YSU gets it Dunn against Ohio Valley
Sophomore’s career night powers Penguins
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
Mary Dunn’s first career double-double, 16 points by Allison Smolinski and 13 from Chelsea Olson helped lead Youngstown to an 86-59 win over Ohio Valley University on Monday night at Beeghly Center.
The win evened the Penguins’ record at 2-2 while the Fighting Scots remained winless in three outings, all coming on the road.
Dunn, who came off the bench, used a decided height advantage inside to record career highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds in just 17 minutes.
“We always try to go inside-out, especially when we have a height advantage of any kind. We know that’s what we’ve got to do first and my teammates did a nice job of getting the ball to me,” Dunn said.
“They play a different style of basketball in that they’re scrappy and kind of quick. We knew it was going to be a different style and would have to adjust. We could have played better defense, but we still got the win and that is most important.”
YSU has been excellent in the first quarter through three games, allowing just 19 points for an average of 6.3 per outing during the first 10 minutes of action.
Against OVU, which entered allowing an average of 94.5 points, the Penguins scored the first 13 points of the game, raced to a 15-4 lead and opened a 22-7 advantage heading to the second quarter of play.
Dunn’s eight points led all scorers in the first quarter.
Smolinski, Alexus Burkhart and Olson nailed 3-pointers to conclude the half as YSU led 41-25.
Fifteen YSU players got into the game and nine scored.
“The biggest thing is that we got a lot of players into the game and they got some good experience. There’s some players that haven’t been able to get in a lot of game minutes and we were able to do that today. That’s crucial for us down the road,” YSU head coach John Barnes said. “Offensively, we did a good job of pounding it into our post players. Obviously Mary Dunn had a great game with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
“I thought we moved the ball pretty well, shot when we were open and we took four or five charges, which is outstanding. It’s just tough because the matchups are difficult. They’re all small, quick and we’re trying to get Mary and Morgan Olson out on some smaller, quick players which makes it a little tough. The second and third quarters I wasn’t thrilled with, but overall I was happy.”
The Penguins opened a 69-45 margin after three quarters on the strength of Dunn’s 11 points and eight by Smolinski.
“They’re a scrappy team and coach [Barnes] just told us to play our game,” Smolinski said. “Mary had the height advantage, we got the ball in to her and she had a great game.”
Eight points by Chelsea Olson at the outset of the final frame keyed a 9-4 run for YSU, which opened its largest lead at 78-49.
That offset a game-high 24 points by OVU’s Amiaya Melvins as the Penguins rolled to their second consecutive victory.
YSU held a 43-29 rebounding advantage with Anne Secrest and Natalie Myers each getting five rebounds.
The Penguins owned a 38-14 margin in the paint, also posting a 24-7 advantage on second-chance opportunities.
YSU hosts Bucknell at 1 p.m. on Friday at Beeghly Center.