Benjamin sets YSU assist mark in win

Staff report

INDIANAPOLIS

Indiya Benjamin became Youngstown State’s all-time assists leader and scored 15 second-half points to lead the Penguins to a 70-67 win at IUPUI on Thursday night at The Jungle.

YSU won for the fifth time in the last six games and for the fourth consecutive time on the road to improve to 11-13 overall and 7-6 in Horizon League play. The Penguins endured 20 lead changes against the second-place Jaguars and enjoyed a huge turnaround from when IUPUI won 65-43 at Beeghly Center on Jan. 6. IUPUI dropped to 17-6 overall and 9-3 in conference games.

Benjamin added 10 assists to her 17 points, and her record-breaking assist came on a pass in transition to Mary Dunn with 8:01 left in the second period. She passed Danielle Carson’s mark of 573, which had stood since 1986, and she finished the night with 578.

While it was Benjamin the passer that moved atop the all-time list, it was Benjamin the scorer that carried the Penguins to the win in Indianapolis. The senior point guard was 6 for 11 from the field while adding five assists and a steal in the final 20 minutes.

Chelsea Olson added 13 points, and Kelley Wright kept up her hot streak with 12 points and five rebounds for the Penguins.

Macee Williams had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and she, Tamya Sims and Danielle Lawrence combined for 51 of the Jaguars’ 67 points.