Cornell’s early lead to much for YSU

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State women’s basketball team used a frantic rally to trim a 20-point deficit down to four but couldn’t overcome a poor third period in Saturday’s 80-75 loss to Cornell at Beeghly Center.

The Penguins trailed just 36-34 at halftime, but Cornell scored 14 of the first 16 points in the third period to go up 50-36.

The Big Red worked its lead up to 62-42 by the end of the period and outscored YSU 26-8 in the 10-minute session.

Youngstown State turned up the intensity in the fourth and shaved 11 points off the deficit in the first three minutes when Jenna Hirsch’s 3-pointer made the score 66-57.

A Jen Oduho basket trimmed the difference all the way down to five with 4:04 left, capping a 21-6 run that made the score 68-63. The margin was five three times, but Cornell answered with free throws each time to hold off the charge.

Oduho scored again with 53 seconds remaining as YSU got within 76-72. Cornell’s Nicholle Aston scored to push the lead back to six.

Kerri Moran made two free throws to up the Big Red lead to 80-72, and Mary Dunn’s three-point play with 22 seconds left was the final scoring play of the contest.

Dunn led four Penguins in double figures and tied her career high with 19 points in just 21 minutes. Hirsch had 11 points and five assists, Alison Smolinski scored 11 points to go along with three steals, and Mailee Jones scored 10.

Cornell’s Nia Marshall scored 14 of her game-high 22 points in the third period.