Olson, Dunn lead second-half rally

By BRIAN DZENIS

bdzenis@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Signs of a bleak outcome for Youngstown State’s women’s basketball team proved to be a mirage.

After a sluggish first half and a rough start to the second, the Penguins found their groove to soar past the Oakland Grizzlies, 76-61, Thursday night for their fourth straight win.

YSU (16-5, 8-2 Horizon League) has completed its best start in League play through 10 games in program history.

“We just find a way to win,” sophomore guard Chelsea Olson said. “We’re a team that’s willing to go out there and do everything to win. It’s big for us and we have to keep it going.”

Oakland (4-17, 1-9) hung around for the majority of the contest, trailing by just four points at halftime and limiting YSU to 27.8 percent shooting in the first half.

The Grizzlies then opened the second half on a 13-1 run and all 13 points were scored by Kahlaijah Dean. After that outburst, Mary Dunn went 1 for 2 at the free throw line, the Penguins forced a Grizzlies turnover and McKenah Peters hit a 3-pointer to send her team to the races.

“It was a strange game because it was like different players were taking their turns getting hot,” YSU coach John Barnes said. “McKenah was hot. Chelsea was hot for a while. Mary Dunn was hot for a while. It was strange.

“I thought it was a great team effort. We did a great job on the boards, but we still have to do a better job taking care of the basketball.”

Peters’ 3-pointer sparked a 14-1 run to close out the third quarter, which ballooned into a 23-4 run in the fourth quarter.

Olson matched her season high in points with 22. Dunn and Melinda Trimmer each scored 15 points, with 10 of Trimmer’s 15 coming at the free throw line. Sarah Cash battled foul trouble to finish with 11 points.

“I was definitely struggling in the first half. Our game is inside out and [Cash and I] need to be able to finish for us to perform as a team,” Dunn said. “We were getting stops and finding a way to put them in.”

Twelve of Dunn’s 15 came in the second half. The remaining three points came in curious fashion — from past the 3-point line. Since the calendar has flipped, the three has become a part of her arsenal. She’s 9 for 22 from three this season.

“I’ve staying after practice working on it so that we can add it to our gameplan,” Dunn said. “If they leave me open, I know I can shoot it and usually, I try to knock it down.”

Dean lead Oakland with a game-high 29 points. YSU outscored Oakland 43-20 over the final 14:20 of the game.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

YSU officials confirmed Thursday that Nick Krohn will not receive $12,000 from Burgan Real Estate after a video showed his foot was over the line on his successful half-court shot attempt.

Last Saturday, Krohn, a Boardman native, was completing in the “Battle with Burgan Mortgage Mania” at Beeghly Center. The contest awards $12,000 to fans who can make a layup, a 3-point shot and a half-court shot.

Krohn will receive $200 for making the 3-point shot.