| YSU Drops Third Straight Match On the Road to Elon |
| Sunday, November 30 2003 |
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| Albuquerque, NM -- The Youngstown State women's basketball team (1-3) dropped their third straight road match to Elon (3-2), 63-58, in the consolation match at the Holiday Inn Mountain View Invitational on Saturday night at the Pit. Senior Jessica Forsythe finished with 17 points and eight rebounds while freshman Kristy Gaudiose added a career-high 10 points. Courtney Nyborg had a double-double for the Phoenix and finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Holly Andrews contributed 15 points for Elon. In the first half YSU and Elon exchanged 10 lead changes. Elon scored on the opening tip off and went on a quick 10-3 run before the Penguins scored eight unanswered points, including two 3-pointers by Gaudiose to give YSU the lead, 11-10. Both teams battled back and forth for the remainder of the half and went into the locker room tied at 27. Elon opened up the second-half on a 8-4 drive and dominated for the remainder of the period. With 4:07 left to go in the game and the Penguins down by 10, Forsythe scored back to back jumpers to pull the Penguins within seven, 56-49. At the 1:40 mark, YSU pulled within five, 60-55, on a steal by Jessica Olmstead and a lay-up by Gaudiose. The Penguins forced a turnover and came within two points, 60-58 on a Olmstead 3-pointer. Elon did not allow YSU to get any closer. The Penguins return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 3, when they travel to New York to face Buffalo at 11 a.m. |
| YSU Lets First-Half Lead Slip Away in Loss to UNM |
| Saturday, November 29 2003 |
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| Albuquerque NM -- The Youngstown State women's basketball team (1-2) let a first-half lead slither away and dropped a 54-36 decision to New Mexico (3-0) in the first day of the Holiday Inn Mountain View Invitational on Friday night at "The Pit." Junior Kathy Hanek led the Penguins with 10 points while junior Jessica Olmstead added nine. The Penguins came out of the locker room and went on a 6-2 run to increase their lead to eight, 24-18, but the Lobos started to chip away at the lead and went on a 21-1 run midway in the second half. New Mexico was led by freshman Katie Montgomery, who scored nine points, and Abbie Letz and Mandi Moore each added eight. In the first half, the Lobos got off to a quick 8-0 lead until the Penguins went on a 20-8 run. The Penguin defense held UNM scoreless for nine minutes before the Lobos went on a quick six point scoring splurge to cut the lead to four heading into halftime. The Penguins shot poorly the entire game shooting only 21.8 percent from the field. UNM shot 32.8 percent, including 44.8 percent in the second half. YSU will face Elon in the first game tomorrow night, Saturday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. followed by the championship game featuring New Mexico and Villanova. |
| Penguins Continue Road Trip At New Mexico Tournament |
| Friday, November 28 2003 |
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| Youngstown – The Youngstown State women’s basketball team looks to get back on the winning trail when it continues its five-game road trip against New Mexico, Friday, Nov. 28. Tipoff is slated for 10 p.m. (EDT) at "The Pit." In the second day of the tournament, the Penguins will play either Elon or Villanova on Saturday at 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. The Penguins (1-1) are coming off a 67-36 loss to No. 25 Auburn on Tuesday evening. Junior Cathy Hanek was the only Penguin to reach double figures with 16 points, including tying a career high with four 3-pointers. New Mexico, which made it to the 2003 NCAA "Sweet 16" a year ago, is currently 2-0 and is coming off a 59-52 win over Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday evening. Mandy Moore, the team’s leading scorer with 12.0 points per game, paced the Lobos with 12 points against Fullerton. Elon is currently 2-1 after defeating Longwood, 75-62, on Tuesday, and William and Mary, 57-49, on Sunday. Leading the Phoenix is Holly Andrews with 17.7 points per game while Courtney Nyborg is second on the squad with 9.7 points per game. Villanova, 2003 NCAA Elite Eight participant, is 3-1 after defeating Fairfield, 68-55, on Sunday. Liad Sues leads the Wildcats with 14.0 points per game while Jennifer Hilgenberg is second on the squad with 10.5 points per game. Elon and Villanova square off in the first game of the New Mexico Tournament on Friday, Nov. 28, at 8 p.m. (EDT). Head