YSU rally comes up four short

Vindicator staff report

CHICAGO — The Youngstown State women’s basketball team staved off two big UIC runs and had its second-best scoring game of the season in a 68-64 loss at the Flames Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Flames’ Jasmine Bailey hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final 24 seconds, and UIC was 14-for-16 in the second half.

Camisha Alexander scored a career-high 18 points and hit all five of YSU’s 3-pointers. UIC’s Jesse Miller scored a game-high 24 points, 16 of which came in the second half.

Miller’s 3-pointer came in the middle of a 14-0 run, and the Flames later scored 10 consecutive points to take a 56-45 lead with 7:38 remaining.

UIC led by 11, 58-47, at the 5:50 mark before YSU scored six straight points and trailed 58-52 on Alexander’s free throw. Miller hit another 3 to put UIC ahead 63-54 with 2:59 remaining. The Flames’ final five points came at the free-throw line.

YSU scored six straight points and trailed 63-60 after two Tiara Scott free throws with 1:00 remaining.

Shameia Green hit two free throws, and Kelsey Gurganus countered with a jumper to keep the margin at three with 34 seconds left. Bailey then split a pair, and Gurganus answered again with a jumper to cut the margin to 66-64 with 17 seconds remaining. That set up the final sequence with Bailey’s free throws.

Gurganus and Jaquetta Westley added 12 points apiece, and the Penguins held a 38-37 rebounding advantage.

YSU, however, committed 20 turnovers that UIC turned into a 29-8 edge in points off turnovers.

Bailey finished with 11 points, and Green had 10 for UIC.

YSU will return home for its final two games of the season next week. The Penguins will entertain Butler on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. and Valparaiso on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. YSU’s six seniors will be honored prior to Saturday’s game.