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SIZZLING START
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Undefeated Penguins are one game away from making history since joining Division I
By Joe Scalzo
In 2009, the Youngstown State women’s basketball team went 0-6 in November en route to the only winless season in school history.
Five years later, the Penguins (6-0) are one win away from the best start in the school’s Division I history.
When asked if he’s taking time to enjoy it, YSU coach John Barnes smiled and said, “As a coach, I don’t know how much time you have to enjoy the good things that are going on.
“And sometimes you need to try to step back.”
He’s got that chance this week.
YSU plays just two games in a 16-day stretch, including Saturday’s game against Division III Oberlin at Beeghly Center. From there, the Penguins have a week off before playing at Canisius on Dec. 13.
“We’re able to slow down a little bit,” Barnes said. “We’re gonna let the players relax and catch their breath and get some rest.
“We needed that right now, especially for the staff. They’re working extremely hard on scouting reports and practices and getting all that done, so being able to give those guys a couple days off is nice. Everyone needs to recharge.”
The Penguins won a pair of games at last weekend’s Teresa Phillips Thanksgiving Classic in Nashville, defeating Nicholls State (51-5) and Tennessee State (73-66) to improve to 6-0 for the first time since 1996-97.
YSU has never started 7-0 at the Division I level. The best start in school history came in 1978-79 when the Penguins went 17-0.
When asked what he’s learned about his team, Barnes said, “I learned that they really want to win. Whatever it takes, they’re willing to do. They really showed me no matter what’s going on in the game, they’re going to try to grind it out and find a way to get it done, whether it’s take a charge, dive on the floor or make a 3-point play.”
That winning mentality began to develop under the previous coach, Bob Boldon, but wasn’t always there even in Barnes’ first season.
“Going into games — and this was last year — you’re hoping you don’t get blown out by 20,” he said. “I think we’re developing the mindset that we’re going in thinking we’re going to win every game. Obviously, we’re not going to win every game but at least we’re going to have that mindset and that’s going to help you win more games, obviously.”
Senior Heidi Schlegel leads YSU in scoring (15.3 points per game) and rebounding (10.8 per game) but she’s gotten a big boost from the team’s freshmen-heavy roster, particularly guards Indiya Benjamin (10.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Nikki Arbanas (9.2 ppg).
“We’re young and we showed that this weekend for the first time,” said Barnes, who starts two freshmen and a sophomore (Jenna Hirsch) in the backcourt. “But as long as we keep getting better and keep learning, I’ll be happy.”