Youngstown -- The No. 10-seeded Youngstown State women's basketball team will play at No. 7 Milwaukee in the opening round of the Horizon League Tournament on Monday at 8 p.m. EDT.
     The Penguins, who are coming off an inspired 54-38 victory on senior night against Valparaiso on Saturday, played well offensively in the two regular-season meetings with the Panthers.
     Nikita LaFleur and Tiara Scott both posted double-doubles when the teams met on Jan. 8 in Youngstown. YSU hung with Milwaukee for the first 34 minutes before losing 72-60. Four Penguins scored in double figures for the only time this season.
     LaFleur and Scott were both absent when the teams met on Feb. 7 in UWM's s78-51 win in Milwaukee. The Penguins executed well offensively, converting a season-low nine turnovers and firing 66 shots. They were only able to hit on 27.3 percent, and Milwaukee took advantage of its size advantage in the second half to blow the game open.
     YSU is 1-7 all-time in the Horizon League Tournament with its lone win coming last season against Detroit. The Penguins and Panthers have never met in the postseason.
     Milwaukee has lost four of its last five to drop to 12-17 overall and 7-11 in Horizon League contests. The Panthers, led by two-time defending league player of the year Traci Edwards, were picked to finish third in the preseason coaches' poll.
     The Penguins snapped a school-record 18-game losing streak dating back to Dec. 20 with their 54-38 victory over Valparaiso on Saturday. The Penguins, playing on their senior day, also earned their first Horizon League victory of the season against the Crusaders. The Penguins scored the first 13 points of the game and held a 20-10 rebounding advantage in a physical first half that saw them take a 27-15 lead. Valpo shot just 23.2 percent, and YSU shot a season-best 47.9 percent. The 38 points scored by Valpo were the fewest scored by an opponent since NAIA-member Malone scored 25 in 1990.
     Camisha Alexander set the single season school record for 3-pointers by a freshman. Her four treys against Valpo pushed her total to 41. She was tied entering the week with Dianne Rappach (1988-89) with 37. Alexander scored 12 points against the Crusaders, bouncing back from a 1-for-10 effort against Butler on Thursday. She has scored in double figures in three of the last four games. Her 41 3-pointers rank ninth in the Horizon League, and her 28 in league contests rank sixth.
     The Penguins outrebounded both of their opponents last week. They out-rebounded Butler 42-37 on Thursday, becoming just the second different Horizon League team to win the battle of the boards against the Bulldogs. YSU held a 38-33 edge on the glass against Valpo, including 20-10 in the first half and 13-2 in the first 7 ½ minutes. The Penguins have won the rebounding battle in a season-long four straight games.
     YSU has been playing in much closer contests over the past three weeks. The Penguins have been leading or within four points in the second in half in six straight games. At Beeghly Center, YSU was within six points or leading at halftime in 10 of their last 11 games and in eight of nine league games.