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1471

YSU Penguin Athletics / Backfield Returnees, New Opportunities Highlight Upcoming Spring Drills

« on: March 21, 2011, 04:04:12 PM »

The Youngstown State football team returns sophomore quarterback Kurt Hess and a stable of tailbacks led by junior Jamaine Cook. However, there will be plenty of opportunities for the Penguins to step up at many positions when spring drills start on Wednesday.

Hess had an impressive first year as the Penguins' signal caller. In 11 games, he threw for 2,117 yards and 12 touchdowns as he completed 179-of-304 attempts. He was selected as the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Freshman of the Year. He was the first freshman quarterback to start all 11 games of a season since Tom Zetts in 2004.

Also at quarterback, senior Marc Kanetsky, sophomore Najee Tyler and redshirt freshman Patrick Angle all look to get reps during the spring session.

Cook rushed for 1,276 yards on 241 attempts with 11 touchdowns on the year and had 973 yards on 199 attempts and scored eight touchdowns in eight league games. Sophomore Adaris Bellamy tied Cook for the lead in touchdowns and tied the school mark for TD rushes by a freshman with 11. Bellamy had 545 yards on 110 carries after joining the lineup last year.

Other tailbacks who can step in are sophomores Allen Jones, Torrian Pace and Jordan Thompson. Thompson had 144 yards on 36 carries and scored four touchdowns. Jones had 85 yards on eight rushes and a TD while Pace added 13 carries for 53 yards.

At tight end, senior David Rogers and sophomore Carson Sharbaugh will see the bulk of the action along with redshirt freshman Nate Adams. Sharbaugh caught 10 passes in 2010 while Rogers had seven.

YSU will have one senior on the offensive line this spring, however Andy Colegrove has not played the position since his freshman year. Leading the way are junior left tackle Andrew Radakovich, who started all 11 games in 2010, junior right tackle D.J. Main, who started the first seven of the season before being sidelined with a broken foot, and sophomore Chris Elkins, who came on to start the final four at right guard.

Brought in to help in January were linemen Lamar Mady and Mark Pratt. Mady is slated to play left guard while Pratt will take over at center. In the spring, junior Marc Stevens, sophomores Zach Larson and Andrew Sinko as well as redshirt freshmen Stephen Page and J.P. May will get their opportunity to crack the starting five. Fred Herdman transitions from defensive line to offensive line and will be given a chance to find a spot as well.

At wide receiver, the Guins lost first-team all-league performer and security-blanket Dominique Barnes. Barnes had 37 percent (67-of-180) of the team's total receptions and four of the 12 TD catches. On the flip side, that means - with the exception of all but two by Kyle Banna - 111 of the receptions and eight touchdowns from last year return. But further numbers crunching shows that 38 were receptions by tailbacks and 17 came from tight ends.

The top returning receiver entering the spring is senior Ely Ducatel. Ducatel had a breakout year with 27 catches for 336 yards and two touchdowns last season. The second most by a receiver was 12 by Juilian Harrell, followed by Kevin Watts' 11 and three each by Andre Barboza and Josh Lee.

The Guins lost Jelani Berassa early in fall camp and look to have him back as a major contributor in 2011. Senior Pat White, senior Dionte Snow and redshirt freshman Jake Dragovich will be looking for opportunities this spring as well.

On defense, senior linebacker and 2010's leading tackler John Sasson will spearhead the unit. Last year, 21 different players started at some point on defense and 13 of them are back this season.

On the defensive line, seniors Obinna Ekweremuba and Andrew Johnson return with the most experience up front combining to start 14 contests. YSU will be without 11-game starters from last year in Torrance Nicholson and Luke Matelan, but that will open opportunities for others.

Senior Daniel Stewart and sophomore D.J. Moss started a game each in 2010. Sophomore Kyle Sirl, redshirt freshman Brandon Green will push for action in the spring. Junior college newcomers Nick DeKraker (tackle) and Josh Fenderson (end) joined the team in January following strong junior-college careers.

At linebacker, Sasson started all 11 games last season finishing with 89 total tackles, including 44 solo stops. Senior Deonta Tate returns following a 52-tackle campaign while sophomore Dom Rich had 15 starting the final three games. Junior Will Shaw moves from the safety slot to linebacker after recording 48 tackles.

A hungry group of underclassmen will get their shot this spring. Sophomores Ali Cheaib, Thomas Sprague and Mark Brandenstein all were special-teams contributors in 2010 along with junior Ethan Slark. Sophomore Taylor Hill returns after redshirting in 2010. Hill was a major contributor in 2009 being named to the league's all-newcomer squad. Redshirts Kevin Johnson and Danny Fernback and transfer Chuck Lengyel also will get looks in the spring. Lengyel impressed in the fall after transferring from Mount Union.

In the secondary, YSU has five seniors with cornerback Randy Louis leading the way. Louis had 32 tackles in eight starts last year. The other seniors are Grant Mayes, Scott Sentner, Deionte Williams and Lee, who is converting from wide receiver.

Sophomores Jamarious Boatwright and Donald D'Alesio combined to start 10 games as true freshmen last year. D'Alesio ranked second on the team in tackles with 69. Sophomores Josh Garner, Matt Romeo and Gannon Hulea will also be looking for an opportunity this spring.

At punter, Nick Liste - an all-newcomer team and honorable-mention All-MVFC pick - returns after a freshman campaign in which he averaged 41.4 yards a kick and had six boots of 50 yards or more. At placekicker, junior-college transfer David Brown steps in for Stephen Blose. Brown joined the program in January and takes over after Blose made 12-of-14 FGs and 38-of-40 PAT tries.

Barnes had 11 of the team's 15 punt returns with Boatwright returning the other four. Cook and Boatwright combined for 37 kickoff returns. Kanetsky returns as holder and senior Nate Schkurko returns as the squad's holder.

Drills, which start on Wednesday, conclude on Saturday, April 16, when the Penguins will hold their annual Red-White Spring Game at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12:05 p.m.

