Youngstown State University
2-2,0-0Horizon
Colorado
4-0,0-0Big 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown St. | 20 | 11 | 13 | 19 | 63 |
| Colorado | 14 | 16 | 16 | 26 | 72 |
11/14/2026 6:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BOULDER, Colo. – The Youngstown State women's basketball team had five players score in double figures and led the entire first half before dropping a 72-63 decision to Big 12 member Colorado on Saturday afternoon at the CU Events Center.
The Penguins led by as many as 10 in the first half and they took a 31-30 advantage into the locker room at halftime. The Buffaloes built a 46-40 lead late in the third quarter before the Guins scored the final four points of the period to trail by just two heading into the fourth. Colorado scored the first 12 points of the fourth quarter to create a double-digit margin and held on to win the first meeting between the two programs.
Youngstown State falls to 2-2 overall while Colorado improves to 4-0 to begin the 2026-27 season.
Freshman guard Evelyn McKnight paced five Penguins in double figures in the scoring column with a career-high 14 points while matching her career best with five assists. Paulina Hernandez scored 12 points on the strength of a career-high four 3-pointers while adding six rebounds and three blocked shots. Sarah Baker finished with 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field while Jada Leonard and Mia Kalich added 10 points apiece.
YSU shot 37.3% from the field overall while sinking seven of 24 3-point attempts for a 29.2% clip. Colorado finished with a 47-34 edge in total rebounds behind 18 offensive boards which resulted in 24 second-chance points for the Buffaloes. CU also outscored the Penguins off turnovers (16-5), in the paint (46-22) and in transition (12-2).
Youngstown State converted its first three field goals of the game, and the Penguins held a 9-2 lead after a pair of made free throws from Erica King with 7:22 remaining in the first quarter. King's driving layup at the 5:14 mark of the first period gave YSU a 15-7 advantage, and the lead swelled to 20-10 when Hernandez buried her second triple with 3:19 left in the quarter. Colorado scored the final four points of the opening period to cut YSU's lead to 20-14 heading into the second stanza.
After the Penguins took a 23-16 lead with 5:59 remaining in the second quarter, the Buffaloes went on a 12-5 spurt to even the score at 28-28 with 1:42 left before halftime. Leonard's 3-pointer 15 seconds later put YSU in front 31-28 before Colorado converted a pair of free throws to shave its deficit to 31-30 at the intermission.
The Buffaloes outscored the Penguins 16-13 in the third period to carry a 46-44 edge into the fourth quarter. Colorado went on a key 12-0 run to begin the fourth quarter, and the home team led 58-44 after a layup from Kennedy Sanders with just over seven minutes remaining. Hernandez's third long-distance connection reduced CU's advantage to 58-47, and the Penguins cut their deficit down to 11 again at 62-51 on Baker's layup with 3:08 to play in the fourth. Hernandez made her fourth triple with 1:12 remaining to bring YSU within 67-58, but the Guins would get no closer as the Buffaloes held on to secure their fourth straight victory.
Colorado shot 41.1% from the floor overall while making four of 17 attempts from long range for a 23.5% clip. Anete Adler led three Buffaloes in double figures with 14 points, Sanders scored 13 points and Zyanna Walker added 12 points.
Youngstown State will return home to host Heidelberg on Tuesday in the program's annual School Day Game presented by Chil-fil-A Tiffany Square Plaza. Tipoff inside Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center is scheduled for 11 a.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and 570 WKBN.
