Missed FTs, turnovers cost YSU against Wright St.
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YOUNGSTOWN -- YSU coach John Barnes and his Youngstown State women's basketball team knew the task ahead of them -- Wright State, the Horizon League leader.
Their long, athletic defense gave YSU fits in the interior.
Emily Vogelpohl made two free throws with 3.2 seconds left to clinch the game for Wright State as it beat YSU Saturday at the Beeghly Center, 68-64.
The Penguins (9-18, 5-11 Horizon League) committed 22 turnovers and Wright State (22-5, 14-1) had a 27-11 advantage off of those miscues.
YSU was ranked 12th in the country in free throws coming into the game, but it shot 6 of 12 Saturday.
"They're long and athletic and force a lot of turnovers," Barnes said. "We really struggled taking care of it and it cost us the game. We take care of the ball, we win the game. We make our free throws, we win the game. We execute the defensive game plan, we win the game.
"Give Wright State credit. They did what they do, rammed it down our throats and won the game doing that."
Indiya Benjamin made a 3 with 6 seconds left as YSU cut into the Wright State lead, 66-64.
"It was desperate 3," said Benjamin, who had a career-high 23 points. "It wasn't part of the play. They're in a zone and we ran a man-to-man play. I was open. I had to shoot it."
Not long before, Alison Smolinski, who had 20 points, drove the lane with 37.7 remaining to trim the Raiders edge to 64-61.
Wright State countered as Mackenzie Taylor drove the lane with nine seconds left as the shot clock ran down and gave the Raiders a 66-61 lead before Benjamin's 3.
Wright State had a 34-28 lead in points in the paint, but YSU's post players -- Mary Dunn, Natalie Myers, Morgan Olson and Tamira Ford -- had a combined 10 points and eight rebounds.
"We needed more from our posts in general," Barnes said. "We struggled down low."
Kelley Wright got her own miss on a 10-foot jumper, which led to Benjamin shooting 1-of-2 free throws with 1:50 remaining, cutting the Raiders lead to 61-59.
Benjamin drove the to basket and completed a three-point play with 3:50 left as Wright State led 59-55. Benjamin completed an earlier three-point play with 5:39 remaining Wright State led to 55-52.
Melinda Trimmer made a 3 with 8 minutes left to cut the Raiders lead to 51-47.
YSU's leading 3-point shooter, Smolinski, took a shot to the face with 9:21 left in the game. She sat on the court for a couple of minutes before her teammates helped her up to her feet. She adjusted her headband, wiped away some tears and headed back to the team's huddle as the three officials looked to the replay video.
Wright State's Lexi Smith was called for a flagrant foul after she hammered Smolinski under the Raiders basket. Smolinski made 1 of 2 on the foul shots as Wright State held on to a 49-44 lead.
Alexyse Thomas' shot with 6:36 left in the third gave Wright State a 36-35 lead, first one the Raiders.
Olson's layup with 5:21 remaining in the third gave YSU a 40-38 advantage.
Wright State surged ahead the remainder of the third, 6-2, for a 46-42 lead heading into the final quarter.
YSU began the game on a 10-2 run and shot 71 percent from the floor, while Wright State wasn't so fortunate – shooting 2 of 11.
Mackenzie Taylor's 3 with 8:56 left in the half tied the game at 16 as the Raiders finally drew even with the Penguins.
YSU took command once again as Smolinski connected on a 3 with 2:44 left in the half for a 30-21 lead.
From there, Wright State went on a 8-2 run to end the half.
Symone Simmons led the Raiders with 12 points, while Smolinski and Benjamin had 10 and 11 points, respectively. Simmons finished with 14 points, while Chelsea Welsh led Wright State with 21.
The Penguins cooled off a little from the beginning of the game, shooting 14 of 27. Wright State shot a more respectable average (34.3, 12 of 35).
YSU shot 52 percent from the floor and 40 percent from 3 against a team which gives up 61 points a game. Wright State shot 42 percent from the floor and 20 percent from 3.
Thursday, YSU hosts Oakland at 7 p.m.