The Youngstown State women's basketball team will return home from a three-game road trip to entertain Detroit on Thursday. Tipoff at Beeghly Center is set for 7:05 p.m. The game, which will be the YSU women's first solo affair at home since Jan. 17, will be carried live on NewsRadio 570 WKBN and HorizonLeagueNetwork.tv.
    The Penguins will be looking to carry some momentum from a solid second half in Saturday's 65-35 loss at Cleveland State. YSU shot nine percent better, committed nine fewer turnovers and scored 15 more points in the final 20 minutes compared to the first 20 on Saturday. The Guins and Vikings both scored 23 points up to a timeout at the 3:25 mark, which is when four of CSU's starters re-entered to make the final half score 30-25. The first half was a different story, however, as YSU was held to 10 points, committed 13 turnovers and shot 21.1 percent.
    The Penguins got solid contribution from veterans off the bench on Saturday. Junior guard Kaitlyn March and senior guard Monique Godfrey each scored five points, and senior forward Ashley Pendleton scored four. Godfrey started the second half, matched her season high in points and played a season-long 16 minutes. March's five points were the most since she scored five against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Dec. 3.
    YSU has been taking much better care of the basketball in Horizon League contests, averaging nearly six fewer per contest (18.8) compared to non-conference games (24.6). The Penguins have committed 17 or fewer turnovers in four of the last five games.
    The Penguins' shooting percentage has gone down with the turnovers, however. YSU has shot less than 30 percent in four of its last five games and has not scored more than 51 points in a game since Jan. 8.
    The Penguins lost 73-50 at Detroit on Jan. 24 despite a then career-high 15 points from Camisha Alexander. The Titans, who had lost six straight entering the contest, went on runs of 11-0 and 19-1 in the first half as they built a 44-31 lead at halftime. Detroit picked up 13 steals and forced 21 turnovers with its full-court defense. That resulted in a 23-7 edge in points off turnovers. The Titans also outscored YSU 36-14 in the paint and 20-4 in second-chance points.

Scouting Detroit
    Detroit enters the contest having split its last six games dating back to its win over YSU on Jan. 24. The Titans have also defeated Valparaiso (62-47) and Milwaukee (59-50) in the latest stretch. They also picked up a victory over No. 23 Georgia on Nov. 22 in their home opener. Detroit has already surpassed its overall win total and Horizon League win total from last season. Sandi Brown is averaging a team-high 12.2 points overall and 13.3 points in League contests. She is also averaging 8.4 rebounds in conference play. Brigid Mulroy is averaging 10.9 points, and Chanica Hall, who scored a game-high 19 against YSU in January, is averaging 6.5 points.