Tuesday, March 22, 2016
By STEVE WILAJ
YOUNGSTOWN
It’s a trip to Louisiana — the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which is about two hours west of New Orleans. So, of course, the Youngstown State women’s basketball team has a big decision for tonight’s dinner.
“Maybe some gumbo, maybe some shrimp,” head coach John Barnes said of the team meal, which will follow a 6 p.m. practice after the Penguins arrive down south this afternoon. “Maybe even some jambalaya.”
Sure, the Louisiana-style grub will be a nice get for YSU. But ultimately, the No. 2 seed Penguins (21-12) are focused on grabbing a victory at No. 1 Louisiana (23-10) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in a Women’s Basketball Invitational semifinal showdown.
“There would be nothing we would like more than to get a win on Wednesday and then play in the championship game at home on Saturday afternoon,” Barnes said Monday.
YSU advanced to the WBI Final Four by defeating No. 7 Stony Brook at Beeghly Center on Wednesday (67-60) and then downing No. 3 UMBC at home on Saturday (67-48).
The opposite side of the bracket features a matchup of No. 8 USC Upstate at No. 7 Weber State. Should the Penguins return north with a victory, they would host the WBI Championship on Saturday.
“We have the mentality that this is something special,” junior reserve forward Kelsea Newman said. “We’re in the postseason and we’re playing after every other team in the Horizon League. So this is really exciting for us.
“Just winning a championship and being able to cut down the nets at the end is the ultimate goal.”
The Sun Belt Conference Ragin’ Cajuns — who won the WBI last year and returned all five starters — stand in the way, though.
Louisiana features a small lineup (its tallest starter is 6-foot forward Simone Fields), attacks with a press defense and allows just 56. 2 points per game. The Ragin Cajun’s also average 8.8 steals per contest, force opponents into 20 turnovers per game and are led by senior guard Keke Veal’s 17.2 points and 5.2 rebounds.
“They do a great job of pressure and denial,” Barnes said. “So we’re going to prepare for that as best we can.
“They’re not a big team, so we’re gonna try to get the ball inside. They do a great job of helping and doubling down low, so making good decisions once we throw it inside is gonna be key. And, again, shooting the basketball.”
The matchup may favor 6-foot-3 YSU sophomore forward Sarah Cash (team-high 14.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg, as well as senior forward Janae Jackson (9.3 ppg). The Penguins also have shot particularly-well of late, knocking down 15 3-pointers against UMBC, led by Nikki Arbanas’ six and Newman’s four.
“We’re playing well and I think we have a confidence about us,” Barnes said. “And this is the time of year where you want to have it.”
However, there’s a chance YSU will be without starting sophomore point guard Indiya Benjamin (10 ppg). She rolled her right ankle in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s win — it’s a reoccurring ailment for her this season — and did not return. Barnes called her “day-to-day,” adding that she has been in a walking boot, which is typical for the injury.
Freshman guard Alison Smolinski (19 starts, 5.7 ppg) — who has also been battling an ankle injury — should be “full-go” though. She played 10 minutes against UMBC (her most action since 18 minutes on March 3 at Northern Kentucky) and may step into the starting lineup should Benjamin be unavailable.
No matter, YSU is certainly excited for its first game in Louisiana in program history, the projected 75-degree temperature and the chance to bring a championship game to Beeghly Center on Saturday.
“It’s gonna be a challenge, but we’re up for it,” Newman said. “It’s ultimately about us. So we’re gonna work on what we can and just play our game.”