Jackson’s shot lifts Penguins in HL tourney

Staff report

GREEN BAY, Wis.

Janae Jackson capped a huge second half with the game-winning shot winning shot with 2.2 seconds left to lift Youngstown State over Oakland 65-63 in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament.

Jackson posted career highs of 24 points and 15 rebounds as the sixth-seeded Penguins topped the seventh-seeded Golden Grizzlies at Kress Events Center.

All but two of her points came in the second half. The game-winner came on a put-back after Indiya Benjamin’s missed jumper.

Jackson was YSU’s leading scorer. Sarah Cash was the only other player in double figures for the Penguins with 12 points and eight rebounds.

It was a frantic second half for both teams.

YSU (19-11) saw a 12-point lead evaporate in the third quarter thanks to a 10-0 run from the Grizzles (15-15).

The fourth quarter featured five ties. The largest lead by either team in the fourth was a 51-47 lead by the Golden Grizzlies.

Jackson had the penguins’ first 10 points of the fourth quarter, and she gave YSU a 57-54 lead with 5:33 left.

Oakland didn’t have the lead again until Elena Popkey’s jumper with 2:56 left. The Golden Grizzlies did not score again.

Jackson scored on YSU’s next possession to tie the score at 63 with 2:27 left for the fifth and final tie.

Jackson shot 11 of 19 from the field, including 10 of 15 in the second half. Jackson helped the Penguins overcome a cold night that saw them go 5-for-24 from downtown.

YSU used a 16-1 run in the first period to take a 20-8 lead in the first quarter, and the Penguins held a 29-21 advantage at halftime.

Popkey led Oakland with 16 points and seven rebounds and Taylor Gleason added 10 points. Oakland shot just 6 of 18 (33 percent) at the foul line.

YSU will play third-seeded Wright State tonight at 8:30. The Raiders beat Illinois-Chicago, 71-55.