The Youngstown State women's basketball team outscored Purdue Fort Wayne 24-10 in the third quarter and had four players score in double figures in a 69-55 win over the Mastodons on Sunday afternoon at the Gates Sports Center.
The Penguins trailed 30-23 with less than two minutes left in the second quarter, but they outscored Purdue Fort Wayne 46-25 over the final 22 minutes for their 21st victory of the season. Youngstown State is now 21-4 overall and 14-3 in Horizon League play, and the Mastodons are 8-17 and 6-11. The victory allowed YSU to maintain a first-place tie with IUPUI in the conference standings.
Megan Callahan scored 11 of her game-high 19 points in the fourth period, and she made two 3-pointers in an eight-second stretch that pushed a six-point advantage into a 12-point lead with 5 minutes remaining. YSU led by double digits the rest of the way.
Lilly Ritz scored nine of her 18 points in YSU's big third quarter, and she finished with 18 points and a game-best nine rebounds. She helped the Penguins dominate the rebounding battle 40-18. Chelsea Olson had 12 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Malia Magestro was in double figures for the eighth time in the last 10 games with 10 points.
It was Olson's 136th career game in a YSU uniform, which is a school record for career games played. She surpassed former teammate Sarah Cash's previous mark of 135 from 2014-19.
Sylare Starks led the Mastodons with 15 points, and she made three of Purdue Fort Wayne's six 3-pointers in the first half as it built a 30-25 lead at the break. The Mastodons were 6-for-13 from long distance in the first half, but they went 2-for-9 in the second half as the Penguins turned up the pressure defensively. Aubrey Stupp added 14 points before fouling out for Purdue Fort Wayne.
After making 15 3-pointers in a crucial road win at Cleveland State on Friday, the long-range shot wasn't falling for the Penguins through the first three quarters on Sunday. YSU was 3-for-20 from beyond the arc in the first 30 minutes, but the game shifted in the third quarter as the Penguins were 7-for-8 inside the arc and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line as they built a 49-40 lead.
The Penguins scored the first seven points of the game and led 9-2 following a basket by Ritz at the 6:06 mark of the first period. The margin was 14-8 after a Lindsey Mack 3-pointer with 3:44 on the clock, but YSU went cold and Purdue Fort Wayne went on a 19-5 run over the next nine-plus minutes to take a 27-19 lead with 4:30 remaining in the second quarter.
The Penguins scored four straight points to cut the deficit in half, and an Audrey Stupp 3-pointer for Purdue Fort Wayne with 2:22 left accounted for the final field goal for either team before halftime. Magestro made two free throws with 1:54 on the clock to make it a 30-25 score at the break.
To start the second half, Ritz converted two free throws, scored a layup, had a block and assisted on a Magestro 3-pointer in the first 1:45 as the Penguins tied the score at 32. Olson's driving layup at the 6:55 mark put the Penguins ahead 34-32, and they held the upper hand for the rest of the day.
Olson's turnaround jumper with 4:45 on the clock completed a 19-5 run for the Penguins going back to Magestro's two free throws at the end of the second quarter, and YSU led 49-40 at the end of the third.
Starks hit a 3-pointer on the Mastodon's first possession, but YSU scored seven of the next nine points to go up 56-45 and create the first double-digit margin of the game. The Mastodons scored the next five points to get the deficit back to six, but Callahan's back-to-back 3-pointers at 5:08 and 5:00 were daggers. Ritz was fouled on a screen on Callahan's first make that gave the Penguins another possession, and Callahan hit another triple in the right corner to up the lead to a dozen.
Ritz followed with a three-point play on YSU's next possession to push the margin to its peak at 65-50, and YSU led by at least 11 the rest of the day.
Youngstown State shot 44.2% overall and 58.6% on two-point baskets in the game, and it made all three of its attempts from 3-point range in the fourth period to finish 6-for-23 for the game. YSU was also 17-for-21 from the free-throw line. Purdue Fort Wayne shot 36.5% from the field, finished 8-for-22 from the 3-point line and made 9-of-10 at the free-throw line.
Youngstown State will return to Beeghly Center for the final two home games of the regular season. The brief homestand will begin on Friday as the Penguins take on Northern Kentucky at 7 p.m. The Penguins will wear pink jerseys against the Norse to raise awareness for breast cancer.
Friday's full promotions list:
- Pink Game
- State Farm Night
- YSU Student Beanie Hat Giveaway courtesy of Choolaah
- YSU Students Get Rec'd Party 6-8 p.m.: $2 beer, music and cornhole games, Hot Dog Wally Dog - First 100 YSU Students receive Hot Dog Wally Dog
- Pack the House - Community Night - $5 GA Tickets
- $1 Popcorn Night
- Burgan Real Estate Putt for Tuition - One Lucky Student will have the chance to win Free Tuition for a Year
