The Youngstown State women's basketball team (2-3) seeks its third straight win when it makes its first-ever visit to St. Francis (Pa.), Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. in the DeGol Center in Loretto, Pa.
     The Penguins picked up their second straight victory after knocking off Toledo, 55-48, on Thursday evening at the Beeghly Center. Juniors Kelsey Gurganus and Ashley Pendleton led the Penguins with 13 points each and senior Jessica Schloemp posted her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
 
 The St. Francis (Pa.) Series
 This is the first meeting between Younstown State and St. Francis (Pa.).
 
 Scouting St. Francis (Pa.)
 St. Francis (Pa.) is currently 3-2 after defeating Duquesne, 66-54, on Tuesday evening. Shawna Scott led the Red Flash with a game-high 22 points while Brittany Hodges added 17 points. Hodges leads the team with 13 points per game and Scott is second on the team with 11.4 points per game.
 
 The AP Poll
 Junior forward Ashley Pendleton may be playing the best basketball of her career over the last three games. During that span, the Penguins are 2-1 and the Farrell, Pa., native is averaging 14.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. Pendleton is also shooting 56.7 percent from the floor and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line.
 
 Going For Three Straight
 Youngstown State is going for its first three game winning streak since winning three consecutive games to close out the 2004-05 regular season.
 
 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 three of the first five games and is averaging 2.4 3-pointers made per game. She also leads the team with a 13.2 points per game scoring average, which ranks seventh in the Horizon League.
 
 Penguins In Home Openers
 Youngstown State has enjoyed a tremendous amout of success in its home openers. The Penguins own a home-opener record of 24-9 for a winning percentage of 72.7. YSU is 3-2 in home openers under Tisha Hill after defeating Toledo, 55-48, on Thursday. The previous home opener the Penguins won was an 80-71 win over Saint Louis in the 2005-06 season. Last year, the Penguins dropped an 85-78 decision to Cincinnati.
 
 Schloemp Nets Second Double-Double
 Senior Jessica Schloemp recorded her second double-double of the season and the six of her career with 11 points and 11 rebounds against Toledo on Thursday evening.
 
 Gurganus Hits for Career High
 Junior Kelsey Gurganus reached double figures for the second time in her brief YSU career with a career-best 13 points against Toledo on Thursday. The Southern Miss transfer converted 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.
 
 Roscoe Returns
 Junior Toni Roscoe appeared in her first game in almost a year after playing 20 minutes against Toledo on Thursday. Roscoe, who has not played since Dec. 18, 2006 due to a stress fracture, scored five points and grabbed four rebounds against the Rockets.
 
 Pendleton Nets First Double-Double, All-Tourney Honors
 Junior Ashley Pendleton turned in two solid performances at the LIU Turkey Classic. The 6-foot forward averaged 15.5 points and seven rebounds per game in two games at the LIU Turkey Classic to nab all-tournament honors. Pendleton scored a career-high 18 points in a 68-54 loss to Long Island and posted her first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Albany.
 
 Branson Continues Climb
 Senior Lauren Branson continues her ascent up the YSU all-time assists chart. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native currently has 345 career assists and ranks seventh on the YSU all-time career assists list. She also needs 32 more assists to move into sixth place and 55 more to become the sixth player in school history to post 400 career assists.
 
 Schloemp Streak at 78
 Senior Jessica Schloemp owns a games played streak of 78 straight. Schloemp has also played in 88 of 89 career games.
 
 Pendleton Leads Block Party
 Not only did junior Ashley Pendleton have a career week at the Long Island Turkey Classic but she moved to the head of the line for most blocks per game in the Horizon League. Pendleton, who swatted three shots against Toledo, leads the league with 11 and 2.2 blocks per game.
 
 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 19 assists to just nine turnovers in 32.6 minutes per game. She ranks third in the Horizon League with 3.9 assists per game and second with a 2.11 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 Nov. 11. 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.
 
 A Win Will
 • Mark YSU's third straight victory of the season.
 • Give Head Coach Tisha Hill her 34th career victory.
 • Mark YSU second straight and ninth overall victory over Toledo.
 • Mark the 457th win in program history.
 
 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.
 
 Up Next
 YSU returns home to take on Mid-American Conference member Central Michigan, Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 5:15 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.