Youngstown, Ohio – Shay-Lee Kirby made two go-ahead free throws with 1.4 seconds left, and the Youngstown State women's basketball team fought for a 58-56 victory on New Year's Eve at Beeghly Center.
In a tightly contested game where the largest lead for either team was four points, the Penguins made enough plays down the stretch to earn their first Horizon League victory of the season.
With YSU holding a 50-49 lead with under four minutes, the Penguins crashed the offensive glass to provide key second-chance opportunities. Malia Magestro made two free throws after Mady Aulbach had two offensive rebounds, an offensive rebound by Emily Saunders led to a free throw, and an offensive carom by Paige Shy paved the way for a Saunders jumper that put YSU up 55-51 at the 2:43 mark.
Shy then drew a charge with 35.4 seconds left after IUPUI had gotten to within 55-53, and YSU's Dena Jarrells split two free throws to extend the margin to three. IUPUI's Jaela Johnson hit a 3-pointer in the corner with 24.4 seconds on the clock to tie the game at 56 to set up a final possession for YSU.
The Penguins advanced the ball to the frontcourt, and IUPUI took away YSU's initial option, forcing Jarrells passed to Kirby on the right wing. Kirby was fouled trying to get around IUPUI's Faith Stinson, and Kirby stepped to the free-throw line for the two bonus attempts and calmly made both attempts.
IUPUI was out of timeouts and had to inbound under YSU's basket, and Shy stole the inbounds pass to run out the clock.
Saunders finished with a game-high 19 points while adding nine rebounds and four blocks in 25 minutes of action. Jarrells made three 3-pointers and finished with 12 points, and Magestro posted a solid stat line of nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Tahlia Walton led IUPUI with 18 points, and Stinson had a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Jaguars led by four three different times in the opening quarter and held a 16-12 advantage after 10 minutes. The teams traded baskets in the first 70 seconds of the second quarter before YSU went on a 9-3 run to go up 23-21 with 5:46 on the clock. Jarrells hit two 3s in the run, and her second gave YSU a 22-21 advantage at the 7:14 mark.
The Penguins made one field goal the rest of the half after that Jarrells triple, and IUPUI held a 31-28 lead at halftime.
Jarrells hit her third 3-pointer of the game to knot the score at 31-31 to start the third, and the Penguins went on a 10-4 burst to start the second half. A 3-pointer by Shy gave the Penguins a 36-35 lead, and Saunders followed with a bucket to extend the margin to 38-35.
The Jaguars went nearly five minutes without scoring as YSU built its three-point lead, but the visitors closed out the quarter on an 8-2 run and led 43-40 heading into the fourth.
Youngstown State will conclude its four-game homestand and open the 2024 calendar year by hosting Oakland on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Beeghly Center.