2011 Youngstown State Spring Football Roster

No.    Name    Pos.    Cl.    Ht.    Wt.    Hometown/High School
1    Najee Tyler    Quarterback    So.    6-5    240    Queens, N.Y./Xaverian
3    Grant Mayes    Cornerback    Sr.    5-10    195    Roselle, N.J./Seton Hall Prep
4    Jamarious Boatwright    Cornerback    So.    5-11    190    Largo, Fla./Largo
5    Adaris Bellamy    Tailback    So.    5-10    215    Dunedin, Fla./Dunedin
5    Randy Louis    Cornerback    Sr.    5-9    175    Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard
6    Jelani Berassa    Wide Receiver    So.    6-3    200    Miami, Fla./Miami Killian
6    Deonta Tate    Linebacker    Sr.    6-1    225    Palmetto, Fla./Palmetto
7    Ely Ducatel    Wide Receiver    Sr.    6-1    195    Naples, Fla./Lely
8    Donald D'Alesio    Cornerback    So.    5-11    180    Youngstown, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney
9    Will Shaw    Safety    Jr.    6-2    220    Baltimore, Md./Highland
10    Josh Lee    Wide Receiver    Sr.    5-9    190    Lutz, Fla./Freedom
11    Kevin Watts    Wide Receiver    So.    6-0    220    Middletown, Ohio/Middletown
12    Kurt Hess    Quarterback    So.    6-3    220    Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne
14    Patrick Angle    Quarterback    RFr.    6-2    205    Logan, Ohio/Logan
15    Juilian Harrell    Wide Receiver    Jr.    6-2    210    Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt
16    Gannon Hulea    Free Safety    So.    6-0    200    Poland, Ohio/Poland
17    Dionte Snow    Wide Receiver    Sr.    6-2    190    Toledo, Ohio/Scott
19    Marc Kanetsky    Quarterback    Sr.    6-0    185    Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard
20    Dom Rich    Linebacker    So.    6-1    215    Canfield, Ohio/Canfield
21    Josh Garner    Safety    So.    6-1    190    Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne
24    Scott Sentner    Free Safety    Sr.    6-2    200    McDonald, Ohio/McDonald
25    Torrian Pace    Tailback    So.    5-10    230    Chantilly, Va./Chantilly
27    Justin Austin    Free Safety    So.    5-11    215    Hubbard, Ohio/Ursuline
28    Allen Jones    Tailback    So.    5-10    205    Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline
31    Matt Romeo    Cornerback    So.    5-9    155    Boardman, Ohio/Boardman
32    Jordan Thompson    Tailback    So.    6-1    220    Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West
33    Deionte Williams    Free Safety    Sr.    6-2    185    Miami, Fla./Northwestern
34    Thomas Sprague    Linebacker    So.    6-1    215    Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville
35    Jamaine Cook    Tailback    Jr.    5-9    195    Cleveland, Ohio/Midpark
36    Mark Brandenstein    Linebacker    So.    5-11    210    Boardman, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney
39    Daniel Stewart    Defensive End    Sr.    6-0    240    Long Beach, Calif./Bellflower
42    Nate Adams    Tight End    So.    6-5    240    Newark, Ohio/Newark Catholic
44    Andrew Johnson    Defensive Tackle    Sr.    6-3    265    Detroit, Mich./Southeastern
48    Ethan Slark    Linebacker    Jr.    6-0    200    Springfield, Ohio/South
50    Taylor Hill    Linebacker    So.    6-2    210    Youngstown, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney
51    Ali Cheaib    Linebacker    So.    6-2    215    Dunedin, Fla./Dunedin
53    John Sasson    Linebacker    Sr.    6-2    240    Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel
54    Danny Fernback    Linebacker    RFr.    6-1    205    Boardman, Ohio/Boardman
55    Lamar Mady    Offensive Line    Jr.    6-4    325    Topeka, Kan./Topeka
56    Zach Larson    Offensive Guard    So.    6-3    300    Youngstown, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney
57    Andy Colegrove    Offensive Guard    Sr.    6-4    260    Ironton, Ohio/Ironton
59    Chuck Lengyel    Defensive End    Jr.    6-1    230    Columbiana, Ohio/South Range
60    Kevin Johnson    Defensive End    RFr.    6-3    210    Boardman, Ohio/Boardman
65    Stephen Page    Offensive Guard    RFr.    6-4    270    Newton Falls, Ohio/Newton Falls
66    Chris Elkins    Offensive Guard    So.    6-5    270    Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls
69    Marc Stevens    Center    Jr.    6-5    300    Mansfield, Ohio/Lexington
72    Andrew Radakovich    Offensive Tackle    Jr.    6-6    305    Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville
74    Andrew Sinko    Offensive Tackle    So.    6-5    280    Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville
76    Mark Pratt    Center    Jr.    6-3    325    Tooele, Utah/Tooele
77    D.J. Main    Offensive Tackle    Jr.    6-6    285    Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville
78    J.P. May    Offensive Tackle    RFr.    6-6    280    Columbus, Ohio/Thomas Worthington
80    David Rogers    Tight End    Sr.    6-3    250    Kent, Ohio/Roosevelt
81    Nick Liste    Punter    So.    5-10    180    Niles, Ohio/Niles McKinley
82    David Brown    Placekicker    Jr.    5-10    170    Ojai, Calif./Nordoff
83    Andre Barboza    Wide Receiver    Sr.    6-2    210    Hyannis, Mass./Barnstable
84    Pat White    Wide Receiver    Sr.    6-6    220    Warren, Ohio/Harding
85    Nate Schkurko    Long Snapper    Sr.    6-2    190    Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg
86    Carson Sharbaugh    Tight End    So.    6-5    250    New Wilmington, Pa./New Wilmington
87    Kyle Sirl    Defensive End    So.    6-4    250    Westfield, Ohio/Cloverleaf
88    Jake Dragovich    Wide Receiver    RFr.    6-2    195    Canfield, Ohio/Ursuline
90    Obinna Ekweremuba    Defensive End    Sr.    6-3    250    Orlu, Nigeria/A-2 International
92    Fred Herdman    Offensive Guard    So.    6-5    240    Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle
96    Brandon Green    Defensive Tackle    RFr.    6-3    250    Tampa, Fla./Tampa Catholic
98    D.J. Moss    Defensive Tackle    So.    5-11    270    Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch
99    Josh Fenderson    Defensive Line    Jr.    6-2    250    Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford
   Timote Taumoepeau    Linebacker    RFr.    6-0    245    Boardman, Ohio/Boardman


