Dunn, Wright: YSU defeats Point Park
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
Mary Dunn and Kelley Wright each had career days as Youngstown State’s bench outscored Point Park 27-7 in the Penguins’ 84-71 victory in the fourth annual Chick-Fil-A School Field Trip Game on Wednesday at Beeghly Center.
Dunn scored 21 points and Wright added 15, both career highs, to lead four Penguins in double figures. YSU (4-7) had a 17-4 advantage in fast-break points.
“They had the quickness advantage so in practice, we definitely focused using our inside game and height. We practiced getting the ball in, passing it back out and then getting it back in and it really showed today with our offensive selection,” Dunn said. “I like knowing that the team can rely on me when we need points and I just want to make sure that I keep finishing. I’m really thankful for my teammates because they’re the ones getting the ball to me and without them, I wouldn’t be able to do any of that. Even with Sarah [Cash] and Nikki [Arbanas] on the bench, they’re always helping me out and it feels really good right now.”
It looked like a Dunn and Baylee Buleca scoring contest at the outset as both players scored eight of their team’s first 10 points for a 10-10 tie midway through the opening quarter of play.
Trailing 14-13 at the 2:17 mark, YSU’s Indiya Benjamin uncorked two 3-pointers that keyed a 7-0 run to finish the period as the Penguins took a 20-17 lead heading to the second stanza.
A 6-0 run to start the second session gave the Pioneers (13-3) a 23-20 advantage, but two triples and a bucket by Wright helped YSU close the initial session on an 18-10 run as it built a 40-35 lead at the break.
“A win going into the break gives us a morale boost. Our defense was a big part of today’s game and we all needed to step it up a bit,” Wright said. “They were an excellent offensive team, well-coached and for us with a slight height advantage, we just wanted to make sure that we took the open shots when they were available. We do a lot of shooting drills in practice and I started out struggling, going 0 for 3 when I first came into the game and that was a little disheartening. Coach [John Barnes] just told me to shoot like I know how to, just get in a rhythm and I thought that really helped me.”
In the third quarter, Buleca, who had a game-high 24 points, hit a runner in the lane to tie the game at 47 with 5:21 remaining.
With YSU leading 53-49, triples by both Wright and Jenna Hirsch helped the Penguins close on a 14-6 run as YSU created some distance from the Pioneers and opened a 67-55 lead with one quarter remaining.
“Obviously, any time you win and get some confidence it’s important. They’re a very good team and they weren’t 13-2 coming into the game for nothing,” Barnes said. “They have several players that can play in our league, without a doubt. They played Robert Morris very tough, also on the road so this was a good test for us. They do some things that other teams don’t do, like a box-and-one and some other things so every time we can see different things it just helps us get ready for the next game.”
Barnes was most pleased with Dunn’s effort, especially in the paint.
“Mary Dunn has done a great job offensively for us. She’s, big, strong and has great hands,” Barnes added. “One pass today was fired about six feet too high, really hard and I don’t know how she caught it. She brought it down and has a really soft touch around the basket. We’re really glad to have her.”
YSU stretched its lead to 13 points on four separate occasions in the final period, the last when Wright made two foul shots for the final points of the game with a little under a minute to play.
Benjamin added 14 points and Hirsch had 13. Point Park’s Maryssa Agurs added 14 points, Ja’Nia McPhatter had 11 points and 10 rebounds and Shaniya Rivers scored 10.
Columbiana’s Baylie Mook played nine minutes for the Pioneers. She grabbed a rebound, but did not score.