Brown scored a career-high 42 points as the Penguins beat WSU

[IAA Fan]

Brandi Brown didn't disappoint on "Brandi Brown Appreciation Day" on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center. Brown scored a career-high 42 points and grabbed 21 rebounds as the Penguins beat Wright State 64-54.

For the game, Brown was everywhere. She was 13-of-27 from the field, 4-of-12 from behind the 3-point line and 12-of-18 from the free-throw line. She had 21 rebounds to put together one of the best all-around single-game performances in school history.

The 42 points were the most in a game since Brianne Kenneally scored 43 points against Georgia State on Nov. 24, 2000. That number also ranks fifth in school history in single game scoring. Brown has now scored 81 in the past two games.

The victory improves the Penguins to 20-7 overall and helps them remain in second place in the Horizon League at 10-4. Wright State falls to 11-17 and 5-10.

For the second straight contest, Brown showed early signs that she was ready to go.

She scored 11 of the first 16, 16 of the first 21, 19 of 24 and 24 of the first 35. Also, Brown outscored the Raiders 25-20 and nearly had as many rebounds as WSU grabbing 11 to the Raiders' 14 in the first half.

Brown made eight of YSU's 11 first-half goals and attempted 15 of the Guins' 29 shots.

At one point she scored 17 straight points for YSU from the 14:46 mark from the 5:11 period.

The seven other Penguins who saw action were 3-of-14.

Brown's scoring was a big factor in turning the game around.

WSU led 16-13, before the Guins used an 11-0 run - all by Brown - to move out in front 24-16 at the 7:40 mark.

After Demmings stopped the streak, the Guins scored the next eight points to grab a 32-18 advantage with just over a minute left before halftime. YSU led 34-20 at the break.

WSU scored the first eight of the second half before Davis connected on an eight-foot jumper to stop the run. However, the Penguins didn't score for the next 1:43 as WSU trimmed the deficit back to 36-30.

Over the next four-plus minutes the Raiders kept the game tight at 44-37 with 10:42 remaining.

But an Amanda Barger basket at 9:57 seemed to relax the Guins. Following her bucket Liz Hornberger knocked down a three from the top of the key and Brown scored five more points to push the lead back to 53-37 at the 7:00 mark.

From that point the Guins only let their advantage creep under double digits just once - at 58.3 seconds.

Brown's final points of the night came on a free throw with 33.1 seconds left.

For the game, YSU shot 37.5 percent from the field making 21-of-56 attempts. Brown was the only Guin to score in double figures as Shar'Rae Davis, Hornberger, Melissa Thompson and Barger scored 22 points. The Penguins made seven 3-pointers and were 15-of-22 from the free-throw line.

Wright State was led by Ivory James who came off the bench to score 22 points. The Raiders shot 35.6 percent (21-of-59).

The Penguins close out the regular-season portion of their home schedule on Monday night against Valparaiso. Tipoff on Senior Night is set for 7:05 p.m.

[Lets_Talk]

Brandi Brown is flat out awesome!!! Great basketball player, Academic All American, great person!!! Her first season at YSU, the team was 0-30. Now, in her Senior year, the team is 20-7/10-4 in HL(2nd place), and she is willing this team to victories while 2 of the teams top players are out with injuries. And, she just set a new career high of 42 points, and 21 rebounds, one game after setting a new career high of 37 points on Thursday....Great win Penguins!!!!!!!

Loyola still has to play GB. So, it's likely Loyola(9-5) will do no better than 10-6 and the best Detroit(8-6) can finish is 10-6. With 2 games left, if YSU can win 1 of 2, they will finish 2nd place outright in the HL. And, unless Loyola pulls a huge upset and beats GB, YSU is likely to finish at worst tie for 2nd with Loyola and/or Detroit. Then the #2 seed in the HL Tournament and auto bid to WNIT will come down to the tie breaking system. Hopefully YSU wins on Monday on Senior Night, and in doing so secures 2nd place and at worst an auto bid to the WNIT... Very happy for Brandi and for the entire program!!!!!

[Wick250]

"Willing this team to victories" says it all.  We have no business winning games with our second and third best scorers and rebounders out of action.  With the adjustments Boldon must make, we are always hopelessly mismatched size-wise in four positions.  Yet Brandi and her band are having none of that.  Truly amazing.

[Lets_Talk]

I know some will disagree with me on this, but that is okay. In my opinion, having a player or players that can will the team to victories is what the men's program has been missing since Quinn Humphrey. He had that ability, and even though the 06-07 team did not have the best record since Slocum has been coaching, in my opinion, that was the best TEAM he has coached.

This years women's team really has no business being 20-7/10-6. They were picked 8th in the HL in the pre-season. Last years team went 10-20/4-14. The team has 9 new players. Heidi Schlegel has been hurt off and on most of the season. Now they are playing without both Schlegel and Karen Flagg, yet still finding ways to win.

And, not only does the men's program lack a player that can put the team on it's back and will them to victory, Brandi is the first player since maybe Jen Perugini in the 04-05 season that could do this in the women's program. And, that team finished 12-16/6-10, though they did beat a top 25 GB team on the road. And, it is probably stretching to put Jen in the same class as Brandi, although Jen was a very talented player. And, Jen is the only player I can think of since Brianne Keneally(sp?) that had the athletic and basketball skill, plus the ability to lead and will the team to wins.

Just very happy for Brandi, and for all involved in the program. Also, as much as I disliked Martin as a HC, she and her staff did recruit Brandi and several other players on this years team(including Heidi).

[YsuPride]

Wow!  Player of the year wrapped up. Kudos to Brandi, the team and coaches on a spectacular year so far.

[ysufan0505]

She can't be stopped!!!!!