Youngstown -- Senior Nikita LaFleur scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, but a strong second-half run by Green Bay proved to be the difference as the Phoenix beat the Youngstown State women's basketball team 62-42 on Saturday at the Beeghly Center.
    LaFleur set a school record making all 10 of her field-goal attempts. The previous best in school history was a 9-for-9 effort by Kristi Echelberry set against Chicago State on Jan. 5, 1995. LaFleur was also 5-of-10 from the free-throw to eclipse her previous career best of 24 points, which she set earlier this year against Weber State.
    The Penguins hung tough with Green Bay for the first 26 minutes before a spurt proved to be too much to overcome.
    YSU trailed 36-35 before the Phoenix scored 12 consecutive points during the decisive stretch. UWGB used an overall 16-2 run to build a 52-37 lead with 6:18 remaining in the game.
    At the 13:55 mark, YSU pulled within one on a LaFleur basket. The Penguins had a chance to grab the lead but Jaquetta Westley missed a 3-pointer. UWGB missed its initial shot on the ensuing possession only to grab the offense rebound. Kati Hartly drained a 3-pointer to start the Phoenix's spurt.
    While the Phoenix built its lead, YSU turned the ball over five times, missed two shots and missed two free throws.
    Westley's basket at 7:33 stopped the drought while getting the Penguins within 48-37. However, from that point on the Guins could not get any closer than 12 points.
    Leading the way for Green Bay (11-3 overall and 3-0 in the Horizon League) was Kayla Tetschlag who scored 16 points. She was one of four players to score in double figures for UWGB.
    For the game, YSU (2-13 and 0-4) shot 34.8 percent (16-of-46), but made just 5-of-24 second-half attempts. UWGB shot  41.8 percent (23-of-55).
    LaFleur (18 points) and Scott (seven) were the only two Penguins to score in the first half. In fact, both players shot a combined 11-of-11 from the field, LaFleur was 8-for-8 and Scott was 3-of-3, while the rest of the team went 0-of-11. Of the 25 points for the Guins, 22 came in the paint.
    YSU got off to an impressive start scoring eight of the games' first 10 points to lead 8-2 just two-and-a-half minutes in. Scott scored the first bucket, while LaFleur followed with the next six points.
    UWGB answered with nine straight points to go ahead 11-8 on a Kayla Tetschlag jumper at the 14:03 mark. Two LaFleur free throws ended the Phoenix run.
    Green Bay led by six on three occasions in the opening stanza, the last coming at the 9:09 mark, 21-15 on a 3-pointer by Cleste Hoewisch.
    The Penguins regained the lead 25-23 scoring 10 of the next 12 points when LaFleur's converted eighth basket in the opening period.
    From that point Green Bay closed the half on an 8-0 run to lead 31-25 at the break.
    In the opening half, UWGB shot 40 percent (12-of-30), but hit just 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) from behind the 3-point arc. YSU held a 19-14 edge on the boards.
    The Penguins are off until next Saturday when they play host to Cleveland State. Tipoff at the Beeghly Center is set for 2:05 p.m. The contest is final Dollar Day women's basketball contest of the campaign.