Jan. 18, 2014

Box Score

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Youngstown State University shot over 50 percent from the field and used a pair of decisive scoring runs to pull away and claim an 87-71 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team Saturday at the Beeghly Center.

"We played an incredibly tough team today and didn't match their aggressiveness," Milwaukee head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "Every game in conference is going to be a battle. We had moments in the game where we fought hard, but it is going to take 40 minutes of focus and intensity to beat the top teams in our league."

The Panthers (5-11, 1-2 Horizon League) trailed by five early in the second half before seeing the Penguins (8-9, 4-0 Horizon League) use a 15-4 scoring run to pull away and move into sole possession of first place in the conference with their 4-0 mark.

"Youngstown beat us to the ball on a number of possessions and really hurt us on the offensive glass," Rechlicz said. "Usually, we are the ones grabbing the boards, but tonight the ball just didn't go our way."

Junior Ashley Green lit it up for a season-high 25 points, adding five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Senior Angela Rodriguez added 18 points and four assists as the only other UWM player in double-figures.

Junior Macie Dorow had seven points and five rebounds off the bench, with sophomore Sydney Howard chipping in six points in 11 minutes.

"Ashley Green played an incredible game tonight," Rechlicz said. "She was everywhere, trying to get us baskets, rebounds and defensive stops. If we can get our team to play with the same level of intensity that she did today, we can bounce back strong. Sydney Howard is another player I would like to commend. She showed an incredible amount of leadership on the court and on the bench."

Heidi Schlegel paced the Penguins with 20 points and seven rebounds. Liz Hornberger added 17, including five three-pointers.

The second half featured scoring runs both ways, but it was a pair of Youngstown State stretches that decided it. Down 14 points not even two minutes into the second half, the Panthers ripped off a 10-1 run that cut the deficit down to five. However, the Penguins struck back, putting together another 15-4 stretch that made it a 16-point game at 67-51 and all but put it away.

The lead would grow to 20 at 79-59 at the four-minute mark. The Panthers would make a dent, but could get no closer than 14 the rest of the way.

The Penguins finished the first half strong and came out on fire in the second. A three-pointer by Jenna Hirsch at the 18:24 mark capped the first 15-4 run and made it 51-37 at the time. The Panthers brushed that right off, ripping off 10 of 11 points in less than two minutes, with Green scoring eight of it, including a pair of three-pointers that hit nothing but net.

The Penguins jumped out of the gates with a quick 7-1 lead, but UWM would respond with the theme of the first half - the three-pointer - to make it a new game. Rodriguez hit back-to-back triples and it was 7-7 just like that.

A fast-paced game throughout the first half, Youngstown State led, 26-23, at the 10-minute mark but UWM would never let them pull away. The deficit grew to six at 34-28 and again two possessions later at 36-30. Following a free throw, a stop on defense and a Green jumper, UWM was back within three at 36-33 at the 4:40 mark. YSU responded by scoring nine of the final 13 points of the frame.

The Penguins took a 45-37 lead into the locker room on the strength of 55 percent shooting from the floor. The teams combined for 11 made three-pointers in the first half, with UWM making five of its first six attempts in the period before cooling off.

Up next, the Panthers get back to Wisconsin and prepare to host Wright State Thursday at the Klotsche Center. Game time is set for 7 p.m.