Cash’s 21, late charge aid in YSU’s Horizon League win

January 29, 2016 at 12:10a.m.

By Charles grove

youngstown

A big second half from Sarah Cash and two free throws with six seconds left by Kelley Wright gave the Youngstown State women a 72-69 win over Wright State on Thursday night at Beeghly Center.

YSU (14-5, 5-3 Horizon League) jumped out to a 14-6 lead early in the first quarter, getting open looks time and time again in the paint, outscoring the Raiders 16-6 down low after the first quarter. But foul trouble for Cash and Nikki Arbanas meant the Penguins had to find scoring from elsewhere in the second quarter.

Those points came from Indya Benjamin and Janae Jackson, who scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the first half to keep the YSU offense afloat against Wright State (15-6, 5-3 Horizon League). WSU came into the game first in the league in scoring offense, field-goal percentage defense and rebound margin.

“With Cash and Arbanas in foul trouble we basically played the second quarter without them,” YSU head coach John Barnes said. “I think this is a real team win because everyone had to do their part to come in and perform. I’m really proud of them.”

What Cash wasn’t able to do in the first half, she did in the second. Cash scored 13 of her 21 points in the second half, all while thinking about her personal fouls as they kept racking up.

“I was trying not to foul but at the same time I had to keep playing because if I wasn’t playing it would’ve been easier for [Wright State],” Cash said.

Defensively, the Penguins were tasked with trying to limit the Horizon League’s all-time career scorer, Kim Demmings, who seemed to have an answer for every YSU run in the second half to not let the Penguins pull away. Demmings finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, but her third foul turned out to be her most important stat when Wright drew an offensive foul on Demmings with nine seconds left as WSU looked in position to steal a win on the road.

“Kelly’s one of our best players in terms of stepping in front and taking charges and it was a critical time for her to make a big play,” Barnes said. “She’s one of our hardest workers, if not our hardest worker. She’s always putting in extra time and it’s great to see kids like her succeed.”

Wright State head coach Mike Bradbury said his team was trying to get Demmings isolated on the play that resulted in the charging foul, and it was unlike any play he’s seen in Demmings’ time at Wright State.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen [Kim] not be able to get open,” Bradbury said.

That late momentum forced WSU to foul, sending Wright to the foul line seconds after taking the charge. Up until that point Wright was 1-of-7 from the field and hadn’t shot any free throws.

“For me, I get really nervous when I think about my free throws so I have to stay as calm as possible,” Wright said. “I was thinking about [my shooting performance]. I was disappointed in my shooting, but I was happy I was able to come through with those free throws.”

Wright sank both free throws and a missed 3-pointer on the other end by WSU’s Mackenzie Taylor sealed the victory. With the win, the Penguins improved with 5-3 in Horizon League play.

YSU next faces Northern Kentucky at 1 p.m. Saturday at Beeghly Center.