Weekend road swing key for YSU title hopes

February 21, 2014 at 12:06a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State junior Heidi Schlegel is more interested in moving up the standings than the record book.

Schlegel broke YSU’s single-season free throws record in last weekend’s win over Valparaiso and is 27 points away from becoming the 18th Penguin to reach 1,000 for her career.

What does she think of the record?

“It’s not important,” said Schlegel, who has attempted 144 free throws this season, four more than the previous mark. “I honestly didn’t even know about it. It’s not a big deal to me. I’m more focused on the team and how we’re playing as a team.”

Today, YSU (11-12, 7-3) begins a crucial road swing with a game against Milwaukee (7-16, 3-7), which lost to the Penguins 87-71 on Jan. 18.

A win would set up a Sunday showdown with first-place Green Bay (15-7, 8-2), which suffered just its second loss in school history to the Penguins on Jan. 16.

If YSU wins both, it will likely be tied atop the Horizon League standings.

“It’s a huge road trip for us,” YSU coach John Barnes said. “We’re obviously fighting for a championship, just like all the other teams close to the top.”

Youngstown State has tied last year’s team for the best start to the Horizon League season — the Penguins finished second in the regular season standings with an 11-5 record last season — and Schlegel said the last six games will be crucial.

Three of those games are against teams that are ahead of the Penguins in the league standings.

“We have to realize what’s on the line,” she said. “We’re right there. We just have to take that next step.”