YSU clinches home game in Horizon League Tournament with win vs. Milwaukee

February 18, 2019 at 12:00a.m.

Penguins clinch home-bid in conference tourney

YOUNGSTOWN

There was a little bit of everything on which Youngstown State fans could feast during the Penguins’ regular season home finale Sunday at Beeghly Center.

Wearing pink uniforms for the second time this month in honor of breast cancer awareness, Alison Smolinski’s 21 points led three Penguins in double figures as YSU defeated the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers, 67-47, to avenge an early January loss to the Panthers and one of just three league setbacks suffered by YSU this season.

Mary Dunn added 14 points and West Branch graduate Melinda Trimmer had 10 as YSU (20-6, 12-3 Horizon League) posted their third 20-win season under sixth-year head coach John Barnes and in the process, clinched a first-round conference tournament home game.

Smolinski’s six buckets from beyond the arc now gives her 89 on the campaign, tying her with former teammate Nikki Arbanas for most in a single season.

“Knocking down those first couple always gives you confidence,” Smolinski said. “We had a different mindset against this team today. We got popped in the mouth big time at their place, so we wanted to do the same thing to them today and we did a heckuva job.

“I always say this, but we take a lot of pride in our defense and it really showed tonight.”

On Senior Night — the three seniors honored were Smolinski, Lordstown native Sarah Cash and Trimmer — the win over the Panthers (12-13, 7-7) also set the new standard for home (15-1) and league (12) wins in a season while for Smolinski, who now has 988 career points, she remains 12 points shy of becoming the 19th player in women’s history to record their milestone 1,000th career marker.

YSU set the tone early, jumping out to a 14-7 lead behind three Smolinski triples as they opened an 18-15 lead after the opening period of play.

Six points by Dunn, four from Trimmer and a staunch defense that held UW-M to just six points in the period helped YSU open a 35-21 lead at the intermission.

“We knew they were going to be a physical team,” Trimmer said. “We knew we had to out-physical them and be tougher. That was a goal of ours.”

After the win, Trimmer’s boyfriend, fellow West Branch grad and former Mount Union baseball player Beau Taylor, proposed to her at center court. She said yes.

The Penguins’ defense was just as stingy after intermission, allowing just four points in the period as they opened a 50-25 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Cash said the key to their season has been their relentless play on the defensive end.

“We just have to be physical every game,” said Cash, who had eight points and seven rebounds in her regular season finale. “Coach tells us we have to protect our home court and we’ve done that this season.”

Triples by Chelsea Olson, Smolinski and Cash in the final period helped YSU seal their third consecutive win and eighth in their last nine outings.

“The biggest thing is the seniors and what they’ve done throughout their careers,” Barnes said. “To be able to finish it a home and go undefeated in conference play at home says something about them.”

A first-round home game is the fruit of their labor.

“I’m not so sure the team knew that, but with today’s win we are assured of a first-round game in the Horizon League tournament,” Barnes said. “The team worked really hard all season to earn a top-four bid and as you can see, playing at home is a big advantage.”

Ryaen Johnson led the Panthers with seven points as YSU held a 45-28 rebound advantage.