Spring Football Schedule
Date    Event    Time         Links
Mar 23, 2011    Spring Practice    4 p.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Mar 25, 2011    Spring Practice    4 p.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Mar 26, 2011    Spring Practice    10 a.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Mar 28, 2011    Spring Practice    4 p.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Mar 30, 2011    Spring Practice    4 p.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Apr 1, 2011    Spring Practice    4 p.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Apr 2, 2011    Spring Practice    10 a.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Apr 4, 2011    Spring Practice    4 p.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Apr 6, 2011    Spring Practice    4 p.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Apr 8, 2011    Spring Practice    4 p.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Apr 9, 2011    Spring Practice    10 a.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Apr 11, 2011    Spring Practice    4 p.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Apr 13, 2011    Spring Practice    4 p.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Apr 15, 2011    Spring Practice    4 p.m.         
   Stambaugh Stadium
Apr 15, 2011    Spring Practice    6:30 p.m.         
   DeBartolo Stadium Club
Apr 16, 2011    Red-White Spring Game    Noon         
   Stambaugh Stadium

1472

YSU Penguin Athletics / Scalzo: Spring Scouting Report

« on: March 21, 2011, 06:12:40 AM »

Youngstown State begins spring football practice Wednesday under the guidance of second-year coach Eric Wolford, whose team finished a disappointing 3-8 but was competitive in nearly every game. Vindicator reporter Joe Scalzo breaks down the team, position-by-position. (Year in school applies to fall 2011). Analysis does not include incoming recruits unless they have already enrolled:

OFFENSE

Overview: The Penguins lose four starters, including three on the line, from a unit that averaged 31.3 points per game and set a school record by averaging 412 yards per game. There are a few question marks but it once again figures to be the team’s strength.

QUARTERBACK

Who’s back: Sophomore Kurt Hess, senior Marc Kanetsky

Who’s gone: No one.

Others to watch: Sophomore Najee Tyler, freshman Patrick Angle.

Analysis: Hess was named Missouri Valley Football Conference freshman of the year after starting every game and setting a YSU freshman record with 2,117 yards passing. He’s one of the team’s hardest workers and is a favorite of the coaches. Kanetsky is a solid backup and has the trust of the coaches. Tyler is the most physically gifted QB on the roster but needs to work on his overall grasp of the position. Angle redshirted last fall but performed well on the scout team and is a good enough athlete that the coaches considered moving him to safety last fall.

RUNNING BACK

Who’s back: Junior TB Jamaine Cook, sophomore TB Adaris Bellamy, sophomore TB Jordan Thompson, sophomore TB Allen Jones, junior TB Torrian Pace.

Who’s gone: FB Dan Banna.

Others to watch: No one.

Analysis: Easily the strength of the team. Cook was YSU’s best player last year and coach Eric Wolford has repeatedly called him his hardest worker. Bellamy was a terrific complement last fall and has improved his conditioning this winter. Thompson showed flashes of his potential but didn’t get as many carries because of the top two players’ production. Jones was a solid special teams player who was productive when he got the chance and he’s impressed the coaches with his performance in conditioning drills this winter. Pace was buried on the depth chart but is too talented to sit on the sidelines. This unit’s biggest problem is there is too much talent.

WIDE RECEIVERS and TIGHT ENDS

Who’s back: Senior WR Ely Ducatel, senior WR Andre Barboza, senior WR Pat White, junior WR Juilian Harrell, sophomore WR Kevin Watts, sophomore TE Carson Sharbaugh, senior TE David Rogers.

Who’s gone: WR Dominique Barnes.

Others to watch: Junior WR Jelani Berassa.

Analysis: Wideout is maybe the biggest question mark on the team. Barnes’ departure leaves a massive void, as a handful of players (notably Ducatel, Harrell and Watts) had their moments last fall, but no one showed the consistency to be the No. 1 guy. Sharbaugh was solid and should be better in his second season. Berassa tore his ACL in training camp and missed last season but is an intriguing prospect. Tight ends coach Andre Coleman, who played receiver in the NFL, will also coach wideouts this year after the departure of assistant coach Phil Longo. The coaches believe there’s potential here and that the team needs to shore up its pass protection to allow the receivers time to get open.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Who’s back: Junior tackles Andrew Radakovich and D.J. Main, sophomore guard Chris Elkins.

Who’s gone: Guards Bobby Coates and Eric Rodemoyer, center Justin Rechichar, tackle Chris Gammon.

Others to watch: Sophomore guard Zach Larson, sophomore tackle Andrew Sinko, freshman guard Stephen Page, sophomore Fred Herdman, junior college transfers Lamar Mady and Mark Pratt.

Analysis: Although losing three senior starters hurts, a good core returns. The Penguins’ experience is on the edges but a couple newcomers need to step up. Wolford moved Page and Herdman from defense to offense to try to create competition.

DEFENSE

Analysis: The Penguins return eight starters from a unit that struggled mightily in the fall, particularly late in the games when the team’s lack of depth became painfully obvious. Making things worse, departing seniors Torrance Nicholson (DT) and Brandian Ross (CB) were arguably the unit’s two best players. Question marks abound, although there’s potential for improvement everywhere.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Who’s back: Senior NT Andrew Johnson, senior DE Obinna Ekweremuba

Who’s gone: DT Nicholson, DE Luke Matelan, DE Stephen Meadows (left team)

Others to watch: Senior DE Daniel Stewart, sophomore DT D.J. Moss, sophomore DE Kyle Sirl, junior college transfers Josh Fenderson and Nick DeKraker, freshman DT Brandon Green.

Analysis: Losing Nicholson and Matelan hurts and Wolford is hoping a couple players will step up. No Penguin had more than two sacks last season so it’s imperative that this unit improve, particularly on passing downs. This was an emphasis in recruiting, as Wolford never again wants to be this thin in veteran linemen.

LINEBACKER

Who’s back: Seniors John Sasson and Deonta Tate, sophomore Dom Rich.

Who’s gone: David Rach.

Others to watch: Sophomores Taylor Hill, Will Shaw, Thomas Sprague, Ali Cheaib and Mark Brandenstein.

