Wright wrong for YSU
League-leading Raiders hold off Penguins
Tribune Chronicle / Brian Yauger Youngstown State’s Chelsea Olson (12) attacks the Wright State defense Sunday in the Penguins’ 70-65 loss to the first-place Raiders.
Tribune Chronicle / Brian Yauger Mary Dunn led YSU with 18 points Sunday against Wright State.
Tribune Chronicle / Brian Yauger Youngstown State’s Chelsea Olson (12) attacks the Wright State defense Sunday in the Penguins’ 70-65 loss to the first-place Raiders.
Tribune Chronicle / Brian Yauger Mary Dunn led YSU with 18 points Sunday against Wright State.
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DAYTON -- Beaten on the boards, the Youngstown State University women fell to the first-place Wright State University Raiders, 70-65, on Sunday.
"We need to shoot the ball better, there's no question about that," Penguins coach John Barnes said. "Shooting that bad we still had a chance to win. Defensively we had that lull which could've been the difference.
"We pride ourselves on our defense. If we defend really well and rebound really well, even if we have off-shooting nights we still have a chance to win the game."
The aggression of the Raiders proved to be too much for YSU, at least early. The Penguins (20-8, 12-5 Horizon League) picked it up in the second half, matching the intensity blow-for-blow. YSU battled back, getting within a score on multiple occasions in the second half, and even taking the lead for a brief moment in the fourth quarter.
"I think we came out a little soft and that just gave them momentum when they started getting offensive rebounds and we just didn't stop them," senior forward Sarah Cash said. "We gave ourselves a chance to win in the end, so we need to be proud of that."
Despite only shooting 3-13 from the field, Symone Simmons had arguably the most impact on either side of the court, bringing down 21 rebounds for Wright State.
"I thought Symone Simmons willed their team to win," Barnes said. "Twenty-one rebounds, 11 offensive. If we found a way to keep her off the boards we probably could have found a way to win."
Alison Smolinski led the Penguins on the boards, bringing down six rebounds.
The second quarter proved to be the biggest problem for YSU. Wright State outscored the Penguins 22-14 in the quarter. The Raiders went on an 8-0 run that opened their lead to 10.
YSU came out hot in the third quarter, however, outscoring the Raiders 21-15.
Cash lit that flame, scoring eight of her 12 points in the quarter. Chelsea Olson kept feeding Cash, assisting her twice in the third.
Mary Dunn led the Penguins, scoring 18 points. Dunn was not only effective, but efficient, shooting 62 percent from the field.
"Our main goal was to get the ball inside as much as possible," Barnes said. "They started doubling in there which created a little bit of a problem but Sarah ended up with 12 and Mary with 18 so they both did a pretty solid job."
Smolinski joined elite company when she reached the 1,000-point total. She is the 21st player for the program to reach the mark
McKenah Peters also scored 12 points during the game in her 36 minutes.
Cash wound up in foul trouble, fouling out midway through the fourth quarter.
YSU closes the season against Cleveland State University on Saturday. The Penguins host a Horizon League Tournament quarterfinal game on March 6, against an opponent to be determined.
There's a chance the Penguins will take on Wright State (22-6, 14-2) at some point in the tournament and, if that's the case, Dunn is ready for round three.
"I'm disappointed because I know we could have beaten that team, but we have to learn from it," Dunn said. "I think we're going to play them again so we really have to get prepared. We still have Cleveland State and then the tournament."