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Milestones looming for YSU women’s basketball team
The Penguins basketball team closing in on program’s 600th victory
By Greg Gulas
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
The Youngstown State University women’s basketball team is busy getting ready for their Nov. 6 season opener against Robert Morris at Beeghly Center
Head coach John Barnes has a cautious optimism about his squad heading into his sixth season at the helm. Several milestones are possible.
Addressing the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly meeting at Avion Banquet Center, Barnes said replacing departed seniors Indiya Benjamin and Nikki Arbanas is paramount. The change signals the end of his initial recruiting class.
“It’s like the beginning of a new era,” Barnes said. “It will be challenging to replace our all-time assists leader in Indiya, and all-time three-point leader and shooter in Nikki.
“Our point guard and wing positions are wide-open and the competition thus far has definitely been healthy.”
The Penguins will play their 1,200th all-time game when they travel to the University of Illinois-Chicago on Feb. 10. With a seventh win, they will record their 600th all-time victory.
For Barnes, who has 82 victories in five seasons, it’s possible he will notch his 100th career Division I coaching victory. With 44 league wins, his 50th conference victory is also within reach.
Three seniors — Sarah Cash, Melinda Trimmer and Alison Smolinski — will be joined by junior Mary Dunn to provide much needed leadership.
“I’m very excited about this year’s senior class,” Barnes said. “Sarah Cash is back for her final season and has played through injuries her entire career.
“We’ve limited her practice time and will limit her game time as well,” he said. “She has been a captain for the past three years now and players know they can go to her about anything.
“Melinda is very smart, knows the plays inside and out and will see the most minutes she has seen in her career,” Barnes said. “Alison is a competitor, very down to earth and all three are excellent leaders, both on and off the court.”
Dunn, who was the Horizon League’s freshman of the year two seasons ago, is a true junior. Two other juniors — Ny’Dajah Jackson, a transfer from Providence and Emma VanZanten, a transfer from Western Michigan — will sit out the season and have two years of eligibility remaining.
“Mary knows the expectations and can have a great year,” Barnes said. “She has worked hard in the weight room and also with cardio.”
Sophomores Chelsea Olson and McKenah Peters return.
“When Alison went down, Chelsea and McKenah were the recipients of more playing time and each got better over the course of the season,” Barnes said.
Five freshmen include red-shirt Amara Chikwe, Deleah Gibson, Taylor Petit, Madison Mallory and Gabby Lupardus.
“Amara brings much needed athleticism, Madison is a two-time Illinois state basketball champion while Deleah is a skilled combo guard and good shooter,” Barnes said. “Taylor is coming off shoulder surgery and Gabby will probably red-shirt after tearing her ACL in her team’s high school state quarterfinal game.”
The schedule remains a challenge, but that’s exactly how Barnes likes it.
“It’s always fun to play Pitt, we play Bucknell and Canisius on the road and Robert Morris comes to the Beeghly Center to open our season in just 21 days,” Barnes said. “Kent State and Akron are always tough games, plus we’ll be hosting an Ivy League opponent [Yale] for the first time on Nov. 24.
“Wisconsin-Green Bay will probably be the pre-season favorite to win it all,” Barnes said.