Analysis: Rach left the team to focus on academics. Sasson led the team in tackles last season and is considered one of the team’s two hardest workers. Hill led the team in tackles two years ago before sitting out last fall due to academic issues. Shaw is moving down from safety to his more natural position. This unit made plenty of tackles but not enough plays. Still, the coaches think this could be the strength of the defense.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Who’s back: Sophomore corners Donald D’Alesio and Jamarious Boatwright

Who’s gone: Ross, safety Andre Elliott

Others to watch: Senior CB Grant Mayes, senior safeties Deionte Williams and Scott Sentner, sophomore safety Josh Garner

Analysis: This unit really struggled last season and losing Ross and Elliott (who missed the last seven games with a shoulder injury) won’t help. D’Alesio and Boatwright were forced to play earlier than the coaches would have liked but that experience should help. Again, the coaches believe there’s potential in this unit but there are still a lot of question marks.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Who’s back: Sophomore punter Nick Liste

Who’s gone: PR/KR Barnes, K Stephen Blose, K Jake Smith (left team)

Others to watch: Junior college transfer kicker David Brown

Analysis: Blose was reliable on extra points — he set the school record for PATs — and could be relied on to make short field goals but YSU is hoping Brown will give the team a bigger threat on kickoffs and long field goals. YSU’s kick coverage was awful last year and the Penguins desperately need a playmaker in the return game, particularly since Barnes isn’t back. Liste was terrific and should solidify the position for years.

1473

YSU Penguin Athletics / Klein’s Masterpiece Leads Baseball to 7-1 Win Over Toledo

« on: March 20, 2011, 06:28:29 PM »

Pittsburgh, Pa. -- Youngstown State senior pitcher Phil Klein allowed one run on three hits in eight innings, and the heart of the Penguins' line-up drove in five runs in a 7-1 win over Toledo in the final game for both teams at the Petersen Sports Complex Panther Classic on Sunday.

Klein didn't allow a hit or a run until the sixth inning and struck out a career-high 13 in the game. Chris Dudics broke up the no-hit bid with a one out triple to center in the sixth, and Jacob North stopped the shutout one batter later with an RBI ground out. The senior right-hander allowed two harmless one-out singles in the eighth.

On the offensive end, clean-up batter Joe Iacobucci drove in two runs and scored twice, reaching base five times with three hits and two walks. No. 5 hitter Jonathan Crist drove in two runs, and No. 3 hitter Jeremy Banks had two hits, an RBI and a run scored.

"Phil was dominant today," YSU head coach Rich Pasquale said. "He trusted his stuff, and he pounded the zone. Coach Lipari also called a great game."

"Offensively, it was nice getting Iacobucci and Banks going in the same game. We moved the baseball to advance runners, and we played good defense. That's what we want Penguin baseball to be."

YSU gave Klein the lead early with an unearned run in the first. Drew Dosch and Banks both reached on errors to put runners at the corners, and Crist brought in Dosch with a sacrifice fly to right.

The Penguins then gave Klein a 4-0 lead when they tacked on three runs in the third. Banks singled in David Leon and later scored on another Crist sacrifice fly. Three consecutive walks forced in Iacobucci from third for the third run of the inning.

After Toledo made the score 4-1 in the sixth, YSU got the run back in the bottom of the seventh. Iacobucci hit a leadoff triple to right center, and Armani Johnson brought him in with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly. The Penguins added two more in the eighth on Iacobucci's two-run double with the bases loaded.

Freshman reliever Nic Manuppelli threw a scoreless ninth for YSU, which also beat Toledo 4-3 on Friday.

Youngstown State is scheduled to play its home opener on Wednesday at Eastwood Field. First pitch against Penn State-Behrend is set for 3 p.m. Check YSUsports.com regularly for weather-related updates.

1474

YSU Penguin Athletics / Guins and Lady Pens both win

« on: March 19, 2011, 10:05:39 AM »

Baseball:
Pittsburgh, Pa. -- David Leon went 5-for-5, and Youngstown State starter Robert Switka pitched seven strong innings to lead the Penguins to a 4-3 victory over Toledo on Friday at Pitt's Panther Classic.

Softball:
Kissimmee, Fla. -- The Youngstown State softball team rallied from 5-0 deficit and scored five in the top of the seventh inning for a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over Colgate on Friday afternoon at the Rebel Games. The Guins also defeated Bucknell, 9-2, earlier in the day. The Guins, who improved to 15-7 and surpassed the 2010 win total of 14.

1475

YSU Penguin Athletics / Baseball vs Xavier

« on: March 16, 2011, 04:30:57 PM »

Well we were down 1-0.
Went up 3-1.
Tied 3-3.
Had bases loaded with 1-out and failed to score.
Down 4-3 in the 5th.

1476

YSU Penguin Athletics / Scalzo: Chemistry comes first for Formeck, on and off the course

« on: March 16, 2011, 06:37:31 AM »

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

YSU junior Samantha Formeck is a two-time Horizon League golfer of the year, ranks first all-time on the school’s scoring average list and will likely finish her career tops on the school’s win list, despite only playing three years.

But when asked if she thinks about her legacy, she chuckles — “Not really,” she said — and instead focuses on the “we,” rather than the “me.”

“I would like people to remember me as a team player,” she said. “That I definitely helped the team both on and off the golf course.

“Ultimately, in college, it’s a team sport. That’s what it comes down to.”

Formeck finished third overall at last week’s 16-team Sunshine Spring Classic in Florida, helping the Penguins place sixth in the standings.

She was one stroke off the lead Monday after the first round of the Benbow Invitational in Jacksonville.

The Penguins played the tournament’s final two rounds Tuesday, but the results were not available at press time.

Formeck’s six career victories are second in YSU history, one fewer than Jessica Lundblad (97-98) and her 77.57 scoring average is almost two strokes better than the next-best golfer on the list (Katie Rogner, 79.18).

“It’s been a great experience ever since I got here,” she said. “I’m fortunate to have a coach like Roseann [Schwartz] and the team I’ve played on every year has just been awesome. That makes it so much more fun to be here.”

Formeck, who hails from Northern Cambria, Pa., won individual and team titles at the Horizon League meet two years ago. She finished third at last year’s meet as the Penguins place second in the team standings.