Coach Tisha Hill Youngstown State Head Coach Tisha Hill is in her first season as a head coach and owns a 1-1 career record at Youngstown State. Prior to her appointment at YSU, the native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, native spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Ball State. Hill was also an assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 1997-2001, at UW-Green Bay from 1995-97, and was a graduate assistant at Indiana from 1993-95. The Series This is the first meeting between Youngstown State and New Mexico. Elon/Villanova Series On the second day of the tournament, the Penguins will also face Elon or Villanova for the first time in school history as well. Up Next After the New Mexico Tournament, Youngstown State heads to the Empire State to take on Mid-American Conference member Buffalo on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 11 a.m. Scouting the Lobos New Mexico, which made it to the 2003 NCAA "Sweet 16" a year ago, is currently 2-0 and is coming off a 59-52 win over Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday evening. Mandy Moore, the team’s leading scorer with 12.0 points per game, paced the Lobos with 12 points against Fullerton. The Lobos also defeated USC, 77-75, in their season-opener. New Mexico is currently 2-0 at "The Pit.) Scouting Elon Elon is currently 2-1 after defeating Longwood, 75-62, on Tuesday, and William and Mary, 57-49, on Sunday. Leading the Phoenix is Holly Andrews with 17.7 points per game while Courtney Nyborg is second on the squad with 9.7 points per game. Scouting Villanova Villanova, 2003 NCAA Elite Eight participant, is 3-1 after defeating Fairfield, 68-55, on Sunday. Liad Sues leads the Wildcats with 14.0 points per game while Jennifer Hilgenberg is second on the squad with 10.5 points per game. Official Game Preview |
| Lady Pens Fall To No. 25 Auburn, 67-36 |
| Wednesday, November 26 2003 |
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| Auburn, Ala. – The Youngstown State women's basketball team (1-1) shot just 28.6 percent from the field and fell to Auburn (3-1), 25th-ranked team in the country, 67-36, at the Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday evening. Trailing, 2-0, early in the first half, redshirt junior Cathy Hanek, who led the Penguins with 16 points, gave the Penguins their only lead of the game, 3-2, with a 3-pointer at the 18:30 mark of the first stanza. The Tigers, who forced 22 YSU turnovers, used an 11-0 run to take a 13-3 lead at the 14:27 mark and never looked back. The Penguins were able to cut the deficit to seven points, 15-8, at the 9:02 mark after a jumper by Ashlee Russo, but would not come any closer. Youngstown State shot just 23.8 percent in the first half and turned the ball over 12 times before halftime. Hanek, who also dished out four assists and grabbed four rebounds, tied a career-high with four 3-pointers. YSU visits New Mexico, Friday, Nov. 28, at 10 p.m. (EDT) in Albuquerque, N.M. |
| Penguins Visit SEC Power Auburn |
| Monday, November 24 2003 |
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| Youngstown, Ohio – After picking up its first victory of the season and the first career win for new Head Coach Tisha Hill, the Youngstown State women’s basketball team (1-0) begins a tough stretch of five straight away contests when the Penguins take on Southeastern Conference power Auburn on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Tip off is set for 8 p.m. at the Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum in Auburn, Ala. The Penguins are coming off a 79-67 win over Mid-American Conference member Bowling Green on Saturday, while the Tigers are currently 2-1 and have won two straight game. After falling to Notre Dame, 77-64, the Tigers defeated Old Dominion, 84-49, and Stetson, 92-37. Although this is the first meeting between Youngstown State and Auburn, this marks the second straight season the Penguins have faced a team from the Southeastern Conference. Last season, YSU lost to Vanderbilt, 91-60. Youngstown State owns an overall record of 0-3 in games against SEC opponents. Leading the Penguins is junior Jessica Olmstead, who is averaging 25.0 points per game, while juniors Cathy Hanek and Jen Perugini are each posting 15.0 points per game. Olmstead is also shooting a blistering 71.4 percent from the floor. Senior Jessica Forsythe leads the Penguins on the glass with 11.0 rebounds per game while Perugini is averaging 9.0 boards per contest. Auburn, a preseason USA Today/ESPN/WBCA top 25 selection is led by sophomore standout Natasha Brackett. Brackett lead