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Cash, Benjamin lead YSU over Tennessee State
YSU point guard, Cash’s career night ignite comeback
By Steve WILAJ
youngstown
Indiya Benjamin makes Youngstown State’s offense go.
The 5-foot-6 sophomore point guard wavers occasionally — head coach John Barnes talks about this occasionally — but the Lima native knows her importance.
“It’s about attacking,” she said. “Opening up plays for your players, getting open shots, easy baskets, foul shots — everything. When I start attacking, that just opens up everything for everybody on the court.”
In the second half of Wednesday’s game against Tennessee State, Benjamin certainly attacked — maybe as well as she ever has for the Penguins. She sparked YSU to a 69-58 comeback win over the Tigers at the Beeghly Center in its final non-conference game.
Sophomore forward Sarah Cash scored a career-high 22 points, Benjamin had 11 points and six assists and freshman guard Alison Smolinski notched 15 points.
“Indiya was very aggressive,” Barnes said. “She attacked the whole second half. When she gets into the lane, she creates a lot of problems for the other teams. ... Her attacking made a huge difference in the second half.”
The Penguins (10-2) struggled in the first half as they fell behind 35-27 to the Tigers (5-8). But keyed by a 12-0 run to open the third quarter, YSU outscored TSU 22-6 in the period and never looked back.
Cash had eight points in the third, while Benjamin — who is averaging eight points and 5.9 assists per game — scored seven points as she controlled pace.
“It was a whole new game in the second half,” said Smolinski, who made three 3-pointers. “The first half, we let them get too many offensive rebounds and we had eight turnovers. Then we only had four in the second half, so it was a totally new game.
“Indiya was driving and penetrating and getting us open, then dumping it down to Sarah Cash — she finished really well today.”
While YSU was outrebounded by seven in the first half, the Penguins finished plus-five on the boards (38-33). Janae Jackson had a lot to do with that, as the senior forward finished with a game-high 10 rebounds and eight points.
“I thought Janae really came out strong hitting the offensive boards and attacking the rim [in the third quarter],” Barnes said. “That kind of set the tone in the second half.”
Cash made 8 of 9 shots from the field in her career scoring night. She began the third quarter with consecutive and-one layups and is now averaging 13.7 points.
“Sarah was same old Sarah,” Barnes said. “It’s a nice feeling to have her in there and working hard in the post because they have to help on her. She’s a great finisher and a strong post player. Great game by her.
“We ran a lot of ball screen stuff in the second half just to relieve a little of the pressure up top. That allowed Indiya to really attack the paint and make some things happen.”
Next for YSU is a trip to Detroit on Saturday at noon for its second conference game of the season. With the victory against Tennessee State, the Penguins notched 10 wins before New Year’s Day for the third time in school history.
“[TSU] did a very good job of pressuring us and getting us riled up,” Benjamin said. “So it allowed us to get ready for our conference games.”