The Youngstown State women's basketball team (3-3) seeks its fourth straight win and its first-ever win over Central Michigan when it hosts the Chippewas, Thursday, Dec. 5. Tipoff is slated for 5:15 p.m. at the Beeghly Center and is part of a women's and men's basketball doubleheader. The YSU men's team takes on Kent State at approximately 7:35 p.m.
    Both games will be broadcast live on 570 WKBN-AM and tape-delayed on MyYTV (10 p.m.) and FOX 17/62 (midnight).
    Last time out, senior Heather Karner made a free throw with 5.4 seconds remaining to lift the Penguins to a 58-57 victory over St. Francis (Pa.) last Saturday. Junior Tiara Scott led the Penguins with 15 points while Karner and junior Toni Roscoe added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The Series
This will be the fourth meeting between Youngstown State and Central Michigan with the Chippewas owning a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series. YSU lost to Central Michigan, 56-51, in 2002. This will also be just the second time Youngstown State has hosted Central Michigan and the first time in 25 years.

Scouting The Chippewas
Central Michigan enters tonight contest with a 3-4 record after defeating Wagner 73-61 on Dec. 1. Angel Chan leads CMU with 10.7 points per game and Latisha Luckett is second on the team with 10.3 points per game.

Clamp It Down
Youngstown State's defense has been impressive during the last three contests. The Penguins are giving up just 52.3 points per game and forcing their opponents into 16.7 turnovers per game. During the three-game win streak, YSU's opponents are shooting just 32.4 percent from the field and 22 percent from behind the arc.

Going For Four
The Penguins' victory over St. Francis (Pa.) last Saturday marked the first time since the end of the 2004-05 regular season that the Penguins have won three consecutive games. The Penguins have not won four-in-a-row since the they won five to finish the 1999-2000 regular season and won the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament.

Scott Records Career High
Junior forward Tiara Scott played a major role in the Penguins' 58-57 win over St. Francis (Pa.). Scott led the Penguins with a career-high 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.

Roscoe Drains Em
Junior guard Toni Roscoe sparked the Penguins and tied a career-high with 10 points off the bench in a 58-57 win over St. Francis (Pa.) last Saturday. Roscoe connected on three 3-pointers, including one at the 1:50 mark of the second half which gave YSU a 57-55 lead.

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 four of the first five games and is averaging 2.4 3-pointers made per game. She also leads the team with a 13.0 points per game scoring average, which ranks eighth in the Horizon League.

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 Nov. 29.

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 Nov. 29. 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 Nov. 29. 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 352 career assists and ranks seventh on the YSU all-time career assists list. She also needs 25 more assists to move into sixth place and 48 more to become the sixth player in school history to post 400 career assists.

Schloemp Streak at 79
Senior Jessica Schloemp owns a games played streak of 79 straight. Schloemp has also played in 89 of 90 career games.

Pendleton Second in Blocks
Junior Ashley Pendleton, who swatted three shots against Toledo, ranks second in the Horizon League with 1.83 blocks per game.

Branson Takes Care of the Rock
Senior Lauren Branson continues to prove her value as a point guard. This season, the 5-foot-6 guard has tallied 26 assists to just 10 turnovers in 32.5 minutes per game. She ranks third in the Horizon League with 4.33 assists per game and second with a 2.60 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.

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 fourth straight victory of the season.
• Give Head Coach Tisha Hill her 35th career victory.
• Mark YSU first ever win over Central Michigan in four tries.
• Mark the 458th 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 host Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, Dec. 8. Tipoff is set for 2:05 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.