the Tigers with 15.7 points per game while shooting 53.1 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from the 3-point line. Also averaging double figures for Auburn is Le’Coe Willingham at 12.3 points per game and Marita Payne with 12.0 points per game. Head Coach Tisha Hill Youngstown State Head Coach Tisha Hill is in her first season as a head coach and owns a 1-0 career record at Youngstown State. Prior to her appointment at YSU, the native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, native spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Ball State. Hill was also an assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 1997-2001, at UW-Green Bay from 1995-97, and was a graduate assistant at Indiana from 1993-95. The Series This is the first meeting between Youngstown State and Auburn. |
| Second Half Surge Lifts Hill, Penguins to First Victory |
| Sunday, November 23 2003 |
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| Youngstown -- The Youngstown State women's basketball team used a 21-4 run midway through the second half to take a 13-point advantage that they would never lose to lift Head Coach Tisha Hill to her first victory against the Bowling Green Falcons on Saturday night. After trailing by three at the start of the second period, Bowling Green took a 50-46 lead with 12:45 remaining on a three-pointer from Casey McDowell, but YSU reclaimed the lead at 51-50 when Cathy Hanek sank a free throw to complete a three-point play with 10:59 remaining. The Penguins would not trail again. YSU went on to score the next eight points as part of a 13-0 run highlighted by Jessica Olmstead's second three of the game to give the Penguins a 59-50 lead. Ashlee Russo increased the YSU lead to 67-54 at the 5:31 mark with two free throws. Bowling Green got back within six after a lay-up by Megan Thorburn with 1:52 remaining, but YSU closed out the contest with an 8-2 run for the final tally. Olmstead finished with a career-high 25 points while Jen Perugini and Hanek added 15. The Penguins took a 39-36 lead into the locker room at halftime behind 15 first-half points from Olmstead and nine from Perugini. YSU opened up a seven-point lead, their largest of the half, at the 13:47 mark after two free throws from Jessica Forsythe made the score 13-6. However, the Falcons answered with a 13-4 run to take a 19-17 lead behind back-to-back three by Liz Honegger. The Penguins reclaimed their seven-point advantage when Olmstead hit from behind the arc at the 2:03 mark, but Bowling Green got back within three on a three from Lindsay Austin with 41 seconds remaining for the final bucket of the half. Thorburn finished with 22 points to pace the Falcons. The Penguins will travel to Auburn to take on the Tigers on Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. |
| Penguins Begin First Season Under Tisha Hill Saturday Against Bowling Green |
| Thursday, November 20 2003 |
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| Youngstown, Ohio – The Youngstown State women’s basketball program begins its 29th season, but the Tisha Hill Era at Youngstown State debuts Saturday, Nov. 22, when the Penguins host Bowling Green in Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. The 2003-04 opener for both teams marks the fifth straight season and the sixth time in seven years the Penguins and Falcons have squared off in the season opener. Both Youngstown State and Bowling Green are coming off exhibition game losses to the Premier All-Stars. The Penguins fell in overtime, 96-84, while the Falcons lost on a buzz-beater, 72-71. Saturday’s match up is the 20th meeting in the all-time series between Youngstown State and Bowling Green. The Falcons own a 10-9 series advantage and have won two of the last three meetings, including a 71-61 win in Beeghly Center during the 2001-02 season. Last year, the Penguins defeated the Falcons in Bowling Green for the first time since 1990 with a 70-64 triumph. YSU, which finished the 2002-03 season with a 6-22 record overall and a 3-13 mark in the Horizon League, return 11 letterwinners and four starters from last season’s team. Leading the Penguins in Hill’s inaugural season are the team’s top three scorers from 2002-03. Junior Jen Perugini (12.7), senior Devin Novak (11.4) and junior Jessica Olmstead (10.3). YSU also returns senior captain Jessica Forsythe, who finished fifth on the team with 9.0 points per game and was second on the squad with 6.2 rebounds per game. The Penguins also regain the services of redshirt junior Cathy Hanek, who missed last season due to an inflammatory arthritis condition. Youngstown