Formeck will give up her fourth year of eligibility to attend pharmacy school, so she’s hoping to go out on top in her final league tournament next month.

“We want to win it as a team and move on to regionals,” she said. “I think that’s the big goal for this year.”

Formeck, who graduated second in her high school class, said she’s always been interested in pursuing a career in a medical field. Her interest in chemistry directed her toward pharmacy and her grades (she has a 3.76 grade point average and has been on the Dean’s List every year) made that goal possible.

She has already been accepted to the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and School of Pharmacy and will start attending classes next fall.

“If I hadn’t gotten accepted, I would have hung around here and got my degree and played golf,” she said. “It was definitely a tough decision to give up that year, but I’m hoping it’ll be the right one.”

Formeck doesn’t look like a standout golfer — there are probably titanium drivers taller than she is — but her ability to hit the ball consistently straight and her strong short game make up for her sometimes shaky putting.

“Putting has been my downfall from high school to college, so I’m still working on that,” she said. “Other than that, I’d say I’m pretty consistent. I usually shoot the same scores and that’s definitely something I’m proud of.”

Balancing golf and classwork can be a challenge — particularly since her classes are tougher than, say, getting a journalism degree — which is why she enjoys this week’s spring break and the summer, where she only has to focus on golf.

“Golf takes up a good deal of time,” said Formeck, who finished her freshman year ranked 379th nationally and was 323rd as of last week. “Especially if you really want to put in the hard work, it can take up and endless amount of time.

“But you do have to balance it between school and golf and that’s the challenge.”

Golf will be put on hold the next three years but Formeck said she’d like to try to qualify for some professional tournaments once she earns her pharmacy degree.

“It’s not out of the question,” she said. “I’d really like to play in a professional tournament, like the U.S. Open or something, but as far as really turning professionally, as of right now, that’s not something I’m looking to do.”

1477

YSU Penguin Athletics / Boldon, Brown Brought Optimism to Women's Basketball Program in 2010-11

« on: March 15, 2011, 02:34:47 PM »

The Youngstown State women's basketball program showed definite signs of growth during the 2010-11 season under first-year head coach Bob Boldon. The year brought many accomplishments on both the team and individual levels. Those highlights are listed below.

-- YSU went 6-24 for the year and 4-14 in Horizon League play. The six wins were double the previous two seasons combined. YSU had just one league victory over the past two years.

-- Bob Boldon led YSU to its biggest win increase ever (six) under a first-year head coach. Jeff Cohen is the only other first-year head coach to increase the win total from the previous year. He led YSU to 11 wins in 1982-83, a one-win increase from 1981-82.

-- The Penguins finished the season winning three of their final seven contests. The three wins in that four-week span matched the program's win total of the previous two seasons combined. YSU had shots in the final 20 seconds in three of those losses that would have tied the game.

-- YSU improved its scoring margin from 2009-10 from minus-25.8 to minus-10.6. That 15.2-point improvement is one of the five best in the country.

-- YSU set new school records with 205 3-pointers made and 744 3-pointers attempted.

-- The Penguins trimmed their turnovers by 3.3 per game from 2009-10 and forced 2.3 more per game. YSU's plus 2.3 turnover margin ranked second in the Horizon League.

-- YSU was outscored 507-505 off turnovers in 2010-11. That is an enormous improvement from the previous year when the Penguins were outscored 630-370 off miscues.

-- The Penguins finished with 92 more steals than their opponents, which was a big improvement from last year when YSU had 83 fewer thefts than its opponents. The last time YSU finished a season with more steals than its opponents was in 2001-02.

-- The Penguins went 2-0 against Valparaiso, earning their first sweep of a conference opponent since 2007-08. YSU also picked up conference wins against Loyola and UIC.

-- YSU continued to get better as the season progressed, demonstrated by shooting better than its season field-goal percentage in 15 of its final 18 games.

-- In the Penguins' Senior Day victory, five players scored in double figures for the first time since the 2003-04 season.

-- YSU set a school record by going 17-for-17 from the free-throw line against UIC on March 3.  The only other time that the Penguins went at least 10-for-10 from the stripe was when they made all 13 attempts at Oakland on Feb. 6, 2007.

-- Sophomore forward Brandi Brown had one of the best seasons in school history. She was named Second-Team All-Horizon League after finishing the regular season as the league's top scorer. Only two other players in school history have won a conference scoring title. Brown averaged 19.9 points overall and 22.6 points during league play. Brown was named the Horizon League Player of the Week a league-best three times.

-- Brown scored 597 points, which is the fifth-highest single-season total in school history. Brown has scored 939 points in her first two seasons on campus. That is the most ever by a Penguin through two seasons. She already ranks 18th on the Penguins' all-time scoring list.

-- Brown tied a school record by going 12-for-12 from the free-throw line against UIC on March 3. She finished the season making 35 of her final 36 attempts from the charity stripe.

-- Junior Kenya Middlebrooks made 60 3-pointers, which is the seventh-most by a Penguin in school history. She had 26 treys in her first two seasons combined. Middlebrooks also tied a school record by making seven 3-pointers in a game. In fact, she did it twice – at UIC and against Valparaiso at home. Only one other player in school history made seven treys in a game twice.

-- Tieara Jones, a junior transfer in her first season, led the conference in blocks with 1.3 per game. Her 39 blocks are the seventh-most for a season in school history and the third-most by a junior.

-- Jones and Maryum Jenkins became the first pair of Penguins to record at least 60 steals since the 1997-98 season.

-- Liz Hornberger and Monica Touvelle became the first pair of freshmen in school history to make at least 25 3-pointers.

1478

YSU Penguin Athletics / Guin Hard-ballers drop double-header

« on: March 12, 2011, 08:48:13 PM »

I do not have the wrap up as of yet, but they lost game-1 6-10, and game-2 7-13. We finally had a break-out inning on offense scoring 7 runs in the eighth inning of game-2. Don't be fooled, it was a "error-fest" inning and YSU only had 2 hits that I can see. In game-2 we had only 2 singles ...gave up 4-doubles, 2-triples, and 3 home runs. This TTU team is a power in the OVC (a better BB conference the HL), but rebuilding, so I was hoping to have a nice series win for some confidence.

