The Youngstown State women's basketball team overcame an Oakland charge in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and it outlasted the Golden Grizzlies in the extra period to win 68-67 on Saturday afternoon at the Athletics Center O'rena.
YSU led by 13 midway through the third quarter and 52-44 heading into the fourth, but Oakland outscored the Penguins 17-9 to force overtime. YSU never trailed in the final frame, and Megan Callahan's free throw with 7.6 seconds left proved to be the game winner. Callahan also made two free throws with 16.2 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 61.
Youngstown State has now won 10 of its last 11 games, and it improved to 11-4 overall and 5-1 in Horizon League play. The Penguins are 4-0 in conference road games, and it won at the O'rena for the fifth straight trip. Oakland, which was 4-0 at home this season, dropped to 7-8 overall and 2-4 against the league.
The Penguins got defensive stops at the end of regulation and overtime, and they held Oakland to 29.9% from the field for the game. YSU also had six blocks and eight steals.
Lilly Ritz tied for game-high honors with 18 points, and her 17 rebounds were nine more than any other player. She collected her eighth double-double of the season, and she added three blocks, two steals and two assists in 35 minutes. Callahan scored five of her 13 points in the final three minutes of regulation, and Paige Shy also finished with 13. Malia Magestro scored eight of her nine points in the third quarter but was limited to 21 minutes because of foul trouble, and Shay-Lee Kirby scored eight points in 30 minutes.
Alexis Johnson and Brooke Daniels both scored 18 points for Oakland, but neither of them touched the ball on the final possession as YSU's defense came through in the clutch. Linda van Schaik scored 13 points, and Breanne Beatty scored 11 points in the second half before fouling out.
YSU trailed for just 8.3 seconds over the 45 minutes, and it came after Daniels hit a jumper after a turnover with 24.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the Golden Grizzlies a 61-59 lead. The Penguins called timeout, and Callahan was fouled on a drive to the basket with 16.2 seconds on the clock. Beatty fouled out on the play, and Callahan made both free throws to knot the score.
On Oakland's possession at the end of regulation, Ritz helped down on a Daniels drive and closed out hard to force a tough shot by Cameron Grant at the free-throw line at the buzzer that was off the mark.
Ritz scored a minute into overtime to give the Penguins a 63-61 lead, and Shy made a long two and a layup to give YSU leads of 65-63 and 67-65. Johnson made two free throws with 33 seconds left to tie the score for the final time at 67, and YSU took time off the clock before Callahan was tripped driving to the basket with 7.6 seconds left. The sixth-year senior made her first attempt but missed the second, and Oakland called timeout to advance the ball.
On the final possession, Mady Aulbach and Kirby locked down on Daniels and Johnson, and Callahan forced Raquel Ferrer-Bernad into a contested shot in the paint. The shot missed, and Callahan chased down the rebound at the horn.
Youngstown State shot 41.1% for the game, and it scored 20 points in the first quarter and 23 in the third. The Golden Grizzlies shot 23.5% in the first half, and they missed their final 12 attempts from the field in the opening quarter as YSU built a 20-11 lead after 10 minutes.
The Penguins led 8-0 just 1:15 into the game as Ritz scored on the first possession and Jarrells and Shy followed with quick 3-pointers. Oakland called timeout to regroup, but YSU led by at least five for the next 30 minutes.
The Penguins' lead was 22-11 after Ritz scored to start the second quarter, and Oakland fought to get back to within 29-24 at halftime. Ritz scored YSU's first six points of the second half, and Magestro made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to give the Penguins their largest lead at 41-28 with 6:59 left in the third period.
YSU's next field goal didn't come until a 3-pointer by Kirby at the 1:48 mark, which put the Penguins ahead 50-42, and Ritz scored on a pass from Jarrells to make it 52-44 at the end of the quarter.
Oakland scored the first seven points of the fourth period to get within 52-51, and the margin was within three points for the final 13:45 of the game. Shy's layup with 5:53 on the clock accounted for the Penguins' first points of the quarter, and they led until Grant's 3-pointer tied the score at 56 with 3:37 left. Callahan's 3-pointer with 2:53 put YSU ahead 59-56, and Oakland scored the next five points to take its only lead at 61-59 on Daniels' basket with 24.5 seconds left. Callahan's 2-for-2 result at the free-throw line followed to tie the score and force overtime.
Youngstown State will return home to host Robert Morris on Thursday at 7 p.m. It will be a Thirsty Thursday with $2 beer, and fans will receive a YSU Stadium Cup, courtesy of Roof Rite, A to Z Services, Lyden Oil and 21 WFMJ. It will also be a Veterans Appreciation Game, presented by NECA IBEW. Advance tickets are available at the YSU Athletics Ticket Office in Stambaugh Stadium or on YSUsports.com.
