YSU defeats Thiel, closes out non-conference play

Youngstown State ends non-conference play with 8-3 record

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Mary Dunn scored 22 points and Chelsea Olson flirted with a triple-double as the Youngstown State women’s basketball team beat Thiel 76-53 on Thursday at Beeghly Center.

The Penguins concluded the non-conference schedule and head home for holiday break with an 8-3 record. It’s the first time the Penguins had a winning record in non-conference play since the 2015-16 season.

Highlights from this year’s non-con slate include the team’s first win against a Power Five conference opponent in a 64-55 win against Pitt. Alison Smolinksi set a new school record for three pointers with nine in a 29-point performance during a 62-36 win against Canisius. Away from the court, Lordstown’s Sarah Cash had her number retired by her alma mater.

Despite heading into the season with just nine available players, the Penguins head into Horizon League play with no serious injuries. Their eight wins tied Wright State for the most among Horizon League teams so far.

Cash scored 13 points in five minutes as she helped the Penguins build a 13-2 lead at the 5:47 mark of the first period. Thiel scored the next five points to make the score 13-7, and YSU scored the next 15 points to go up 28-7 with 7:09 left in the second quarter.

YSU’s lead grew to 25 at the 3:13 mark of the second quarter, and the margin was 41-22 at halftime. The Penguins were up 62-38 at the end of the end of the third, and the largest lead was 72-41 on Deleah Gibson’s basket at the 6:11 mark of the fourth.

Dunn added 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks to go along with her 22 points as she posted her second career double-double. Olson made four 3-pointers for 12 points and added eight rebounds and seven assists, and Alison Smolinski contributed 11 points. Melinda Trimmer finished with six assists without committing a turnover.

Destiny Johnson had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Thiel, which made 11 3-pointers.

YSU missed its first nine attempts from beyond the arc but made seven of its last 13 to finish 7-for-24 for the game. YSU shot 46.7 percent and held a 13-2 edge at the free-throw line.

YSU begins Horizon League play on Dec. 28 at Detroit Mercy. The Penguins will also play at Oakland on Dec. 30 to wrap up 2018. The Penguins head into League play with the second-best scoring defense in conference-play at 55.4 points per game, 1.1 points behind League favorite Green Bay.

Approximately 1,400 area students attended the game as part of the Sixth Annual Chick-fil-A School Field Trip Game.