The Youngstown State women's basketball team begins the second half of its Horizon League tour at undefeated Green Bay on Thursday at 8 p.m. EST.
     The Penguins also play at seventh-place Milwaukee (4-5) on Saturday at 3 p.m. EST on the trip.
     YSU played arguably its best two games of the Horizon League season against the Phoenix and Panthers in the first meetings nearly a month ago. YSU shot 43.6 percent and stayed within striking distance of the Panthers until the final 3 1/2 minutes before falling 72-60 on Jan. 8. The Penguins then gave the Phoenix all it could handle for 26 minutes on Jan. 10 before a cold spell turned a 36-35 deficit into a 62-42 defeat.
     Senior Nikita LaFleur posted double-doubles against both squads earlier this year and scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against Green Bay. She had the best shooting day in YSU history against the Phoenix, making all 10 of her field goal attempts. LaFleur also had a double-double against Loyola on Saturday in the Guins' last contest but left with an injury with just over two minutes remaining.
     The Penguins struggled to knock down shots in the second half of both contests last week. YSU led UIC 27-17 with 3:22 remaining in the first half on Jan. 29 but scored 15 points the rest of the game. The Guins were then outscored 36-24 in the second half against Loyola, largely because of a 31.8 percent effort from the field in the period.
     Looking for a way to kick start the Penguins head coach Cindy Martin has had a different starting lineup in each of the past five contests. The starting five of Macey Nortey, Kelsey Gurganus, Jaquetta Westley, Tiara Scott and Nikita LaFleur had started seven straight games and 12 times total prior to the changes. Rachael Manuel has started the last three contests after not starting any of the first 17, and Kenya Middlebrooks has started three straight after starting one of the first 17. Kelsey Gurganus is the only player who has started every game.
     Gurganus has led the Penguins in scoring in three of the last five contests, including Thursday's game against UIC. She had not been the team's top scorer in any of the first 15 games. Gurganus scored 11 points against the Flames in 39 minutes. All four of her double-digit scoring performances have come at home.
     Tiara Scott scored 11 points against Loyola to post her first double-digit total since the Milwaukee game on Jan. 8. Scott was 4-for-5 from the field and 3-for-5 from the free-throw line against the Ramblers. She was 4-for-4 and scored nine points against UWGB on Jan. 10.
     After having their two best 3-point shooting games on the road two weeks ago, YSU had just three treys in two games last week. YSU had 11 3-pointers and shot 45.8 percent at Wright State and Detroit on Jan. 22 and 24. The Guins were 3-for-12 from behind the arc last week and attempted just one 3-pointer against Loyola.
 
 Scouting Green Bay
     Green Bay has won nine straight contests - all against Horizon League opponents - and is 17-3 overall. The Phoenix picked up two impressive wins last week, beating previously unbeaten Butler 58-53 and Valparaiso 76-45. Green Bay, which is ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense at 50.8 points per game, has not allowed a league opponent to score more than 54 points. Seven different players average more than 6.5 points.