’t make anything.”

The Penguins battled back in the second half behind the efforts of newcomers Jaquetta Westley and Macey Nortey.

Westley scored 12 points to lead the Penguins and made four steals while Nortey added nine points and ran the team from her point guard position.

“I think we gave a lot of effort and improved a lot,” Westley said. “I think we just need to make more shots.

“Defensively we were on the floor alot getting steals and forcing jumpballs,” Westley said. “We showed alot of team play.”

The Penguins trailed by 11 points, 35-24 at halftime but battled back in the first 15 minutes of the second half by starting to work the ball inside to Tiara Scott and Nakita Lafleur.

Scott’s basket cut the Eagles lead to 45-38 and the Penguins defense forced several key turnovers as YSU eventually got the lead down to 47-44 on a layup by Westley.

The Penguins once again were outrebounded by the taller Eagles, 45-32 but did a much better job of taking care of the basketball.

YSU had 19 turnovers but that was much better than their 61 turnovers in losses to Buffalo and Kent State.

“Do I want to be 0-3?” Martin said. “Absolutely not. I take responsibility for that. This is our first year and the ladies are fighting and playing hard.

“That’s all I can ask from them right now.”