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YSU women’s team prepares for big road trip
Next opponent is Horizon leader
By STEVE WILAJ
YOUNGSTOWN
Throughout the Youngstown State women’s basketball team’s up-and-down season (there’s been more ups than downs as the Penguins sit eight games above .500), third-year coach John Barnes has picked up a tendency about his young team.
“I think we play our best when we’re playing teams ahead of us in the standings or when we know there’s nothing to lose,” Barnes said at Monday’s press conference.
This week’s two games should bring out the best in the Penguins (15-7, 6-5 Horizon League). After splitting a four-game homestand, YSU heads up north for a Thursday match-up with the conference’s top team, Green Bay (19-3, 9-1).
The Penguins then travel to Milwaukee (12-9, 6-4) on Saturday for a 3 p.m. tipoff.
“This is a tough road trip,” Barnes said. “The good thing is the pressure is off of us. We just have to go up there and show up and play as well as we can — then let the chips fall where they may.
“If you’re a game or two out of second place, or fighting to stay there, that adds a lot more pressure with the young kids.”
YSU is in fifth place in the Horizon League standings, sitting two games behind second-place Wright State (18-6, 8-3). Detroit (11-11, 7-4) is 1 Ω games in front of the Penguins while Milwaukee is one game ahead.
The Penguins fell to the Titans, 69-68, on Saturday — a game that was crucial in the fight to the top of the conference. It was a game in which Barnes sensed his team was pressing.
“I think they’re feeling pressure to perform and get it done,” Barnes said of his team chasing second place. “When they’re feeling anxiety, they don’t play how they’re capable of.
“So I have to do a better job of keeping them loose and not feeling that pressure.”
Junior forward Kelsea Newman — one of only three upperclassmen on the roster of 12 — sensed it, too.
“I think we’re handling the pressure not as well as we could be sometimes,” she said. “But we’re a young team, so that’s gonna come with experience.”
When it comes to their game with powerhouse Green Bay, the Penguins do have some experience.
YSU hosted the Phoenix on Jan. 9 and lost, 68-60, in a competitive contest. The Penguins actually led by nine midway through the second quarter, but were done in by a poor third quarter (outscored 19-7).
“Everyone knows how tough Green Bay is,” Barnes said. “You need to be aggressive and try to attack them from the start. If you aren’t, they’ll bury you fast and keep it that way.
“If we have some unsung heroes that score eight or 10 points when they’re averaging two, we’ll give ourselves a good chance.”
Jackson update
Starting forward Janae Jackson sprained her right ankle midway through the second quarter of Saturday’s contest, exited immediately and and didn’t return.
She was on crutches on Monday, but Barnes said YSU is holding out hope that the senior can return for Thursday’s game.
“We’re not sure on the extent of her injury,” he said. “She got it looked at and it’s a good sprain. So she’s day-to-day right now.”
Jackson is averaging eight points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
If she were to miss time, Barnes would call on little-used freshmen Jill Blacksten (6.2 minutes per game), Marissa Brown (5.6 mpg) and Melinda Trimmer (7.6 mpg) to help fill the void.
“They haven’t gotten a lot of time this year and now they’re playing more and more and trying to find the chemistry with the other players,” Barnes said. “So all of that’s a learning experience and we’re gonna have ups and downs.”