Defense clamps down to keep women unbeaten

Staff report

RADFORD, VA.

The Youngstown State women’s basketball team flexed its defensive muscles again on Saturday in a 70-44 victory over Radford at the Dedmon Center.

The Penguins allowed just 22 points in each half and held Radford to 27.4 percent shooting.

Latisha Walker became the first YSU player in 10 years to block six shots in a game. The team blocked eight shots total.

The Penguins are 3-0 for the second time in the last three years. Radford drops to 1-2.

Walker added 12 points and 10 rebounds in 16 minutes. Indiya Benjamin led the Penguins with 16 points and six assists while Kelsea Newman finished with 14 points off the bench. Both Benjamin and Newman hit four three-pointers.

YSU went 9-for-20 from beyond the arc. Radford’s first two opponents, Virginia and Norfolk State, combined to go 2-for-28 from 3-point range.

The Highlanders missed their first nine shots of the game.

Walker’s field goal at 13:11 started a stretch where YSU scored on four straight possessions, including a pair of 3-pointers by Newman and another from Benjamin, putting the Penguins ahead 16-5. Newman added a layup with 10:01 left in the first half to stretch the lead to 13 and cap an eight-point run.

Radford went on a 14-2 run to get within one, but YSU outscored the Highlanders 10-3 to close out the first half.

YSU scored 13 straight points to go up 45-26 and Radford would get no closer the rest of the game.

Benjamin began the run with a 3-pointer off a Sarah Cash offensive rebound. Two Walker free throws put YSU ahead by 20 for the first time with 9:47 left.

The largest lead was the final margin.

The Penguins shot 41.7 percent overall, 45 percent from 3-point range and 84.6 percent from the free-throw line.

The Penguins held a 44-40 edge in rebounding, and they held Radford to three offensive boards in the second half after surrendering 12 in the first 20 minutes.

YSU outscored Radford 28-14 in the paint, 16-7 off turnovers and 13-4 off offensive rebounds.

The Penguins return to the Beeghly Center on Tuesday, when they host Bucknell at 7 p.m.