Ritz tallies 27 points, 20 boards in YSU’s 81-72 season-opening win vs. Wofford
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YOUNGSTOWN -- With high expectations in tow, the Youngstown State women's basketball team passed its first trial Monday evening, fending off Wofford College 81-72 at the Beeghly Center.
Despite early foul trouble, the Penguins earned an early edge but had to ward off a second-half storm brewed by the Terriers. Senior Lilly Ritz played a big role in that effort by scoring 27 points and grabbing 20 rebounds, the first 20-20 performance by a Penguin since Brandi Brown on March 2nd, 2013.
"With Lilly (Ritz), we're trying to go in there no matter what their size is and that also puts us at a disadvantage when they're smaller, because then Lilly, Emily Saunders, our post players have to go out and guard on the perimeter, and that's really hard for them," said YSU coach John Barnes. "I think we did not do a good job in the first two scrimmages of getting the ball inside and thought we did a way better job of that tonight."
Ritz's 27 points were the most points she has scored in a YSU uniform. Paige Shy also scored 16 points in the win.
Leading by 13 prior to halftime, the Penguins built a first-half lead despite both teams encountering foul troubles, leading to early, but critical minutes by Jen Wendler and Saunders.
"We just kinda had to settle down and not take stupid fouls and just take a breather and realize we know how to defend the ball, Ritz said. "So we just had to keep it going and figure it out until the next quarter. (Wendler and Saunders) did great on (Lilly Hatton) and got her into foul trouble, so that was really good.
"We did really good in the post for the first time, so I'm really proud of them."
Monday evening also provided a surreal moment for Shy midway through the second quarter when she was on the hardwood with former AAU teammates Shay-Lee Kirby, Dena Jarrells, and Saunders.
"We were like, this is so cool," said Shy. "It was awesome, I think Dena after the game literally said, I've never had this much fun playing in so long, so that says a lot too.
"It was awesome, after the game we saw our parents and said this is fun, especially on this team too, seeing our potential with our returners than having them come in, we know the potential that we have, and we just have to keep working on it."
YSU (1-0) allowed Wofford to creep back, turning the ball over on four out of their first five third-quarter possessions, as the Terriers kept chipping away throughout the second half.
"Now (Wofford) had a lot of confidence, making shots, scoring baskets, feeling good, and now it's a game," said Barnes. "We had to battle the rest of the way to get the win, but I think it was a great learning experience for our team. No matter what, you got to take care of the basketball.
"I thought coach (John) Nicolais did a great job with the scouting report, we had a good idea of what they were going to do, and our players executed it well."
Wofford eventually cut the lead to a single point following a fast break layup from Helen Matthews, but some timely free throws by Ritz and Shy helped keep the visitors at bay.
Malia Magestro added 12 points, with Megan Callahan tacking on 11. Overall, YSU hit 45.8 percent of their shots from the field.
The Penguins are idle for the rest of the week before visiting Penn State next Tuesday.