East Lansing, Mich. — Four Youngstown State women's basketball players scored at least eight points as the Penguins fell 96-52 at No. 24 Michigan State on Wednesday evening.
Sarah Baker and Faith Burch led YSU with 10 points apiece, while Casey Santoro and Hayden Barrier both had eight at the Breslin Center. Barrier tied her career high in scoring while making two 3-pointers, and Dacia Lewandowski scored a career-best seven points.
Youngstown State shot 46.8% from the field, but Michigan State had 17 offensive rebounds that led to 23 points and was plus-13 in turnover margin. The Spartans converted YSU's 27 turnovers into 32 points and made 12 3-pointers to improve to 3-0.
Grace VanSlooten, one of 50 players on the Naismith Trophy watch list for national player of the year, scored 17 points to lead four Spartans in double figures. Emma Shumate scored 14 points off the bench and went 4-for-5 from 3-point range.
The Penguins tied the score at 2-2 and 4-4, the second time coming on a breakaway layup by Sophia Gregory with 7:49 remaining in the first quarter. That was Gregory's only field-goal attempt in 24 minutes of action.
Michigan State took its first double-digit lead at 16-6 with a Shumate 3-pointer after the media timeout, and the Spartans' fourth 3 of the quarter put them up 25-12.
The margin was double digits over the final three quarters, but the Penguins cut a 20-point deficit to 12 midway through the second quarter. Burch scored four points during an eight-point run that made the score 33-21 with 5:01 left, but the Michigan State answered with 12 straight points over the next four minutes to extend its lead to 45-21. The margin was 45-23 at halftime.
Youngstown State had its highest-scoring quarter in the third as Lewandowski scored five of the team's 17 points. Michigan State stretched its lead for the final margin by outscoring the Penguins 20-6 over the final seven minutes. Santoro hit two 3-pointers for the Penguins in the quarter and finished 2-for-4 on attempts from long distance.
The Penguins will return home to face Bucknell at 2 p.m. inside Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. Fans will receive a YSU schedule magnet, and those who bring a canned good to benefit the YSU Pantry Drive will receive a voucher for a free general admission ticket for a future home game. Additionally, all general admission tickets will be $5 for STEM Day, and veterans can receive up to four complimentary tickets for the Veterans Appreciation Game, presented by NECA IBEW.
