YSU women finish strong to beat Detroit

Staff report

DETROIT

The Youngstown State women’s basketball team outscored Detroit Mercy 26-6 over the final 11 minutes to defeat the Titans 72-52 on Saturday at Calihan Hall.

The Penguins have won three consecutive Horizon League road games for the first time since February 2015, beating Cleveland State by 14, Oakland by 10 and Detroit Mercy by 20. Before the current streak, they had never won three straight Horizon League road contests by double digits.

YSU had to fight through offensive struggles in the first period and a surge by the Titans in the third period to earn the win. The Penguins led 9-8 after the first and 32-23 at halftime before Detroit Mercy rallied to tie the score at 46-46 in the final minute of the third quarter. Indiya Benjamin hit a 3-pointer to spark a 5-0 YSU spurt to close out the period, and the Penguins went on to outscore Detroit Mercy 21-6 in the fourth.

Benjamin finished with 14 points and eight assists, and Mary Dunn and McKenah Peters both scored 11 points for the Penguins. Brittney Jackson scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Titans.

After going 3 for 21 from the field in the first period, YSU shot 54.8 percent in the final 30 minutes to finish 26-for-63 for the game. The Penguins made 11 3-pointers, including three each by Benjamin and Peters.

Detroit Mercy was 10 for 20 from the field as it outscored YSU 23-19 in the third period, but UDM was 10 for 41 combined in the other three quarters.

YSU will head back on the road for two more contests away from Beeghly Center next week. The Penguins will play at IUPUI on Thursday at 7 p.m. and at UIC on Saturday at 3 p.m.