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Balanced attack paces YSU to win

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Five different players scored in double figures as the Youngstown State women’s basketball team opened its season with a 70-67 road win at Eastern Michigan on Tuesday afternoon.

Chelsea Olson, Malia Magestro, Paige Shy and Lilly Ritz each scored 13 points for YSU (1-0), and Lexi Wagner added 11 points in the victory.

In her Division I debut, Ritz, who transferred from D2 Wheeling University, also paced the Penguins on the boards, securing eight rebounds.

As was expected entering its season opener, YSU was sharp from beyond the arc, as the Penguins went 11-for-22 from downtown.

The teams traded buckets early, as YSU led Eastern Michigan 17-13 after the first quarter. The Penguins ballooned that lead to as high as 13 during the second frame before the Eagles (0-1) rallied to cut their deficit to 34-29 at halftime.

That surge continued after the intermission, as EMU took a 5-point lead early in the third, before YSU restabilized to nab a 53-52 lead entering the fourth.

The Penguins sprinted out of the gates to begin the fourth, as back-to-back treys by Shy and Olson pushed YSU’s lead to 59-52.

As it did before, though, EMU managed a rally. After the teams traded shots to a 65-58 YSU lead, the Eagles got back to within three courtesy of a triple from Kylee O’Hara and a free throw from Lachelle Austin.

However, the Penguins never relinquished their lead, as Magestro sank three of four free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

EMU got off one final 3-point heave to try and tie the game, but the miss was collected by Lilly Ritz and YSU ran out the clock.

Eastern Michigan’s Areanna Combs led all scorers with 19 points, but was inefficient on the way to that mark, as she shot just 5-for-20. Ce’Nara Skanes finished with 11 points for the Eagles, who outrebounded YSU 35-33.

Youngstown State returns home Monday to host the Akron Zips. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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