Youngstown State (9-8, 4-2 Horizon League) embarks on maybe its toughest stretch of the season with a three-game road trip beginning against in-state rival Cleveland State (10-7, 4-2 Horizon League) on Saturday, Jan. 26. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
     The Penguins are in search of their third straight win and their third three-game winning streak of the year. YSU is also looking to make history with its first 5-2 start in Horizon League play since joining the circuit in 2001-02. The last time the Guins began conference play with a 5-2 mark was during the 1999-2000 season as members of the Mid-Continent Conference.
 
Last Time Out
Youngstown State used a 21-3 run midway through the second half to break open a five-point contest before the Penguins went on to earn a 74-55 victory over the Titans last Saturday at the Beeghly Center. YSU won for the second straight time as Velissa Vaughn scored a game-high 19 points. Junior forward Tiara Scott recorded her third double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds while senior Heather Karner finished with 13.
 
The Series
This will be the 47th meeting between the Penguins and Vikings which dates back to 1976. The Guins own a 30-16 advantage in the all-time series, including winning three of the last four contests. Cleveland State, however, has won six of the last seven games played at the Wolstein Center, including a 68-57 victory over the Penguins last season. YSU earned a 65-55 victory at the Beeghly Center last year.
 
Scouting The Vikings
Cleveland State is currently tied for third place in the Horizon League standings with Youngstown State with a 4-2 league mark. The Vikings' 10 victories have surpassed last season's total and marks the first time since the 1999-2000 season which the Vikings have record double-digit wins. Cleveland State has also won five straight home games. Leading Cleveland State is sophomore Kailey Klein with 17.2 points per game. Klein also leads the Vikings with 14.2 points per game against Horizon League foes. Dominque Butler averages 12.2 points per game and Brittney Korth owns an 11 points per game scoring average against league opponents.
 
A Win Will
 • Mark YSU's 10th victory of the season.
 • Give Head Coach Tisha Hill her 41st career victory.
 • Mark YSU's 31st win over Cleveland State.
 • Mark YSU's first 10-win season since 2004-05.
 • Mark the 464th win in program history.
 • Mark YSU's third road win this season.
 • Mark YSU's first-ever 5-2 start in league play since the 2001-02 season.
 
Vaughn Shining Versus League
Since Horizon League play started, junior Velissa Vaughn has been outstanding. After scoring just 17 points in the first 11 games, Vaughn has scored 78 points for an average of 13 points per game, including a season-best 19 points against Detroit last Saturday. The 5-foot-8 guard is shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 47.8 percent from behind the 3-point line.
 
Branson Inching Toward Fifth
Senior guard Lauren Branson continues her move up the YSU all-time assist chart. With three assists against Detroit last Saturday, Branson ranks sixth with 413 career assists and needs 35 more to move into fifth place past Colleen Cook (447, 1994-98).
 
Second-Half Surge
Over the last six games, the Guins have been playing great basketball in the second half. The Guins are averaging 40.8 points in the second half during that span and are shooting 46.3 percent from the field, 41.7 percent from the 3-point arc and 76 percent from the free-throw line. YSU scored 34 against UIC (Jan. 3), 35 against Loyola (Jan. 5), 42 against Milwaukee (Jan. 10), 56 against Green Bay (Jan. 12), 33 against Wright State (Jan. 17) and 45 against Detroit (Jan. 19). Junior Tiara Scott is also averaging 12.5 points in the second half over the last four contests.
 
Home Sweet Home
The Guins are doing an outstanding job protecting their home court this season. YSU is 6-1 in games played in Beeghly Center compared to 3-7 in games played away from its home court.
 
Need To Lead
The Penguins have lead at halftime in 11 of 17 games this season and own an 8-3 record in those games.
 
Scott Streak Snapped
Junior Tiara Scott's consecutive free throws made streak of 24 came to an end last Saturday against Detroit. It is the sixth-longest streak in school history. After missing her first charity toss against the Titans, Scott went on to make 11 of her next 12 free throws.
 
Karner From Downtown
In less than two seasons, senior Heather Karner is approaching the YSU top 10 list for most 3-pointers made. Karner has made 93 3-point baskets and needs just six more to move into a tie for 10th place on the all-time list. She needs seven more to become just the 10th player in school history to boast at least 100 3-pointers made.
 
Charitable Contributions
The Guins are having one of their best seasons from the free-throw line in school history. YSU is shooting 75.5 percent from the line, which currently ranks as the fourth-highest team percentage in school history.
 
Schloemp Streak at 90
Senior Jessica Schloemp owns a games played streak of 90 straight. Schloemp has also played in 100 of 101 career games.
 
Scott's Efficiency
Junior Tiara Scott is currently on pace to set the fifth-highest single-season field-goal percentage in school history. Scott's .554 field-goal percentage ranks sixth on the single-season list.
 
Assist Me, Please
Senior Lauren Branson continues to prove her value as a point guard. This season, the 5-foot-6 guard has tallied 87 assists to just 39 turnovers in 33.5 minutes per game. She leads the Horizon League with 5.3 assists per game and is second with a 2.23 assist-to-turnover ratio. She also ranks 18th nationally in assists-to-turnover ratio. In the last seven games, Branson has dished out 45 assists compared to just 17 turnovers.
 
Scott Among League Leaders
Junior Tiara Scott is taking the Horizon League by storm. In the first six league games, Scott ranks second in free-throw percentage (.935), ranks third in field-goal percentage (.607), third in the league in scoring (17.2 ppg) and fourth in rebouning (7.8 rpg).
 
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 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
The Guins continue their three-game road trip through Indiana with a contest against Valparaiso, Thursday, Jan. 31. Tipoff is slated for 8:05 p.m. at the ARC in Valparaiso, Ind. The Guins also visit Butler, Saturday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m.