Smolinski leads women to OT win
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo Allison Smolinski, left, of Youngstown State, looks to make a pass as Kelley Wiegman of Northern Kentucky defends.
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo Melinda Trimmer, right, of YSU defends against Northern Kentucky’s Mikayla Terry Thursday night in the Penguins’ overtime victory.
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo Allison Smolinski, left, of Youngstown State, looks to make a pass as Kelley Wiegman of Northern Kentucky defends.
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo Melinda Trimmer, right, of YSU defends against Northern Kentucky’s Mikayla Terry Thursday night in the Penguins’ overtime victory.
Trending
YOUNGSTOWN -- Alison Smolinski finally had her chance against Northern Kentucky.
Youngstown State's 5-foot-9 sophomore guard from North Royalton had suffered a concussion during the Jan. 5 game at Wright State. Two days later, she watched from home as her team lost at Northern Kentucky in overtime. It would've been the Youngstown State women's basketball team's first Horizon League victory.
On Thursday, Smolinski made the most of her opportunity in a 77-73 overtime victory over the Norse at the Beeghly Center. Smolinski tied a career-high 30 points and was 7-of-14 from 3.
"It was really weird," Smolinski said of watching the first matchup from home. "It was great we pulled together and got the win here."
Things were a little scary for the YSU sophomore late in regulation. She went down with 3:39 left to go after a collision with a Northern Kentucky player and was helped up by YSU teammates. Smolinski readjusted her headband and shook off the shot she took near midcourt.
"Indiya (Benjamin) came up to my face and said, 'You got to get that 30 ball,' " Smolinski said. "It just lifted me up. I was good."
She has made 53 3-pointers in Horizon League play.
"I kind of shoot it and my teammates get me the ball," Smolinski said. "They do a good job of that."
YSU's advantage shrank to three on Mikayla Terry's putback with 5:12 left in the third quarter, 40-37. Terry finished with 11 points. However, the Penguins went on an 8-0 capped by one of Smolinski's 3s with 1:05 left in the third to pull away.
But, YSU (9-17, 5-10 Horizon League) couldn't hold off Northern Kentucky (8-18, 4-10). The Norse's Kelley Weigman made two free throws off a YSU turnover with 1:51 left as the Penguins clung to a 59-56 lead. NKU's Rebecca Lytle made a layup with 51 second to tie things up at 61. Lytle had 20 points.
Indiya Benjamin countered with layup, driving through the Norse defense with 42 seconds remaining for a 63-61 lead. Taryn Taugher's putback tied the game at 63 with 32 seconds left. She had 20 points.
Benjamin drove to the basket with four seconds left, but misfired. Taugher grabbed the rebound and was wide left on a 3 from midcourt as the game headed to overtime. NKU closed regulation on a 13-4 run, including four turnovers in the last 4:16.
Melinda Trimmer's 3-pointer put YSU up 71-65 with 3:13 left in overtime. Trimmer, who made her first career home start, had a career-high 14 points. Mary Dunn added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Penguins.
"I thought we were more calm, for whatever reason," YSU coach John Barnes said of the overtime session. "During the comeback, we threw it right into their hands."
After giving up 50 percent in the first and fourth quarters to Northern Kentucky, YSU shut down the Norse -- holding them to 42 percent. Northern Kentucky was 1-of-15 from 3.
"We were doing everything we could to make them shoot from the outside," Barnes said. "We were trying to give them any outside shot they would take to the players that normally don't shoot them."
Saturday, YSU hosts Wright State, starting at 4:30 p.m.
The Penguins have momentum going into that game, thanks to Smolinski.
"She's playing off the charts," Barnes said. "She's basically putting us on her shoulders and carrying us through, at least tonight, to a win.
"She's been unbelievable."