Horizon honors YSU’s Schlegel, Benjamin

March 10, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

Schlegel earns first team all-HL honors for 2nd straight year

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State senior Heidi Schlegel joined a prestigious group of players on Monday when she was named first team All-Horizon League.

And we’re not just talking about her fellow honorees.

Schlegel became just the fifth Penguin to earn first team all-conference honors twice in her career, joining Danielle Carson, Dorothy Bowers, Liz Hauger and Brianne Kenneally. Those four are all in YSU’s athletic hall of fame.

“It’s definitely an honor,” Schlegel said. “The girls that are in it — those are amazing players. They made an impact here.”

Schlegel ranked third in the Horizon League with 17.9 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game. She is fifth in school history in career points (1,665), seventh in rebounds (772) and first in career free throws (480 of 609).

“She deserves it,” YSU coach John Barnes said of Schlegel’s selection. “She works extremely hard.”

Freshman point guard Indiya Benjamin was named to the league’s all-freshman team after leading all freshmen in assists. She also ranked fifth among freshmen in scoring, second in 3-pointers and third in minutes. She’s the second straight Penguin to make the team, joining Jenna Hirsch last season. Previously, the Horizon League had an all-newcomer team, with YSU freshman point guard Shar’Rae Davis making that team in 2012-13.

“Coming in as a freshman, you don’t know if you’re going to [do as well], so it’s an honor to be listed as that,” said Benjamin, one of seven freshmen on YSU’s roster.

Added Barnes, “Indy being on the all-freshmen team is very exciting for the future of our program. Indiya has done a great job this season having to step into the point guard role. To lead us to a 20-win season and a home playoff game, that shows how good of a player she is and how much work she’s put in this year.”

Wright State’s Tay’ler Mingo was named player of the year, while UIC junior Ruvanna Campbell was named defensive player of the year. Both earned first team honors, as did Milwaukee senior Ashley Green and Cleveland State senior Cori Coleman. Green Bay’s Megan Lukan, Mehryn Kraker and Tesha Buck made the second team along with CSU’s Imani Gordon and Detroit’s Rosanna Reynolds.

Valparaiso’s Dani Franklin was named freshman of the year.

Detroit next

The fourth-seeded Penguins (20-9) will play fifth-seeded Detroit (12-17) on Wednesday night in a first round Horizon League tournament game at Beeghly Center.

It is the third straight year YSU is hosting a first round game. The Penguins beat Cleveland State 69-62 in 2013 and beat Oakland 68-64 last season.

YSU split the season series with the Titans, losing at home (59-58) on Jan. 24 and winning on the road (70-65) on Feb. 14.

Barnes said the Titans will try to clog up the post to slow Schlegel and senior Tish Walker, which means YSU’s guards (including Benjamin and Hirsch) will need to be more aggressive.

“I need to try to attack more,” Benjamin said. “If we make open shots, that will bring the defense more toward outside players, so we can pass the ball inside.”

If YSU wins, it will likely play at Green Bay on Friday. The championship is Sunday, with the winner playing in the NCAA tournament.

The Penguins already have qualified for the Women’s Basketball Invitational and should be in the mix for the WNIT. Two years ago, YSU advanced to the second round of the WNIT.