Youngstown --  After 10 days off, the Youngstown State women's basketball team looks to pick up its first victory of the season when it returns to the Empire State to take on Long Island (2-2) on Friday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. to open the LIU Turkey Classic. The Penguins will face either Albany or Holy Cross, on Saturday, Nov. 24, at 2 or 4 p.m.
    The Penguins are coming off a difficult 87-76 loss to Niagara on Nov. 13. Senior Heather Karner led all scorers with 20 points while senior Lauren Branson and junior Kelsey Gurganus each added 11 points.
    Branson also dished out a season-high six assists and tied a career high withh five steals while Gurganus posted a career scoring high.

The Long Island Series
This will be the first meeting between Youngstown State and Long Island.

Scouting Long Island
Long Island enters the tournament with a 2-2 record coming off a 57-47 home loss to Siena on Monday evening. Senior Valerie Nainima leads the Blackbirds with a 21.5 points per game scoring average while Sara Oblak is scoring in double figures with 12.8 points per game. Long Island has wins over Cornell, 55-53, and East Carolina, 66-65, but has also lost to St. Peter's (N.J.), 60-59.

The Albany Series
This will be the first meeting between Youngstown State and Albany.

Scouting Albany
The Albany Great Danes come into the tournament with an overall record of 1-3 after dropping a 70-59 decision to LaSalle on Monday evening in Philadelphia. Janea Aiken came off the bench to lead Albany with 14 points while Tanika Thrower added 13 points. Kristin Higy leads the Great Danes with a 13.8 scoring average while Aiken averages 10.8 points per game and Thrower scores 10.5 points per game.

The Holy Cross Series
This will be first meeting between Youngstown State and Holy Cross.

Scouting Holy Cross
Holy Cross enters the tournament with an overall record of 1-2 and is coming off a 79-50 win over Maine on Sunday. The Crusaders host Rhode Island, Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 5:30 p.m. Bethany O'Dell leads the Crusaders with 11.3 points per game while Briana McFadden is a close second with 11.0 points per game.

Karner Off to Great Start
Senior Heather Karner is off to another great start in 2007-08. The St. Louis, Mo., native has scored in double figures in both games - 17 against Buffalo, 20 versus Niagara - and leads the team in scoring with 18.5 points per game. She also ranks second in the Horizon League in scoring.

Branson Continues Climb
Senior Lauren Branson continues her ascent up the YSU all-time assists chart. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native currently has 336 career assists and ranks seventh on the YSU all-time career assists list. She also needs 41 more assists to move into sixth place and 64 more to become the sixth player in school history to post 400 career assists.

Schloemp Streak at 75
Senior Jessica Schloemp owns a games played streak of 75 straight. Schloemp has also played in 85 of 86 career games.

Stats Reason For Optimism
Although the Penguins are 0-2 after two games, statistics indicate there is reason for optimism. YSU ranks second in the Horizon League in scoring with 64.5 points per game, first in 3-point field-goal percentage defense at .214, first in turnover margin at +2.00, second in steals per game with 10.5 and is tied for second in blocks with 3.0 per game.

0-3 a Rarity
Youngstown State has started a season 0-3 just one time since the 1975-76 season. The only time the Penguins began a season with three straight losses was during the 1982-83 campaign.

Branson Takes Care of the Rock
Senior Lauren Branson continues to prove her value as a point guard. In just two games, the 5-foot-6 guard has tallied 10 assists to just four turnovers in 34.5 minutes per game. She ranks second in the Horizon League with five assists per game and tied for second with a 2.50 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Gurganus Comes Alive
After being held scoreless in the season opener against Buffalo, junior guard Kelsey Gurganus poured in 11 points in a 87-76 loss to Niagara on Nov. 13. Gurganus connected on 5-of-10 from the floor and collected four rebounds and two steals.

Schloemp Double Dips
Senior Jessica Schloemp posted the fifth double-double of her career with 15 points and 14 rebounds against Buffalo on Sunday. Schloemp connected on 6-of-14 from the floor and 10 of her 14 boards came on the defensive glass.

Scott Impresses in D-I Debut
Junior college transfer Tiara Scott played well in her Division I debut with 10 points and five rebounds against Buffalo. Scott went 3-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Road Warriors
The Penguins have a tough grind throughout the first month of the season. YSU plays eight of its first 11 games on the road, including its first four in the State of New York. Besides taking part in the LIU Turkey Classic on Nov. 23-24, the 'Guins played at Buffalo (Nov. 11) and Niagara (Nov. 13). YSU also faces St. Francis (Pa.) (Dec. 1), Cincinnati (Dec. 15), No. 16 Ohio State (Dec. 19) and Akron (Dec. 21) on the road.

Upperclass Society
The 2007-08 Youngstown State will be the most veteran squad in Tisha Hill's tenure. The Penguins return four seniors, six juniors and two sophomores. Also newcomers junior Kelsey Gurganus, a Southern Miss transfer who is eligible this season, and junior college transfer Tiara Scott each have two years of collegiate playing experience.

Seniors Tabbed Team Captains
Guards Lauren Branson, Heather Karner and Kira Mowen and senior forward Jessica Schloemp have been named team captains for the 2007-08 basketball season.

Karner Reaches Top 10
Senior Heather Karner, the Penguins' top 3-point shooter from last season, just barely entered the YSU single-season 3-pointers made top 10 list. With 52 treys last year, Karner ranked tied for 10th.

A Win Will
• Mark YSU's first victory of the season.
• Give Head Coach Tisha Hill her 32nd career victory.
• Mark YSU's first ever win over Long Island.

Penguins Picked Sixth
Youngstown State was predicted to finish sixth in the Horizon League standings with 118 points in a poll of the League's head coaches, sports information directors and select media, the Horizon League announced.

Milwaukee was picked to win the league with 253 points and 13 first-place votes while Green Bay was second with 244 points and nine first-place votes.

Butler ranked third while UIC and Valparaiso placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Wright State was picked seventh and Cleveland State, Detroit and Loyola placed eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively.

Karner Nabs Preseason Laurels
Senior Heather Karner was named to the Horizon League Preseason All-League Second-Team in a vote of the circuit's head coaches, sports information directors and select media. Karner led the Penguins with 10.9 points per game and was named to the all-newcomer team last season.

May I Assist You?
Senior Lauren Branson, who ranks fifth in YSU history with a career average of 4.71 assists per game, set the YSU freshman assist record with 159 in 2004-05 and her 121 in 2006-07 was the sixth highest mark set by a junior.

Up Next
YSU plays either Albany or Holy Cross on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 2 or 4 p.m. The Penguins take on Toledo, Thursday, Nov. 29, at 7:05 p.m. in their home-opener at the Beeghly Center.