Youngstown -- Youngstown State looks to carry momentum from Thursday's solid all-around game against Milwaukee when it entertains Horizon League-leading Green Bay at 4:35 p.m. The game is the front end of a doubleheader with the YSU men's team and will be carried live on NewsRadio 570 WKBN and the HLN.
     The Penguins, coming off two disappointing efforts at Valpo and Butler to open league play, had a big confidence booster on Thursday against Milwaukee. YSU shot 43.6 percent - its third-best mark of the season - and was within striking distance until Milwaukee pulled away in the final five minutes to win 72-60.
     The Guins committed seven fewer turnovers than their average and outscored the Panthers 28-18 in the paint, 18-15 off turnovers and 14-13 on second-chance points. YSU, however, got just one point from its bench while UWM got 24.
     Senior posts Nikita LaFleur and Tiara Scott continued their solid seasons as both recorded a double-double against UWM. LaFleur, averaging 9.4 points and a Horizon League-leading 8.5 rebounds in her breakout campaign, scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Scott notched her second double-double and leads YSU with 9.9 points per game.
     YSU wraps up its three-game home stand Saturday against Cleveland State.
 
 Scouting Green Bay
     Green Bay starts four seniors and has seven players averaging more than six points. UWGB is 2-0 in league play, with wins over Cleveland State and Milwaukee, 10-3 overall and 6-1 on the road. Its 65-49 win over Cleveland State on Thursday was the eighth time an opponent scored fewer than 50 points this season. The Phoenix lead the Horizon League in scoring margin, field goal percentage and steals. Lavesa Glover is scoring a team-high 11.2 points.
 
 Guins Play Much-Improved Against Milwaukee
     The Penguins played one of their best overall offensive games of the season against Milwaukee on Thursday. The Penguins shot 43.6 percent, which was their third-best effort of the year, and their 16 turnovers were the fewest in the six games that YSU has shot better than 40 percent.
 
 Strong Start = Strong Outing
     A big part of YSU's improved play against Milwaukee was a strong first half. YSU scored 32 points in the opening period, which was its second-highest (Weber State) first-half total of the season.
     The Penguins avoided an early dry spell that had plagued them in their first two Horizon League games. It took YSU until the 11:43 mark against Valpo to get past five points and until 6:58 at Butler. The Penguins equaled those marks in the first four minutes against Milwaukee, had 13 points at 11:43 and 20 at 6:58.
 
 Seeing Double-Double Vision
     Senior posts Nikita LaFleur and Tiara Scott became the first duo in nearly six years to have double-doubles in the same game on Thursday against UWM. LaFleur finished with a team-high 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Scott had 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Jen Perugini and Jessica Forsythe were the last pair on Feb. 1, 2003.
     LaFleur has had four double-doubles this season after having just one in her first three seasons. She's also notched them against Toledo (11 points, 12 rebounds), Central Michigan (15, 12) and Weber State (24, 17).
     Scott posted her second double-double of the season and eighth of her career. She registered her first against Saint Francis (16 points, 10 rebounds). She also had a double-double against Milwaukee in 2007-08.
     LaFleur and Scott were close to accomplishing the feat against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Dec. 3, but LaFleur finished one point shy.
 
 First Time With Four in Doubles
     The Penguins had their most-balanced scoring attack against Milwaukee as a season-high four players scored in double figures. Nikita LaFleur led the way with 15 points while Jaquetta Westley had 14, Tiara Scott had 13 and Macey Nortey registered 11. YSU had three players - Nortey, Kaitlyn March and Camisha Alexander - finish with at least 10 points at Kent State.
 
 Ranking Among Horizon League Leaders
     Four Penguins rank among the top 10 in the Horizon League in five different categories. Nikita LaFleur leads the circuit in rebounding (8.5) and ranks fifth in field-goal percentage (53.8). Tiara Scott is fourth in free-throw percentage (84.6) and ninth in field-goal percentage (50.0). Macey Nortey ranks ninth in assists (3.0/game), and Kelsey Gurganus is ninth in minutes (32.6/game).
 
 Start to League Schedule is Tough
     The Penguins' first six Horizon League games are against the top six teams in the conference based on the preseason coaches poll. Half of the six contests are on the road. Green Bay is the preseason favorite to repeat as regular-season champion, and Milwaukee was picked to finish third.
 
 Shooting Returns to Form
     YSU got back to its recent shooting improvement that had escaped at Butler and Valpo. The Penguins shot 43.6 percent against UWM, marking the fifth time in the last eight games they converted on better than 40 percent. YSU, which did not shoot 40 percent in any of its first six games, was held to a season-low 23.7 percent at Valpo and 30.6 percent at Butler.
 
 Turnovers Coming Down
     The Penguins have been taking better care of the basketball in their last five games. After having 34 and 33 in back-to-back games at Central Michigan and Canisius on Dec. 14 and 17, YSU has committed 22 or fewer in four of its last five games. The Penguins had 16 against Milwaukee and 15 at Valpo. YSU averages 23.1 turnovers per game.
 
 Guins Playing Longest Home Stand
     YSU is playing the middle game of its season-long three-game home stand. The Penguins played Milwaukee on Thursday and play host to Cleveland State next Saturday.
     YSU had played at home only twice since Nov. 22 before Thursday's game. Overall, the Penguins had played eight out of 10 on the road entering the game against UWM.
     Today's game is the fifth in the last 12 days for YSU.
 
 Westley Finding Touch
     Junior guard Jaquetta Westley has scored 52 points in the last four games with a career-high 20 points at Toledo, 14 against Milwaukee and nine apiece at Valparaiso and Butler. She had 57 points combined through the first eight games, which included a 12-point effort against Niagara.
     Westley has been a solid all-around performer for the Penguins. She is the only player to lead the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals in at least one game.
 
 Gurganus Picking Up Scoring
     Senior guard Kelsey Gurganus has scored 68 of her 84 points in the last nine games for an average of 7.6. She's also averaging 8.2 points over her last five games.
     Gurganus has been a key all-around player for the Penguins this season. She leads the team in minutes (32.6 per game) and ranks second in assists (35), third in rebounding (2.8 per game) and fifth in scoring (6.0 per game). The Indianapolis native just scored her 250th career point at YSU against Butler in front of about 30 of her friends and family.
 
 LaFleur Continues Career Year
     Senior center Nikita LaFleur is averaging 9.4 points and 8.5 rebounds, both of which are career-highs by far. Her previous top averages were 4.4 points and 4.6 points as a sophomore. Her 8.5 rebounds per game lead the Horizon League.
     LaFleur has scored 131 points this season, which are already more than she's scored in any other year and double her point total last season (56). She's also equaled the career-high 119 she grabbed as a sophomore.
 
 Playing Better 'D' at Home
     Youngstown State has been a much better defensive team on its own court than on the road this season. The Penguins are holding opponents to an average 63.2 points and 43.8 percent from the field at Beeghly Center. Milwaukee was the first opponent to score more than 66 points in Youngstown, and only two have scored fewer than 66 against YSU on the road. In the nine games away from Beeghly Center, YSU's opponents are scoring 80.1 points and shooting 48.2 percent.