State is 18-10 in season openers and owns a 9-3 record when it begins the season in the friendly confines of Beeghly Center. Head Coach Tisha Hill Youngstown State Head Coach Tisha Hill is in her first season as a head coach after spending the previous 10 campaigns as an assistant. Prior to her appointment at YSU, the native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, native spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Ball State. Hill was also an assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 1997-2001, at UW-Green Bay from 1995-97, and was a graduate assistant at Indiana from 1993-95. The Series This up is the 20th meeting in the all-time series between Youngstown State and Bowling Green. The Falcons own a 10-9 series advantage and have won two of the last three meetings, including a 71-61 win in Beeghly Center during the 2001-02 season. Last year, the Penguins defeated the Falcons in Bowling Green for the first time since 1990 with a 70-64 triumph. Scouting the Falcons The Bowling Green women’s basketball team returns six letterwinners and two starters from last year’s squad. Leading the Falcons are seniors Stefanie Wenzel, who averaged 10.1 points per game last season, and Lindsay Austin, who averaged 9.0 points per game. Common Opponent The Penguins and Falcons are each coming off losses to the same exhibition opponent, the Premier All-Stars. YSU lost to the All-Stars, 96-84, in overtime while the Falcons lost at the buzzer, 72-71. Last Meeting: YSU 70, BG 64 Last season, Youngstown State won at Bowling Green for the first time since 1990 with a 70-64 victory. Four Penguins reached double figures led by Jessica Forsythe’s and Maggie Johnston’s 14 points each. Barb Fabianova came off the bench to hit for 13 points while Jessica Olmstead added 12 points, including the game-deciding 3-pointer. Horizon League Preseason Poll The Youngstown State women’s basketball team was predicted to finish tied for seventh in the Horizon League’s preseason poll of the circuit’s head coaches, sports information directors and selected media. Perugini Preseason 1st-Team Junior Jen Perugini was named to the 2003-04 Preseason All-Horizon League First Team after a vote by the Horizon League head coaches, sports information directors and selected media. This is second straight year Perugini was selected to the preseason team. In 2002-03, Perugini was named to the preseason second-team. Perugini led the Penguins in scoring and rebounding last season with 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game last season. Perugini also lead the League and ranked eighth nationally with a free throw percentage of .890. Hanek, Russo Cleared To Return Youngstown State redshirt junior Cathy Hanek and redshirt freshman Ashlee Russo have been cleared by their doctors to play for the Penguins during the 2003-04 season. Hanek missed all of last season after being diagnosed with an inflammatory arthritis condition. Russo, who played in just four games last year, was given a medical redshirt due to persistent soreness from preseason ankle surgery. As a sophomore in 2001-02, Hanek averaged 6.7 points per game and shot 36.3 percent from behind the 3-point line. Other Coaching Debuts Of the three previous head coaches in YSU women’s basketball history, only Joyce Ramsey won her first game as YSU’s head coach, which was also YSU’s first game as a varsity sport. Who’s Back The Penguins return 11 letterwinners and four starters from last season’s squad. Seniors Jessica Forsythe and Devin Novak, juniors Jen Perugini and Jessica Olmstead all return from the Penguins starting lineup from a year ago. YSU vs. MAC This season, Youngstown State will face five schools in competing in the Mid-American Conference. Besides Bowling Green, YSU faces Buffalo (12/3), Toledo (12/7), Kent State (12/13) and Akron (12/21). The Penguins own an all-time record of 69-55 against those five Mid-American Conference institutions. |
| Penguins Ink Two Of Ohio’s Top 64 Recruits |
| Thursday, November 13 2003 |
