YSU women claim 4th in row over UIC
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YOUNGSTOWN -- A four-game sweep? While it took place over two separate series and in the space of nine days, winning four games in a row against the same team sounds something more akin to baseball than college basketball.
But in a season like none other, Youngstown State and Illinois-Chicago faced off for the fourth consecutive time on Saturday at Beeghly Center after the original opponents for both women's basketball teams for this weekend were unable to play due to COVID-19 issues.
Continuing a recent trend of offensive success, the Penguins knocked down nine 3-pointers to douse the Flames, 71-55, for their fifth consecutive victory overall.
"Four times we played them in nine days, which is crazy," YSU coach John Barnes said. "The good thing was that the scout was done, we already played them twice. We knew what they were going to do, they knew what we were going to do.
"I think their kids are playing really hard and fought. Yesterday they fought so hard that they didn't quite have as much in the tank today, so that helped us out. But I thought our kids did a nice job against their pressure today and finding a way to get to the basket and get some baskets."
Sophomore Maddie Schires got the 3-point attack going early, with senior McKenah Peters and freshmen Malia Megestro also hitting shots from beyond the arc as YSU took a 15-12 lead into the second quarter.
UIC (2-9, 1-7) took a 19-16 lead and later in the quarter YSU freshmen Nneka Obiazor tied the game at 21-21 with a layup. Moments later, sophomore Taylor Petit stole the ball off a bad pass, and Obiazor scored on the fast break to put her team up 23-21. The Penguins never gave up the lead for the rest of the contest.
"I think that there's a lot of growth," Barnes said. "Today we showed a lot more poise against their pressure. We were more comfortable, and going against a team like UIC, just how athletic and strong and physical they play, it helps you for the next game."
A 3-pointer by senior Chelsea Olson off a steal by sophomore Mady Aulbach put YSU up by 11 at 45-34 with 2:29 left in the third quarter. The Penguins maintained at least a double-digit lead from that point.
The Penguins missed their non-conference games along with two league series due to COVID-19 shutdowns, but YSU is clicking after dropping its first three contests.
"I hate the fact that we had to quarantine for so long, because I really felt like right before our first non-conference game, we were kind of where we are now," Barnes said. "I mean, we were flowing offensively, had great legs, defensively we understood what we needed to do. So the fact that we had to sit and start with Wright State, which is a very good team, and then Oakland, a very good team, really hurt us.
"The freshmen are getting more comfortable, the team is getting more comfortable, we're getting more comfortable with subbing and playing back-to-back games, and all of those things. I'm just happy for the team, that they're winning, because that's what the fun part is. There isn't very much fun if you're losing, so they're having fun, the staff is having fun, so we want to do whatever we can to keep it going."
Obiazor recorded a game-high 20 points, with a career-best 13 rebounds, as she's posted at least 19 points in four of the last five games. The 5-foot-10 forward is only the second freshmen to record at least 20 points and post a double-double since the 1994-1995 campaign --it's a feat she's done twice so far this season.
Mary Dunn and Peters both tallied 11 points, and Olson added 10.
The Penguins (5-3, 5-3) are the winners of 13 of their last 14 against the Flames, and have posted their first five-game winning streak within league play since 2019.
This weekend, YSU will make the trip down to Moon Township in suburban Pittsburgh to face Horizon League newcomer Robert Morris (2-8, 2-8), starting with a 7p.m. tip-off on Friday.