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Surging YSU faces road tests
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
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YSU's Tieara Jones shoots over IPFW's Kayla Drake during first half action Saturday at YSU.
By Jon Moffett
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown State women’s basketball team is in the midst of its longest winning streak in more than three years. At least some of that success can be attributed to the friendly confines of the Beeghly Center.
But now the Penguins (2-3) may face their toughest test yet: the road.
YSU will play seven of its next eight games on the road, starting with tonight’s game against Kent State. The Penguins will play at home against Akron Dec. 16 and then not again until Jan. 6.
Coach Bob Boldon said he hopes the momentum his team has gained in his first season can carry over to other arenas.
“We have to show that we’ve learned something even in victory,” he said to reporters during a press conference Monday. “I think it’s easier to learn something after a loss. But a mature team will be able to learn something after a victory. And that will be our challenge this week.”
But to Boldon, there is no such thing as a long road series. Instead, there is just one game against an opponent on the road.
And then another.
And then another.
“As far as seven of the next eight, it’s really just the Kent State game,” he said. “And then after that, it will be the American University game. They both coincidentally happen to be on the road. But the preparation will be the same.”
The Penguins opened their season with two road games. And the results were not in their favor.
The Penguins lost their season-opener against Pitt 78-58 in a game that showed both sides of how the Penguins can play. They trailed by only two points in the first half, but allowed a long run by the Panthers to break the game open.
Five days later, the Penguins had their worst outing of the young season, falling to Bowling Green 86-40. Following a home loss to IPFW, the Penguins posted back-to-back victories, a feat they hadn’t done since March 8 and 10, 2008, over Bucknell and Ohio University.
The Golden Flashes (5-0) represent a tough task.
Kent State has several taller players, something YSU does not have, and plays well in the post, Boldon said. The matchup will force the Penguins to play strong defense and force the Golden Flashes to make bad shots.
“They attack the basket just about as well as Ohio, but the difference is they shoot the ball much better from the perimeter,” Boldon said. “So we’re not going to be able to be as aggressive in committing to the drive as early.”
The Penguins game plan, on the offensive end, focuses on 3-pointers and taking smart shots. He hopes the Penguins can repeat a strong shooting performance like they had in the second half against Ohio.
The Penguins shot 54 percent in the half, and 43 percent for the game.