YSU women secure No. 3 seed

March 9, 2014 at 12:10a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Liz Hornberger cried before Senior Day.

Thanks to one of her best performances of the season, she didn’t have to cry afterward.

The Youngstown State senior made six 3-pointers and finished with 22 points to help the Penguins beat Cleveland State 94-81 on Saturday at Beeghly Center.

YSU (14-15, 10-6) earned the No. 3 seed in the Horizon League tournament and will host sixth-seeded Oakland on Wednesday.

“I knew I was going to [cry]; I still think I’m going to later tonight,” said Hornberger, whose point total was the second-highest of her career. “But I have another game at Beeghly, so I’m not going to worry about it anymore.”

Karen Flagg, one of three other seniors honored before the game, added 18 points, six rebounds and five assists and junior Heidi Schlegel had 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two crucial plays in the game’s final minutes.

After the Vikings had closed within six with 3:29 left, Schlegel outmuscled Cleveland State’s Kiersten Green underneath for a layup, drawing the foul and the free throw to make it 83-74 with 2:37 left. Seconds later, Schlegel drew a charge on the other end, allowing the Penguins to drain another 30 seconds off the clock.

After a YSU miss, CSU’s Cori Coleman made a 3-pointer, then stole the ball from Karen Flagg.

But Imani Green missed a jumper on the other end and YSU’s Melissa Thompson (also a senior) grabbed the rebound and drew a foul on Green, who picked up a technical when her protest. Schlegel split the technical free throws, then Thompson made a pair to give the Penguins a commanding 86-77 lead with 90 seconds left.

“They were charging back and it took everything we had to keep them from getting back,” Penguins coach John Barnes said. “Heidi made some big plays and everybody stepped up and made big plays and free throws.

“We needed every single person tonight and I’m really happy for them.”

Thompson had 11 points and five rebounds and senior Monica Touvelle hit a pair of 3-pointers as the Penguins made a season-high 14 from behind the arc. Freshman Jenna Hirsch scored 12 points as YSU put five players in double figures for the first time this season.

“I think everyone stepped up,” said Hornberger, whose six 3-pointers put her three away from tying Diane Rappach’s school record of 198. “All the seniors, Heidi had a great game, even the kids off the bench came in and hit big shots. I commend everyone for showing up and doing their part.

“I think we’re a very, very good team when we win as a team. That’s when we win all of our games.”

After going 4-9 in non-conference play, YSU finished just one game worse in the Horizon League than last year, despite losing conference player of the year Brandi Brown to graduation. (Brown watched Saturday’s game from the stands.)

Wednesday’s game will almost certainly be the seniors’ last at Beeghly, something Hornberger doesn’t want to think about yet.

“When this is over, I’m going to miss this place so much,” said the Reading, Pa., native, choking back tears. “It means everything to me here. I couldn’t repay Youngstown enough for bringing me here and showing me all the love and care that they have. And all the support — fans, coaches, past coaches, players, past players ... I couldn’t have done any of this without them.

“So, I just try to bring it every night to somehow kind of repay them.”