Closing out victories a struggle for YSU

February 29, 2012 at 12:05a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Here’s a smattering of quotes from the Youngstown State women’s basketball team’s seven-game losing streak.

See if you can find a pattern:

“The last two or three minutes should decide most conference games and we’ve obviously got to figure out a way to pull a couple of these out.” (Penguins coach Bob Boldon, Feb. 4.)

“We continually lose because we decide to take minutes off.” (Sophomore guard Liz Hornberger, Feb. 16.)

“We had a chance to win the game and we didn’t finish.” (Senior guard Kenya Middlebrooks, Feb. 18.)

“If we come ready to focus for 40 minutes then we can win games.” (Junior forward Brandi Brown, Feb. 20.)

“We have stretches where we’ll play really good, then we’ll have stretches three or four minutes where we’re not playing good and we get behind and it’s hard to catch up.” (Sophomore guard Monica Touvelle, Feb. 27.)

Six of YSU’s last eight losses have been by five points or fewer. The Penguins (10-18, 4-13 Horizon) are being outscored by just 2.6 points per game this season, compared to minus-10.6 last year and minus-25.8 two years ago.

Clearly, they’re close. But unlike some of the other teams in the Horizon League, they’re not deep or talented enough to win on an off night. That message hit home on Feb. 18 when the Penguins outplayed nationally-ranked Green Bay for 39 minutes, only to lose a nine-point lead in the final minute and fall in overtime.

“I don’t think any team in the league plays without taking a break, including Green Bay,” Touvelle said. “I’m sure they take at least one break. They’re not a perfect team.”

But they don’t have to be. YSU does.

“We don’t have a large margin for error,” Boldon said.

Thankfully, that margin expands a little for Saturday’s regular season finale, when the Penguins play Cleveland State (10-18, 5-12). The Vikings have lost nine of 11 and fell to YSU by 22 on Dec. 31.

A Penguin win could secure a first-round home game in next week’s Horizon League tournament.

“I think when you are in the midst of a losing streak like we’re in, you don’t often have something to play for,” Boldon said. “Uniquely enough, we do.

“I think that adds something to the week.”