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| Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State first-year women’s basketball Head Coach Tisha Hill signed two of Ohio’s top 64 girl’s high school basketball players in her inaugural recruiting class. Hill announced today (Nov. 13) that Lauren Branson (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Jessica Schloemp (Findlay, Ohio) have signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period to continue their academic and athletic careers at Youngstown State University beginning in the 2004-05 season. “My staff and I are extremely thrilled to announce our two signees for the 2004-05 season,” Hill said. “Along with the current talent on this team, these two players will undoubtedly assist in our push for re-establishing the excellence of Penguin women’s basketball. This community is in for an awesome ride! It’s a great time to be a Penguin!” Branson, a 5-foot-6 point guard from Archbishop McNicholas High School, was named one of the top point guards in the state by Ohio Girls’ Basketball Magazine. She helped McNicholas to the 2001 State Championship and averaged six points, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game last season. Currently, Branson ranks third on McNicholas’ career assists list with 227 and needs 130 to break the school record of 356. "Choosing YSU was easy," Branson said. "Coach Hill played point guard and so do I. I wanted to play where they depend on the point guard to be a leader on the floor, distribute the ball, and play tough man defense. I think we both have a passion for the position. I look forward to learning from her. "As a player, the coaching staff was key. Joining a young coaching staff with a vision for the program and a commitment to expect postseason play is exciting. I want to be a part of building a successful program." “Lauren will truly help our depth at the point guard position,” Hill said. “She has incredible speed and quickness and is a very savvy player. “She’s able to create off the dribble and really sees the floor well. She brings a flare and style to the backcourt that compliments the play of others, and is able to score and distribute the ball with much success. Defensively, Lauren is truly a menace. Her relentless effort and ball pressure will fit right in with our system. She’s going to really elevate our style of play.” Schloemp, a 6-foot-3 center from Findlay High School, was named one of the top 64 basketball players in the State of Ohio by Ohio Girls’ Basketball Magazine. As a junior, Schloemp helped Findlay to a conference championship and averaged eight points, six rebounds and three blocks per game. “I felt at home at Youngstown State,” Schloemp said. “Everyone was great – the coaches, players, professors. YSU is home away from home. I’m so proud to be a Penguin.” “Jessica has the size and touch to be a very versatile player,” Hill said. “She has the ability to score facing or with her back to the basket and can really run the floor. “She will be able to beat a lot of our opponents up the floor for early scores. Jess has a fantastic outside shot with the ability to put it down and score as well. At 6’3, she has great foot speed and will create problems for her opponents.” |
| Penguins Fall To Premier All-Stars In OT, 96-84 |
| Monday, November 10 2003 |
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| Youngstown -- Jamie Lewis' steal and fast-break layup with nine seconds remaining in regulation tied the game, 81-81, and vaulted the Premier All-Stars to a 96-84 overtime victory over Youngstown State on Sunday at Beeghly Center. In the extra frame, the All-Stars outscored YSU, 15-3, and connected on 4-of-6 from the field and made 7-of-8 from the free throw line while the Penguin made just 1-of-8 from the floor. The Penguins led, 38-36, at halftime and extended their lead to as many as seven points, 67-60, at the 8:04 mark on senior Jessica Forsythe's offensive rebound and layup. Forsythe led the Penguins with a 14 points and 13 rebounds. The All-Stars quickly cut the deficit to three points, 67-64, with 6:01 left after buckets by Jamie Lewis, who scored 29 points with 10 assists, and Tomeka Brown. Youngstown State pushed its lead back to six points, 73-67, with 5:37 to go after four free throws from freshman Kristy Gaudiose and a layup by junior Jessica Olmstead. The All-Stars cut the Penguins lead down to two points on three different occasions before knotting the game at 77-77 with 2:22 left. The team's traded baskets to put the score at 79-79 and Olmstead's layup with 57 seconds remaining gave the Penguins an 81-79 advantage before Lewis' steal and game-tying bucket. Junior Cathy Hanek added 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor while sophomore Michelle Holmes contributed 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Youngstown State opens its regular season against Bowling Green, Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. at Beeghly Center. |
| Hill, Penguins Gear Up For Exhibition On Nov. 9 |
| Thursday, November 6 2003 |
