Benjamin’s free throw lifts women over Nicholls State

Staff report

Nashville, Tenn.

Indiya Benjamin’s free throw with seven seconds remaining helped the Youngstown State women’s basketball team escape with Saturday’s 51-50 win over Nicholls State in the opening game of the Teresa Phillips Thanksgiving Classic at Tennessee State’s Gentry Center.

Benjamin split a pair of free throws to break a 50-50 tie, and Nikki Arbanas did not allow Nicholls State leading scorer Emani White to get off a quality shot as time expired.

The Penguins, 5-0 for the first time in 18 years, survived 27 turnovers behind another strong defensive effort.

YSU held the Colonels to 26.7 percent shooting behind five blocks from Latisha Walker and strong on-ball defense by Arbanas.

Youngstown State has held four straight opponents under 55 points, and the defense allowed Nicholls State to turn those 27 turnovers into just 12 points.

Youngstown State trailed 18-12 with 6:35 remaining in the first half when NSU’s Jenny Nash and Taylor Morrison hit back-to-back 3-pointers.

The Colonels didn’t make another field goal until there was 23 seconds left in the half, and YSU made its biggest run of the game.

Jenna Hirsch hit a triple to stop a three-minute scoring drought for YSU, and the Penguins went on to score 18 of the next 22 points to turn that six-point deficit into a 30-22 advantage three minutes into the second half.

Heidi Schlegel and Walker finished with double-doubles, and YSU held a 45-33 edge in rebounds. Schlegel had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Walker posted 15 points and 10 rebounds to go with her five blocks.

Nash finished with a game-high 17 points for Nicholls State, and White finished with nine points and seven steals. White, who came into the game averaging 23.5 points, was held 3-for-13 shooting.

Youngstown State will play the Teresa Phillips Thanksgiving Classic host Tennessee State today at 3 p.m.