43
Newman looks to stay hot against Raiders
By Curtis Pulliam
Youngstown
Youngstown State forward Kelsea Newman can tell she might have a good night before the game even begins.
“You know, sometimes I feel it in warmups,” Newman said. “Me and my dad talk about it and it’s not one of those things you should feel in warmups. It’s one of those things where you go in and should be confident in your shot every day, but sometimes that doesn’t happen.”
Newman was confident last time out against Cleveland State, dropping 12 points in 30 minutes, all from 3-point range.
“I think it was key for us [beating Cleveland State,]” Newman said. “I think our team runs off of momentum so when we play a good game, it really pushes our confidence for the next one.”
However, Newman knows the Penguins will face a tougher assignment against Wright State tonight at Beeghly Center.
The Raiders are 14-4 overall and 3-1 in Horizon League play.
“Wright State is definitely a really good team,” Newman said.
The Penguins (13-3, 2-1) are not far behind the Raiders in the standings, but Newman isn’t worried about the records.
“Honestly, I don’t think our record affects us,” Newman said. “I think we have to go in every game like it’s the beginning of the season.”
Newman says the pace of the game will play a major role for the Penguins’ success.
“We can’t play their game,” Newman said. “We have to play our game.
“They like to run it a lot. I’m not saying that we don’t, but we like to slow it down and push it inside. I think with our height and our post players, that will be good for us.”
YSU head coach John Barnes says getting the ball inside the paint makes it easier for shooters like Newman.
“Kelsea just stretches the defense so much,” Barnes said. “When she is shooting very well, it’s hard for them to help off of her, which opens up the inside game even more.”
While Barnes was pleased with Newman’s shooting against the Vikings he was even more impressed with her taking care of the basketball.
“I was happy more than anything else with her seven assists and zero turnovers,” Barnes said. “Any time you have a player put up those kinds of numbers, it’s going to give you a great chance to win.”
The Penguins have been able to win conference home games over the last three years, compiling a 16-3 record.
However, one of those losses was against the Raiders last year.
“They are just very good,” Barnes said. “They have all aspects of the game covered and they are well coached. It is going to be an extremely difficult game for us.”
Even with the loss of preseason player of the year Kim Demmings out with injury, the Penguins have to stop guard Tay’ler Mingo, who averages 23.2 points.
“Any time you can attack the basket and put pressure on the defense it creates problems and that’s what Wright State does,” Barnes said. “They are constantly forcing the action and attacking the basket. They just put you in bad situations.”
Even though the Penguins haven’t played since beating CSU a week ago, Barnes feels his team is ready.
“Obviously the confidence will still be there from getting a good win,” Barnes said. “I think the biggest thing is us to be rested. This time of year sometimes it can be a grind, so when you get an opportunity to rest it’s always nice.”