1479

YSU Penguin Athletics / Guins Prep For 10-Game Slate at the Rebel Games Starting Sunday

« on: March 12, 2011, 08:22:01 PM »

Head Coach Brian Campbell Interview

The Youngstown State softball team (8-4) is gearing up for a challenging stretch of 10 games in the next six days when it begins play at the Rebel Games in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday March 13.

The Guins begin the Rebel Games against South Dakota and Manhattan on Sunday, March 13, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.

The Guins are coming off a split against Savannah State on March 11, which saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end.

Rebel Games Schedule

Sunday, March 13
vs. South Dakota, 1 p.m.
vs. Manhattan, 5 p.m.

Monday, March 14
vs. Rider, 11 a.m.
vs. Hartford, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, March 16
vs. Lafayette, 1 p.m.
vs. Columbia, 5 p.m.

Thursday, March 17
vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, 9 a.m.
vs. Siena, 11 a.m.

Friday, March 18
vs. Bucknell, 3 p.m.
vs. Colgate, 5 p.m.

Dear Ms. Gabel
Sophomore Sarah Gabel is off to a tremendous start for the Guins. Gabel leads the team with a .524 batting average going 11-for-21 with three doubles and triple. Last season, Gabel collected 12 hits in 71 at-bats and did not record one extra-base hit in 2010.

Streaking Rendle
Senior Kristina Rendle has caught fire over the last eight games. Rendle, who is batting .432, owns an eight-game hitting streak and is batting .462 during that span. Rendle also leads the team with five multi-hit games.

Win Streak Halted
After splitting a doubleheader at Savannah State on March 11, the Guins' seven-game win streak was snapped. That streak ranks tied for the fifth-longest winning streak in school history. The least time the Guins won at least seven games was in 2004 when they won a school record 10 games.

Ingalls' "Little House" in the Outfield
Junior Jordan Ingalls continues to improve for the Guins. The left-hander is batting .417 and leads the team with 13 RBIs in 12 games. She is also batting .520 with three doubles, two triples, a home run and 10 runs batted in over the last eight games.

Guins Notch Eighth
With a 13-2 over Savannah State on March 11, the Guins recorded their eighth win of the season. Last year, the Guins did not win their eighth game until April 6, 2010. In 2009, the Guins won a total of eight games. The last time the Guins won eight games after 12 contests was in 1996 when they went 8-4 to start the season.

Guins Pickin Up Offensive Production
Over the last eight games, the Guins have really stepped up at the plate. Winning seven of the last eight games, the Guins are batting .391 as a team with 15 doubles, three triples and three home runs. They are averaging 10.5 hit per game and scoring 6.9 runs per contest.

The Mighty Casey
Freshman Casey Crozier has become the Guins top hurler. Crozier owns a record of 5-2, but has gone 5-1 in her last six decisions and owns an earned-run average of 1.54. She has thrown two shutouts, has struck out 20 in 27.1 innings pitched and has limited her opponents to a .213 batting average.

1480

YSU Penguin Athletics / Softball Extends Win Streak to Six After Sweep of South Carolina State

« on: March 11, 2011, 12:46:15 PM »

Softball Extends Win Streak to Six After Sweep of South Carolina State
The Youngstown State softball team extended its winning streak to six games after sweeping a doubleheader from South Carolina State, 9-0, and 5-4, on Thursday afternoon.

Freshman pitcher Casey Crozier picked up the victory in both games for the Penguins, who improve to 7-3 overall.

In the opener, Crozier tossed a four-hit shutout - her second consecutive shutout - and struck out five while sophomore Sarah Gabel went 3-for-3 with a triple and three runs batted in.

Senior Kristina Rendle, sophomore Vicky Rumph and freshman Sarah Ingalls each tallied two hits in the Guins' 12-hit barrage.

In the nightcap, Crozier relieved starter Hana Somogyi, who pitched four solid innings allowing just two hits and one earned run, fired three innings of relief to pick up her fourth victory of the season.

The Guins recovered from two deficits, including scoring three runs in the top of the seventh, and held off a Bulldogs rally that left the tying run on third and the winning run on second.

Trailing, 3-2, in the top of the seventh, junior Haley Thomas reached on an error to lead off the inning and advanced to second on Rendle's bunt single. After Jordan Ingalls' sacrifice bunt pushed the runners to seconnd and third, Rumph tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Thomas and moving Rendle to third.

A single by Gabel plated Rendle with the go-ahead run and pinch-runner Shayla DeCapita stole second and scored on a single to center by Kim Klonowski.

In the bottom half of the frame, Crozier allowed a single, walk and an infield single to load the bases with no outs.

After fanning the next two batters, Crozier walked in a run to make the score 5-4, but induce a fly out to center field to end the game.

The Guins trailed 1-0 after the Bulldogs scored in the bottom of the first before Rendle tied the game with an inside-the-park home run.

Jordan Ingalls followed with a triple and scored on Rumph's sacrifice fly.

South Carolina State regained the lead scoring two runs in the bottom half of the fifth.

The Guins take on Savannah State on Friday, March 11, at 1 p.m.

1481

YSU Penguin Athletics / Scalzo: McCulloh has strong start to season

« on: March 09, 2011, 06:01:09 AM »

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

On Feb. 19, with 4,000 people in the stands and three more on the bases, YSU sophomore pitcher Kevin McCulloh stood on the mound at Clark-LeClair Stadium in Greenville, N.C., getting ready for the best moment of his Penguin career. (So far.)

The score was tied 0-0 in the bottom of the sixth with one out against East Carolina, a team that had hung 11 runs on the Penguins in their season opener the day before.

“The entire crowd was standing and cheering against me,” said McCulloh, a Boardman High graduate, “And I got a strikeout.

“That was really awesome.”

He got the next batter to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning and his outing.

“That was a pretty intense moment,” said McCulloh, whose team eventually lost 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth. “It was like a minor league-type atmosphere.”

After a rough outing against the College of Charleston — no surprise, considering the Cougars outscored the Penguins 35-3 in a three-game sweep — McCulloh pitched another gem on Sunday, holding Cincinnati to one run over six innings to pick up his (and YSU’s) first win of the season.

