March’s last home game memorable

By Jon Moffett

YOUNGSTOWN — Fully knowing it would be the final time she played for the Youngstown State women’s basketball team at the Beeghly Center, senior Kaitlyn March was dead set on making sure her shots counted.

The 5-foot-8 guard, and native of Rochester, Pa., made a lasting impression on the 1,889 in attendance by knocking down seven 3-point shots, which tied a school record, and set a personal best with 21 points.

By the end of Saturday’s 80-62 loss to Detroit, the crowd was cheering for March every time she touched the ball.

“I didn’t really hear them much toward the end,” March said. “But I would say maybe in the beginning, and yes, it was fueling me.”

March, who entered the game with only 45 points on the season and averaging 1.9 points per game, had the best game of her career on a night where she’d don the red and white on her home court for the final time. But she said despite the performance, the loss was what lingered the most.

“It feels awesome,” she said. “But I would’ve have liked to win with the team too. That would’ve been an awesome feeling as well.”

March said a victory would’ve made the game “everything I wanted it to be” for her final home contest.

But the Penguins (0-27, 0-16 Horizon League) couldn’t build on March’s offensive onslaught and fell short against the Titans (15-13, 13-4).

Despite the loss, the Penguins did have some positives. The team shot 40 percent overall and 43 percent from deep range.

Fellow senior Rachel Manuel, who had four points and two rebounds, said she didn’t focus on it being her last game until the buzzer sounded. The team surrounded her and March, who each held back tears before heading to the locker room.

“I was trying not to think about that,” she said. “It was nice though. I wish I could’ve personally played better, and I wish we could’ve won. But shoulda, woulda, coulda, you know? But I think we had a great crowd for the last game and it was just awesome.

“Overall, I thought we played a really good game. It was just nice to finish somewhat on a high note; to have as many assists [19] and have our shooting percentage be so high. It felt good.”

YSU coach Cindy Martin was happy with her team as a whole, especially with March and Manuel.

“I think at home, on Senior Day, to have our seniors perform so well, I think that’s a great feeling,” she said.

If anything, the Penguins can take pride in playing close against a team whose non-conference games would make many teams nervous.

The Titans played Michigan State, Cincinnati, Canisius, Bowling Green, Michigan and Georgia before beginning conference play. Martin said her team showed grit for hanging with such a good team.

“Detroit is a very good ball team and I thought we played a very good game against them,” she said. “And the only thing we wanted more was to win the game for the seniors on Senior Day.”

The Penguins will travel to Wisconsin to close out their regular season before focusing on the tournament March 8.

YSU will play the Green Bay (on Thursday and Milwaukee next Saturday.

jmoffett@vindy.com