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YSU snaps 34-game skid
Photo
Brandi Brown shoots over a host of Bucknel defenders.
By Jon Moffett
Youngstown
Brandi Brown tried as hard as she could to hide her emotions as she brought down a rebound and time expired. But there was no way she could hide what she was feeling.
Finally, the Youngstown State women’s basketball team has something to be thankful for.
The Penguins broke a 34-game losing streak dating to the 2009 season with a 71-57 victory over Bucknell at the Beeghly Center on Wednesday night.
It was the first win for first-year head coach Bob Boldon. And it was the first win for Brown in her career at the school.
“It feels so good,” the sophomore said with a big grin. “It just feels amazing. Everyone on the team is just really excited and we’re happy. We’re really, really happy. The streak is over.”
The streak began after a March 7, 2009 victory over Horizon-League foe Valparaiso. After that, the Penguins hadn’t won a game in 627 days. It hit its peak last season, when the team went 0-30 under then-coach Cindy Martin.
But that is so 2009.
The Penguins (1-3) played strong defense and aggressive offense. They made 21 free throws on 24 attempts. The Bison (1-3) attempted just 14 free throws, making five of them. They also had 21 points off of 25 Bucknell turnovers.
“Shooting free throws comes from driving to the basket,” Brown said. “And that is one of the main things Coach Boldon believes in as part of our offense.”
Brown was 7-of-8 from the charity stripe and finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds, including the final rebound the game. Two other Penguins scored in the double figures, and a third had nine points. Brown said the win was a total team effort and everyone brought their “A game.”
Freshman forward Heidi Schlegel was a perfect 6-of-6 from the line, and finished with 11 points. Junior guard Kenya Middlebrooks had 10 points, Macey Nortey just missed the 10-plus club with nine points.
Nortey provided the team with a spark at critical moments. She had four steals on the night, three of which came in the final three minutes.
“We all have roles on this team and we all have things to do and we all need to make plays,” Brown said. “I think today everyone was just on their A game ... I just think everyone gave full effort tonight.”
The Penguins trailed 30-27 at halftime. They shot 30 percent in the half. But a rejuvenated team shot 48 percent in the second half and scored 44 points.
Boldon said he couldn’t be prouder of the girls, especially those who had to endure last year’s drought.
“These kids have been through a lot and they deserve an opportunity to celebrate a win,” he said. “And that’s what they’re going to do. Hopefully they don’t celebrate too much, because we have practice at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning.”
But after practice, the Penguins earned the right to celebrate with their friends, family and classmates, Boldon said. And it’s always a good idea to win right before a holiday.
“I told the kids, there’s nothing better than winning before Christmas of Thanksgiving because every family member asks you the same question: ‘How was your last game,’” he said. “So finally we can say we won our last one.”
Boldon, his wife, Diana, and their three boys Tyler and twins Luke and Zach, will travel to visit relatives for the first time is several years. Boldon, a Louisville native, said coaching out of state made the holiday trips difficult.