“I was coming off a tough one against Charleston and I was anxious to get back out there,” McCulloh said. “Right out of the gate, my slider was breaking abnormally and I just had to get the hang of it.

“I walked a couple guys and had some guys in scoring position, which you don’t really want to do, but I was able to get out of those for the most part.”

McCulloh (1-1, 2.70 ERA) has been a bright spot on a pitching staff that has a 9.04 ERA through nine games.

After splitting time between starting and playing shortstop for the Spartans, he spent most of his first collegiate season coming out of the bullpen, making a team-high 28 appearances, including two starts. He went 1-5 with a 4.96 ERA and was fourth on the team in innings pitched.

Coach Rich Pasquale made him a starter in the offseason, although McCulloh said he likes aspects of both roles.

“When you’re in the bullpen, you’re in almost every game, which is cool,” said McCulloh, who throws a fastball, slider, changeup and curveball. “With starting, it’s nice to get a routine down.”

McCulloh is one of six former Spartans on the team, joining sophomore pitcher Patrick O’Brien (who played at Bowling Green last year) and senior outfielders Joe Iacobucci and Armani Johnson (who spent one season at Oakland).

“It’s pretty interesting,” he said. “A couple guys went other places and came back home and it’s nice to play with those guys and some other guys from local places that I’ve known for awhile.”

While the Penguins haven’t been very successful so far this season, McCulloh said playing such good competition will help them once they start league play on March 25.

“Those first two series [against East Carolina and Charleston], those teams are as good as any teams we’re gonna face,” he said. “Charleston, especially. That lineup is one of the best I’ll ever see while I’m here.

“So being able to work through those starts and be relatively successful will help. Come league time, it’ll be like been there, done that.”

1482

YSU Penguin Athletics / Ladies fall 49-47

« on: March 07, 2011, 10:39:15 PM »

I do not have the story, yet, but listened to the game. We only shot 26%

1483

YSU Penguin Athletics / Guins Ride Impressive Offensive Effort to 84-65 Win Over Loyola

« on: March 05, 2011, 04:52:45 PM »

The Youngstown State women's basketball team shook off an early injury scare to their leading scorer to pick up an impressive 84-65 victory over Loyola on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center.

Just 43 seconds into the game, sophomore Brandi Brown took an elbow to the nose and lay on the court for a few minutes. The Penguins (6-23 overall and 4-14 in the Horizon League) played inspired basketball for the next seven minutes without Brown and once she returned, YSU was able to run away with its second straight victory.

YSU had five players score in double figures for the first time since January 2004 against the Ramblers. Brown finished with 27, Liz Hornberger had 12, Monica Touvelle had 12, Kenya Middlebrooks finished with 12 and Tieara Jones added 11. For the Ramblers, Monica Albano had a game-high 34 points.

The Guins knocked down a season-best 13 3-pointers and the 82 points was a season high.

YSU built a 14-point halftime lead and maintained a double-figure advantage until the 10:02 mark when Albano connected on a 3-pointer. Just over two minutes later, a free throw by Albano cut the deficit to 60-53 with 7:49 left. That was the closest the Ramblers could get in the second half.

The Guins countered with a 16-5 run to put the game out of reach over the next 4:16 to seize control of the contest.

For the game, YSU shot 46.6 percent making 27-of-58 attempts, including 13-of-30 from behind the 3-point arc. Loyola connected on 49 percent (24-of-49). The Guins had 21 assists on 27 baskets and was 17-of-19 from the free-throw line (89.5 percent), making 17 of their last 18 from the charity stripe.

The Penguins overcame some adversity in the first half when Brown was injured at the 19:17 mark and midway through the first half, Boki Dimitrov exited with a sprained ankle.

YSU was hot from behind the 3-point arc to build a 40-23 advantage, which Loyola (11-18 and 5-13) cut to 14 before the half on a final-second triple by Albano.

Youngstown State drained nine 3-pointers while converting just two from inside the arc. For the half, YSU shot 13-of-34 (38.2 percent) while the Ramblers connected on 40 percent (10-of-25). The big difference was turnovers. The Guins did not turn the ball over in the first 20 minutes while the Ramblers had seven giveaways, five of which came on steals.

Brown took an elbow to the nose and after a some patchwork by trainer Jeff Wills returned to the lineup with 12:16 left in the half. Brown scored 12 points after coming back into the ballgame.

Without the league's leading scorer, YSU led 14-12 in the first seven-and-a-half minutes as Touvelle made two three's, Middlebrooks and Hornberger each connected from behind the arc and Jones scored on a nice fastbreak layup off an assist from Nortey. YSU had trailed 12-11 before Hornberger's three keyed a 10-1 run.

Upon Brown's return the Guins went on a 16-4 to pull ahead 30-16 on a three by Middlebrooks at the 6:19 mark.  In the final 2:20 of the half, Brown had all seven of the Guins' points putting them on top 40-23 with 17 seconds left.

The Penguins are on the road for their first round Horizon League Tournament on Monday evening. YSU will either rematch the Ramblers or visit Detroit. The contest will be live on 570 WKBN in Youngstown and on the Horizon League Network.


FINAL    1    2    T
Loyola (Ill.) (11-18, 5-16 HL)    26    39    65
Youngstown St. (6-23, 4-14 HL)    40    44    84
Youngstown, Ohio (Beeghly Center)
Loyola (Ill.)   Youngstown St.
Pts: ALBANO, Monica - 34    Pts: Brandi Brown - 27
Reb: 2 Players (#41, #55 -    Reb: Tieara Jones - 11
Ast: BOEKE, Brittany - 5    Ast: Tieara Jones - 7
Team Statistics   Loyola (Ill.)   Youngstown St.
Field Goal %    49.0% (24-49 )    46.6% (27-58 )
Rebounds    26    31
Assists    19    21
Turnovers    14    8
Pts off Turnovers    11    15
2nd Chance Pts    6    6
Pts in the Paint    22    26
Fastbreak Pts    2    6
Bench Pts    9    30

1484

YSU Penguin Athletics / Men's Basketball Season Highlighted by Team/Individual Accomplishments

« on: March 04, 2011, 08:41:13 AM »

The Youngstown State men's basketball recently concluded the 2010-11 season, a record-breaking campaign highlighted by tightly-contested and exciting games and individual accomplishments and improvements.

