IUPUI upends Youngstown State, 64-61
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YOUNGSTOWN -- A season ago, IUPUI left the Beeghly Center with a win in a game that Youngstown State badly wanted back because of missed opportunities.
Monday night, it happened again, as YSU couldn't overcome a miserable night in the post and defensive miscues in a 64-61 upset loss to the Jaguars.
The loss snaps a four-game win streak for YSU (12-5, 6-2 Horizon League), while IUPUI (9-8, 5-3) rebounded from a surprising loss to Robert Morris with the victory.
"I've been telling people (IUPUI has) four championship players on its team that have won multiple championships. They're good; they're really good," YSU coach John Barnes said. "They played at Robert Morris like we played today. They were capable of playing way better there (at RMU) and didn't, and I think we're capable of playing way better, but it had a lot to do with what they did."
That was most evident around the rim. Ordinarily Youngstown State's strength, the Penguins struggled mightily to finish close looks at the basket. YSU shot just 13-of-34 from inside the arc and was outscored 32-24 in the paint.
Lilly Ritz, YSU's leading scorer with 15 points, was just 6-for-20 and had five turnovers, though she did register another double-double with 10 rebounds to go with her scoring.
Ritz wasn't alone in her struggles, however. Multiple YSU guards missed layups on drives to the basket.
However, the Penguins did manage a 40 percent evening from 3-point range, paced by Megan Callahan. She had 13 points on a 4-for-8 night and went 3-for-6 from deep, while Malia Magestro added 11 points on a 5-for-8 performance that included a 3-pointer. Shay-Lee Kirby tacked on a pair of triples, as well.
However, it wasn't enough for a YSU offense that went 21-of-54 overall, just 38.9 percent from the field.
"Obviously we struggled around the rim, and that hurts because that's our bread and butter. We live on that and just really struggled," Barnes said.
And, the coach added, the Penguin defense wasn't good enough to overcome it. IUPUI went 24-for-52 (46.2 percent) overall and 6-of-14 (42.9 percent) from 3-point range to overcome 17 turnovers.
Point guard Destiny Perkins, one of the aforementioned championship-caliber players, led all scorers with 18 points and tacked on six assists, while Rachel Kent had 10 points and five rebounds. Jazmyn Turner added nine points and six boards.
"Defensively, we did a poor job. They shot 46 percent from the field and 43 percent from three, and that started right from the beginning. Destiny got a good look at a three, knocked that down and then got another good drive and finish. So they felt good right away, and they felt good the whole game," Barnes said.
Even still, the Penguins had a couple chances in the game's final seconds to tie things up and force overtime.
With 1:10 left, Paige Shy sank one of two free throws to draw YSU to within 64-61, and the Penguins forced a miss at the other end. Out of a timeout, the Penguins moved the ball around the perimeter before sending it inside to Ritz, but her pass back out to the perimeter was intercepted by Turner.
YSU kept itself alive again, however, by forcing a turnover after Perkins lost the ball out of bounds. The Penguins then took a timeout with just over five seconds remaining to advance it to halfcourt, and then inbounded to the perimeter before eventually sending the ball to Callahan in the corner.
However, a well-guarded 3-point attempt from Callahan missed the rim, and IUPUI held on for the win.
"It's tough, because they're a good defensive team and they're just going to switch out everything (on screens) and not let you get a good look at a three, and that's what they did," Barnes said. "We put ourselves in a bad situation. ... We just made some mistakes down the stretch, and that on top of not finishing around the basket cost us."
The road doesn't get any easier for YSU, as the Penguins travel to Wisconsin to face league juggernaut Green Bay on Friday.
jwhetzel@tribtoday.com