Youngstown State University
2-0,0-0Horizon
Buffalo
1-1,0-0MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 19 | 19 | 12 | 12 | 62 |
| Youngstown St. | 22 | 17 | 25 | 22 | 86 |
11/7/2026 9:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown State women's basketball team outscored Buffalo 47-24 over the final 20 minutes to pull away for an 86-62 victory on Saturday night inside Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.
In the first meeting between the programs since 2013, the Penguins held a 39-38 edge at halftime after a back-and-forth first half. After Buffalo knotted the score at 42-42, YSU went on a 22-8 run to close the third quarter while outscoring the Bulls 25-12 in the period to carry a double-digit advantage into the fourth. The Guins went on to outscore Buffalo 22-12 in the final period to earn their second home win in as many games to begin the 2026-27 season.
Youngstown State improved to 2-0 with the win while Buffalo dropped to 1-1.
After forcing 38 turnovers in the season opener on Monday, the Penguins forced Buffalo into 30 turnovers on Saturday evening while outscoring the Bulls 32-4 off turnovers. YSU outscored Buffalo 26-5 in transition while holding a 50-36 edge in the paint and a 29-13 advantage in bench points.
Fifth-year point guard and Cleveland State transfer Jada Leonard paced four Penguins in double figures with 17 points while Danielle Cameron added 13 points and three made 3-pointers. Sarah Baker finished with 12 points, and senior transfer Mia Kalich filled the stat sheet with 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and five steals. Kalich, who reached 1,000 career points in her YSU debut on Monday, surpassed 300 career steals on Saturday.
Youngstown State and Buffalo traded baskets early as YSU held a 22-19 lead at the end of the opening quarter. The Penguins scored the first five points of the second quarter to build their largest lead of the first half at 27-19 after a triple from Cameron with 8:36 left before halftime. YSU led 31-24 with 6:30 left in the second before a 10-2 spurt by Buffalo put the Bulls ahead 34-33 with 3:09 to play before the intermission.
After heading into the break ahead 39-38, another 3-pointer from Cameron in the first minute of the third quarter put YSU in front 42-38. The Bulls scored the next four points to tie the game 42-42 before the Penguins outscored Buffalo 22-8 throughout the remainder of the period to carry a 64-50 advantage into the final stanza.
YSU's lead reached 20 for the first time at 75-55 when Leonard connected on a triple with 6:37 remaining in the fourth, and the lead swelled to its largest margin of 25 when Brooke Adkins made a driving layup with 50 seconds left to play.
The Penguins shot 43.2% from the field while making seven of 21 attempts from long distance. The Bulls finished the game shooting 44% overall and 36.4% (4-11) from 3-point range.
Sophomore transfer Asia Wilson paced Buffalo with a career-high 18 points and a game-high seven assists while sophomore forward Meg Lucas posted a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds.
Youngstown State will face its first road challenge on the season on Tuesday at Toledo. Tipoff at Savage Arena is scheduled for 11 a.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and 1390 WNIO.