Below is a list of team highlights and accomplishments from the 2010-11 season.

    * The Guins averaged 69.1 points per game in 2010-11. It's the highest season per game average since the 2000-01 team averaged 71.1 points per game.
    * YSU scored 2,072 points in 2010-11, marking just the sixth time since 1990-91 that a YSU team has scored at least 2,000 points in a season.
    * The Guins set school records with 235 3-pointers made and 706 3-pointers attempted. Six different Penguins made at least 20 3-pointers in 2010-11.
    * The Guins tied a single-game record with 14 3-pointers made against Butler on Jan. 9, 2011.
    * Guins defeated the 2010 National Runner-Up Butler Bulldogs, 62-60, on Feb. 3, 2011.
    * YSU went 3-2 against teams from the Mid-American Conference and went 7-0 at home against non-league opponents.
    * In 2010-11, the Penguins played in 15 games that were decided by 10 points or less.
    * The Guins scored at least 70 points in 15 games – the most since 2006-07.
    * YSU led the Horizon League with 7.8 3-pointers made per game.
    * Senior Vytas Sulskis led the team with 13.1 points per game, scoring 392 points. Sulskis finished his career ranking 16th on the YSU all-time scoring list with 1,311 career points.
    * Sulskis made 43 3-pointers this season and finished his career ranked second with 169 career 3-pointers made.
    * Sulskis also tied the school record for most games played in a career with 120.
    * Sophomore Damian Eargle was named to the 2011 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team. Eargle averaged 11.3 points per game and led the Horizon League with 91 blocks and 3.0 blocks per game.
    * Eargle also ranked sixth in rebounding at 6.0 per game and seventh in field-goal percentage at .516.
    * Freshman Kendrick Perry ranked fourth in the league with 4.1 assists per game and second with a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio (122-to-57).
    * Sophomore Blake Allen led the Horizon League with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.2 (74-to-34).
    * Damian Eargle's 91 blocks rank second on the YSU single-season list and he already ranks fourth on the YSU career list.
    * Junior Ashen Ward led the team with 50 3-pointers made. He is the first player to make at least 50 3-pointers since Quin Humphrey made 65 in 2006-07. Ward also ranked tied for eighth in the Horizon League with 1.7 3-pointers made per game.
    * Kendrick Perry's 122 assists mark the third straight season a YSU player has recorded at least 100 assists in a season. It is also the fifth time in the last six years that a player has accomplished that feat.  His 122 assists are the most by a freshman since Lacy Jones' 132 in 1990-91 and are the fourth most a YSU freshman.
    * Over the last 12 games, Kendrick Perry averaged 13.3 points, 5.0 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the field. Over that span, he increased his season points per game average from 6.5 to 9.0.
    * Blake Allen averaged 10.1 points per game over the last 17 games of the season. He made 39 3-pointers and dished out 56 assists. In the first 13 games of the year, Allen averaged just 3.1 points per game and made just eight 3-pointers.
    * Blake Allen ranked second on the team with 47 3-pointers made.

1485

YSU Penguin Athletics / Brandi Brown Nets Career-High 35 Points in 72-58 Win over UIC

« on: March 04, 2011, 06:19:14 AM »

Youngstown -- Sophomore Brandi Brown scored a career-high 35 points and posted her 12th double-double of the season with 11 rebounds to lead the Youngstown State women's basketball team to a 72-58 win over UIC on Thursday evening at the Beeghly Center.

Brown is the first player to score at least 30 points since Heather Karner scored 34 against Cincinnati on Nov. 10, 2006.

Brown connected on 11-of-18 from the field and tied a school single-game record by going 12-for-12 from the free-throw line. The last time a YSU player shot 100 percent from the free-throw line with a minimum of eight makes was Heather Karner (8-for-8) against UIC on Jan. 6, 2007.

The Guins, who improved to 5-23 overall and 3-14 in the Horizon League, also went 17-for-17 from the free-throw line, just the second time in school history that a team has made 100 percent of its charity tosses in a game with a minimum of 10 free throws made. The last time was at Oakland

UIC falls to 14-14 overall and 9-8 in the Horizon League.

The Flames, who trailed by as many as 20 points, 43-23, early in the second half, attempted a comeback and whittled the deficit down to nine, 60-51, with 7:22 to go.

The Guins, however, never caved and quickly re-established a double-digit lead on Tiera Jones' old-fashioned three-point play to expand their lead to 63-51.

The Flames flirted with cutting the deficit back to single digits after a Taylor Foulks jumper brought them within 10, 65-55, at the 5:14 mark.

 A jumper by Brown and a 3-pointer by Kenya Middlebrooks ballooned the Guins' advantage back to 15 points, 70-55, with 1:57 left to out the game out of reach.

Trailing, 12-11, with 12:14 to go in the first half, the Guins used a 16-2 run over the next four-and-a-half minutes to take a commanding 27-14 lead with 7:41 to go.

A jumper by Brown, who scored 17 first-half points, and a 3-pointer by Liz Hornberger sparked the Guins' run and gave YSU a four-point edge, 16-12.

After a jumper by  UIC's Briana Hinkle, the Guins scored 11 straight points to cushion their lead to 13 points.

Hornberger's second 3-pointer and jumper by Brown, Maryum Jenkins, Jones and another jumper by Brown accounted for the Guins' 11-0 spurt.

Five straight points by the Flames trimmed the deficit to eight points, 27-19, but the Guins kept the pressure on by scoring 14 of the next 18 points to take an 18-point lead at the intermission, 41-23.

Brown, who made 7-of-11 field-goal attempts in the first stanza, and Middlebrooks ignited the Guins second big run of the half with 3-pointers, and Macey Nortey scored all six of her points in the final four minutes of the half – two layups and two free throws.

The first eight minutes of the half featured four ties and seven lead changes.

After making just five of their first 15 field-goal attempts, the Guins rallied to convert 10 of their last 19 shots, and made four  of their five 3-pointers in the final 11 minutes.

The Guins host Loyola on Senior Day, Saturday, March 5. Tipoff is slated for 1:05 p.m.