Youngstown -- Youngstown State returns to
action on Sunday at Buffalo after a seven-day break for finals
week. The Penguins (0-8) and Bulls (1-7) will both be looking to
snap prolonged losing streaks at UB's Alumni Arena. YSU has lost
nine straight games dating back to last season, and Buffalo has
dropped seven consecutive contests.
A Quick Look at the Penguins
YSU has opened the season with eight straight losses, due
partly to playing shorthanded. YSU dressed only eight players in
the first six contests and seven the past two. In their last game
at Akron, the Guins scored at least 63 points for the third time
this season after doing it just twice in 30 games last year. Junior
guard Bojana Dimitrov leads YSU with 14.7 points per game and hopes
to return after missing two games with an injury. Freshman post
Brandi Brown got her third double-double at Akron with 24 points
and 14 rebounds. All five of YSU's returners are playing, but only
three of the seven newcomers are.
Scouting Buffalo
Buffalo has lost seven straight games after opening the season with
an 87-79 overtime victory over Niagara. The Bulls lost 59-56 to
Canisius in their last home game on Dec. 5. Canisius beat YSU 74-52
on Nov. 22. Junior forward Kourtney Brown has led the Bulls in
scoring seven times and is averaging a double-double with 18.3
points and 11.1 rebounds. Buffalo beat YSU 66-42 last season.
Buffalo is Middle of Three-Game Swing
Sunday's game in Buffalo is the middle contest of a three-game road
swing for Youngstown State. The Penguins played at Akron on Dec. 5,
and they'll play at Saint Francis (Pa.) on Dec. 17. Although five
of YSU's eight games have been played away from Beeghly Center, the
game against Buffalo will be only the third true road contest for
the Penguins. Three others have been played at neutral sites.
Balanced Scoring at Akron
Youngstown State had a season-high four players reach double
figures on Dec. 5 against Akron. Freshman Brandi Brown scored a
game-high 24 points, Kenya Middlebrooks and Macey Nortey had 14
apiece, and Rachael Manuel scored 10. Three players had scored in
double figures three previous times. The last time four Penguins
scored at least 10 points was Jan. 8, 2009, against Milwaukee. That
was the only game last season in which four players reached double
figures in points.
Guins Improve from Free-Throw Line
Youngstown State shot a season-best 78.3 percent from the
free-throw line against Akron in its last contest on Dec. 5. The
Penguins were 18-for-23 from the stripe, and all five players who
attempted a free throw converted on at least 50 percent. Kenya
Middlebrooks led the way with a perfect 5-for-5 outing. YSU also
made 18 free throws at High Point on Nov. 14, but the Guins missed
20 free throws in that contest. YSU has shot below 50 percent in
four of its eight games.
3-Point Percentage Drops at Akron
The Penguins went just 1-for-15 from behind the 3-point arc against
Akron on Dec. 5, which dropped their season percentage by 37
points. YSU entered the contest shooting 35 percent from 3-point
range, but now that conversion rate is 31.3 percent. Kenya
Middlebrooks entered the game 10-for-23 from the arc, but she went
1-for-8 against the Zips. Bojana Dimitrov, YSU's top 3-point threat
at 45.5 percent, did not play at Akron because of an injury.
Trading Treys for Deuces
Although the Penguins had an off day from outside the arc at Akron,
they were much better from inside. YSU was 21-for-49 from inside 20
feet against the Zips, making 42.9 percent of its attempts. The
Penguins entered that contest shooting better from 3-point range
(35.0 percent) than inside (31.3 percent).
Almost Even in the Paint
YSU scored a season-high 34 points in the paint against Akron on
Dec. 5. Brandi Brown accounted for 20 of those points. Kenya
Middlebrooks had six, and Macey Nortey and Rachael Manuel had four
apiece. The Penguins had 24 points in the paint in the second half
alone, which matched the previous season high that was set three
times.
Brown Assembling Notable Year
Through the first eight games of her career, freshman Brandi Brown
has lived up to her reputation as a top-caliber post. She has
posted three double-doubles, and she's led YSU or tied for the team
lead in rebounds in every game. She is one of two Horizon League
players averaging a double-double (10.8 points, 10.0 rebounds), and
she is tied for the league lead in rebounding. Brown has been even
better on the road, averaging 13.6 points and 12 rebounds.
Manuel, Gasparek Pass Last Year's Scoring Totals;
Middlebrooks Closing In
Senior post Rachael Manuel and sophomore guard Makala Gasparek have
already surpassed their scoring totals from all of last season.
Manuel has scored 55 points, which is the most for any season in
her career, and Gasparek is at 16 points. Kenya Middlebrooks has
poured in 75 points and needs 16 to match the 91 she had last year.
Up Next
Youngstown State will close out its three-game road trip on
Thursday at Saint Francis (Pa.) at 7 p.m. YSU's next home game will
be Dec. 21 at 11 a.m. against Bowling Green. Both games will be
broadcast live on 570 WKBN.
