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Olson’s block, Cash’s career night lifts YSU
Lordstown’s Cash has career night to open HL tourney
By Brian Dzenis
YOUNGSTOWN
Chelsea Olson’s right hand and Sarah Cash’s career night on the glass sent Youngstown State to Detroit.
Olson blocked a game-tying 3-point attempt from Milwaukee’s Lizzie Odegard with 25 seconds left to seal a 64-58 win against the Panthers in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament Wednesday night at Beeghly Center. The third-seeded Penguins (22-8) will take on second-seeded Green Bay on Monday at Little Caesars Arena.
“She made the first one on me, so I just wanted to make sure she didn’t make a second,” Olson said.
Odegard made an earlier 3-pointer over Olson to cut the deficit to 60-57 with 54 seconds left in the game. Cash couldn’t get a clean look for a layup at the other end of the floor and the Panthers (15-15) got another crack at tying the game. Olson’s block sent the ball into the arms of Cash, who grabbed the last of her career-high 16 rebounds. Cash completed at double-double by tying Olson with a team-high 15 points.
“I just tried to do whatever I had to do to win,” Cash said. “I didn’t want it to end here. I want to go to Detroit and try to beat Green Bay.”
The largest lead of the contest was just six points, which didn’t happen for the Penguins until the final minute of the game.
“This time of year is called March Madness for a reason,” YSU head coach John Barnes said. “It was a tough game and I’m very proud of the team for fighting to the end.”
The turning point came after an inauspicious start to the fourth quarter. Milwaukee’s Megan Walstad hit back-to-back baskets to make it 47-42 Milwaukee at the beginning of the quarter. On YSU’s next possession, Cash began to bobble the ball in the post, so Barnes called timeout with just two seconds left on the shot clock.
Barnes said he drew up a play from something he’d seen another team do — he declined to say what team it was — but it worked. While Milwaukee’s defenders chased Alison Smolinski as she bolted to the perimeter from the free-throw line, McKenah Peters cut toward the basket. The sophomore guard hit the layup through contact and made a free throw to covert a 3-point play to make it 47-45.
“It was just get it in and get the shot up, honestly,” Olson said. “It was two seconds, so just catch and shoot.”
Milwaukee turned over the ball on its next possession and Mary Dunn tied the game with a bucket. A jump ball call went in the Penguins’ favor and a Cash 2-pointer gave YSU a 49-47 lead with 7:20 left in the game.
Milwaukee came close, but never regained the lead after that.
The Penguins survived a rough first half that featured 11 turnovers and a seven-point second quarter where the home side shot 2 for 8.
“They were very physical. They weren’t letting [Smolinski] touch the ball and were trying to have a couple people on her,” Barnes said. “I thought they did a good job taking away our post play and they did a good job getting into the post.”
Smolinski made two 3-pointers in a 6-point performance Wednesday night, but they set a milestone. She has 98 3-pointers this season, giving her the Horizon League record for the most 3s in a season.
Melinda Trimmer and Mary Dunn each reached double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Trimmer scored the Penguins’ final four points of the contest at the free-throw line.
Bre Cera was the lone Milwaukee player in double figures with 13 points.
The win gives the Penguins a three-game sweep of the Panthers. YSU split the regular-season series with Green Bay, with a 70-59 home win against the Phoenix, marking the first time the Penguins beat them in 11 tries.
“We’re not worried about who we play. We need to show up and do what we do,” Barnes said. “Green Bay has a ton of tournament experience and they’re going to be fired up because we beat them the last time out.”