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| Youngstown – The Youngstown State women’s basketball program is heading into the 2003-04 season with new leadership under new Head Coach Tisha Hill and her staff. The Penguins host the Premier All-Stars in an exhibition game, Sunday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m. in Beeghly Center. Hill, who was named the program’s fourth head coach in April after Ed DiGregorio’s retirement, has the challenge of most first-year head coaches of installing her own philosophy and style of play with the current roster. Fortunately, the 2003-04 Penguins are an experienced squad with 11 letterwinners and four starters returning from last year’s team and should not have a problem adjusting to Hill’s program. "This team has the heart and dedication to become champions" Hill said. "We’ll focus on the ‘little things’ to continue to improve each day." Another major challenge for the Penguins to overcome this season is the daunting 2003-04 schedule. The Penguins, who open the season Nov. 22 against Bowling Green at Beeghly Center at 7 p.m., slated games against three teams that made the NCAA Tournament (New Mexico, Villanova and UW-Green Bay), two from the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT Champion Auburn and Toledo) and a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (Clemson). "We are definitely going to have many tough tests early on this season," Hill said. "But I want our players to be challenged. I want them to be tested because that will prepare us for the Horizon League." Backcourt Traditionally, the Penguins have always been solid in the backcourt and the 2003-04 campaign should not be any different with three players that have starting experience. Although the Penguins lost starting point guard Maggie Johnston to graduation, YSU will regain the services of junior Cathy Hanek, who missed last season due to illness. During her sophomore season in 2001-02, Hanek, who can play the point or shooting guard, ranked sixth in the Horizon League with a 36.3 3-point percentage. The Penguins also retain one of the League’s top 3-point shooters from last season in senior Devin Novak, who can also play the small forward slot. The 5-foot-10 shooting guard, who averaged 11.4 points per game, connected on 43.7 percent of her 3-point attempts, which ranked 11th nationally, while her 69 trifectas is the third-highest single-season total in school history. One of the most versatile and athletic players on the team is junior guard Jessica Olmstead. Standing at 5-foot-9, Olmstead has the capability to play the point, two-guard and small forward for the Penguins. The Conneaut, Ohio, native averaged 10.3 points per game while grabbing 5.0 rebounds per game and dishing out 107 assists last season. Sophomore Aliyah Sabree, redshirt freshman Ashlee Russo, who played in just four games last season, and newcomers Kristi Gaudiose and Katlyn Petit round out the backcourt and give the Penguins some depth. Frontcourt Leading the Penguins on the block will be junior Jen Perugini, the team’s leading scorer in 2002-03 and the 2002 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year. Last season, the 6-foot-2 forward/center averaged a team-best 12.7 points per game and ranked fourth in the Horizon League with 8.1 rebounds per game. Perugini also ranked eighth in the nation with an 89.0 free throw percentage. Another returning starter in the frontcourt is senior Jessica Forsythe. The native of New Cumberland, W.Va., started 27 of the YSU’s 28 games last season and averaged 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Junior Tara Fleming, who started four contests last season, provides experience and an inside presence at center. Fleming, who was named to the All-Tournament Team at the First Tennessee Vanderbilt Tournament, averaged 4.1 points and 0.8 blocks per game last year. The Penguins also expect the return of Barb Fabianova, who missed most of the year due to a season-ending knee injury. Fabianova, who plays the small forward position, averaged 6.0 points per game while dishing out 37 assists in just 13 games played. Sophomore Michelle Holmes and Nicole Neila are expected to provide depth to the power forward and center positions. Summary Although the Penguins will have new faces guiding them from the sidelines, fans can expect very familiar faces on the court in 2003-04. First-year Head Coach Tisha Hill and her charges face a rugged slate but are convinced that is the right path to take to reach new heights. With four starters and 11 letterwinners returning; a new, young coaching staff and an injection of enthusiasm for the game, the Penguins future is bright and begins now. |