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Small-but-feisty YSU not deterred by numbers

YOUNGSTOWN — The dejection lingered around the Youngstown State women’s basketball team like a black cloud, hovering over the final 20 minutes of last season’s Horizon League semifinal in Detroit.

Youngstown State, yet again, could not overcome the physicality and dominance of Green Bay despite showing flashes of greatness and playing even with the league’s stalwart.

Anne Secrest was a freshman who had playing time in the post, while Natalie Myers was a sophomore who came off the bench to play the wing and provide some rebounding help. Guards Josie Fisher and Morgan Brunner, along with the other two, transferred out of Youngstown.

Kelley Wright, Indiya Benjamin and Morgan Olson all graduated. Nikki Arbanas, who decided not to come back for a fifth year and to opt for chiropractic school, is gone as well.

Where does this leave the 2018-19 Penguins with its backcourt decimated, losing two of its best 3-point shooters in school history in Benjamin and Arbanas?

It leaves YSU with 13 on its roster, two under the allotted number of scholarship players the Penguins can have during any season.

Ny’Dajah Jackson, a 5-foot-5 transfer from Providence, and Emma VanZanten, a 6-4 forward transfer from Western Michigan, have to sit out this season to comply with NCAA transfer rules. Incoming freshmen guard Gabby Lupardus tore her ACL during the postseason with Wyoming East (W. Va.), while Taylor Petit has a nagging shoulder injury and had surgery this summer. Both are out this season as they will redshirt.

Lupardus was the West Virginia player of the year, while Petit was an all-state player coming out of Wisconsin.

That leaves nine. The purveying theme of Tuesday’s media day was this is a small team, but it’s one these women and the coaching staff are quite comfortable with going forward.

“It’s easier to be closer,” YSU coach John Barnes said. “It’s a little bit easier to keep everybody on the same page. We’ve got great effort. I think we’re picking up things a lot quicker this year.

“They’re a lot of fun to be around. They’re having a good time. Ultimately, you want them to enjoy it as a coach and players. We’re enjoying it this year so far.”

It’s a tight-knit group, which makes for a better playing atmosphere at YSU.

“So when we come on the court it makes that chemistry that much better,” redshirt senior forward Sarah Cash said.

The team’s 3-point shooting is still strong. Sophomore Chelsea Olson, one of the best freshman in the Horizon League last season, senior Melinda Trimmer and freshman Deleah Gibson are looking to fill the guard spots.

“Our defense is going to create our offense,” sophomore McKenah Peters said. “We have knock-down shooters. Pretty much everyone on our team can shoot the 3. As long as we focus on defense, getting stops, we can push into our offense and we’ll be capable of scoring.”

Peters and senior Alison Smolinski take up the wings, while 6-2 freshman Madison Mallory, 6-1 redshirt freshman Amara Chikwe, 6-3 junior Mary Dunn and the 6-1 Cash, a redshirt senior, take up the post spots. It’s the most help YSU has had around the basket in some time.

“I think we’re going to be a better rebounding team this year,” Barnes said. “We’ve struggled on the boards.”

It’s a good bet all nine see playing time this season as the Penguins open Nov. 6 against Robert Morris in Youngstown. Seven of the first 11 games are at the Beeghly Center before starting Horizon League play on Dec. 28 at Detroit Mercy.

“I’m excited of who we have and what we can do,” Barnes said.

The postseason lasted one game in the Women’s Basketball Invitational with YSU losing to Yale, but what happened after hasn’t deterred these Penguins heading into the 2018-19 season.

It all started back in June when this group of young women came together as one unit.

“You really earn a championship from what you do in the summer and how hard you’re working in the weight room and on the track,” Barnes said.

That’s the ultimate goal for the Penguins, this year and every season.

“Everyone seems to be one unit,” Dunn said. “There’s a lot more energy this year. We have a lot more people communicating.”

The sadness of the Horizon League semifinal seems to be in the distance past.

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