YSU women, Duquesne face off Thursday

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State women’s basketball team will play host to Duquesne on Thursday at Beeghly Center in the first round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

Game time will be announced today.

This marks the second time in three years that Youngstown State (21-10) will play in the WNIT.

“I’m so proud of our team for the work they put in to clinch our second postseason appearance in the last three years,” YSU head coach John Barnes said. “I’m thrilled for Heidi [Schlegel] and Tish [Latisha Walker] that their careers will continue, and they were the driving force behind our push toward the end of the year.”

The Dukes (21-10) finished third in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

The winner of the YSU-Duquesne game will play the winner of the Stetson-Richmond game in the round of 32. That contest will be Friday at Stetson.

YSU last played Duquesne in Wilmington, N.C., on Nov. 25, 2006.

The Penguins lead the all-time series 8-5, including a 6-0 mark at home. The last contest in Youngstown between the programs was Jan. 5, 1991.

The Penguins earned one of 32 at-large berths to the WNIT. Youngstown State joins fellow conference members Wright State and Cleveland State in the field of 64.

YSU and Cleveland State are the first Horizon League programs to earn an at-large berth since the tournament starting awarding automatic bids to each conference in 2007.

YSU is 1-0 in home WNIT contests having defeated Indiana State in the opening round in 2013. The Penguins beat the Sycamores, 63-51.

Tickets for the contest cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-12.

The YSU Athletic Ticket Office will be open today and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.