Bucknell’s height, mental errors doom Penguins
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo Bucknell’s MK Moore boxes out YSU’s Mary Dunn during the first half of Friday’s game in Youngstown. YSU lost to Bucknell, 66-60.
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo Youngstown State’s Sarah Cash tries to drive on Bucknell’s Catherine Romaine during the first half of Friday’s game in Youngstown. Bucknell won, 66-60.
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo YSU’s Indiya Benjamin drives up the court during the first half. She had two points and halftime and finished with a team-high 14.
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo Bucknell’s MK Moore boxes out YSU’s Mary Dunn during the first half of Friday’s game in Youngstown. YSU lost to Bucknell, 66-60.
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo Youngstown State’s Sarah Cash tries to drive on Bucknell’s Catherine Romaine during the first half of Friday’s game in Youngstown. Bucknell won, 66-60.
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo YSU’s Indiya Benjamin drives up the court during the first half. She had two points and halftime and finished with a team-high 14.
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YOUNGSTOWN -- They just looked up, some a couple of inches.
Bucknell had nine players 6-feet and taller, so the shorter Youngstown State women's basketball lineup couldn't match up sizewise.
The Penguins tried to box out, using some of their fundamental defensive schemes.
YSU did force its physicality to try to offset the height, but it didn't matter in Friday afternoon's 66-60 loss to the Bison at the Beeghly Center.
Bucknell, who had four starters 6-0 or taller, held a 44 to 27 rebounding advantage.
"We go to box out and we get called for over the back," YSU coach John Barnes said. "We don't box out, they come over our backs. We thought like we were getting landed on they weren't calling. Now, our kids box out harder.
"It was kind of a tough, tough situation."
Didn't help YSU (2-3) had a mental breakdowns to make matters worse.
A player not picking up their player on a switch, which resulted in an easy Bucknell (3-3) layup - things that happened during the course of the game.
"Those things can't happen if you want to beat a good team," Barnes said.
YSU junior forward Sarah Cash, who shoots 70 percent from the floor, was 1 of 8 on Friday.
"We expect her to make every shot," Barnes said. "Today she had a bad game. One for eight is not her.
It's going to be hard for us to win unless she shoots really well."
The Penguins went scoreless for 6:26, the last part of the third quarter and first minute of the fourth as Bucknell went on an 11-0 run. YSU's Nikki Arbanas, whose layup tied the game at 40 with 5:26 left in the third, made a 3 with 9 minutes remaining as Bucknell held a commanding 51-43 advantage.
YSU's Indiya Benjamin, who had 14 points - 12 in the second half, had seven of the Penguins first nine points to start the third quarter. Alison Smolinski added a basket off a steal with 7:15 left in the third to put YSU up 34-33, the Penguins first lead.
"I got to be aggressive whenever I can and look to score whenever I'm open," Benjamin said. "That's what I need to do."
The Penguins were aggressive and only committed 10 turnovers.
Kaitlyn Slagus, who had a game-high 21 points and was 4 of 6 from 3-point range, hurt the Penguins. Kyi English added 10.
In the end, it wasn't what YSU hoped to have.
Smolinski made a 3 with 28.1 seconds left to cut the Bucknell lead to 63-60.
The Bison then found a wide-open Slagus off some confusion from YSU on an inbounds play under the Bucknell basket. Slagus completed the 3-point play just seconds after Smolinski's triple.
It was one of a handful of mental lapses YSU had against Bucknell.
The Penguins were predicted to finish eighth in the Horizon League, while the Bison are the Patriot League favorite.
If YSU wants to be more than competitive, especially in the upcoming four-game road trip at Robert Morris (Wednesday), American (Dec. 2), Akron (Dec. 5) and St. Francis, Pa. (Dec. 9), it'll take more than hard work.
This team has to be mentally together.
"Until we do that, it'll be hard-fought losses," Barnes said.