2026-27 Women's Basketball Roster - Youngstown State University

Evelyn McKnight
Position G Academic Year Fr.Height 5' 10''
Hometown Copley, OhioLast School CopleyMajor Marketing
Full Bio for Evelyn McKnight
Danielle Cameron
Position G Academic Year Jr.Height 5' 9''
Hometown Olmsted Falls, OhioLast School Olmsted FallsMajor Biology
Full Bio for Danielle Cameron
Jada Leonard
Position G Academic Year 5thHeight 5' 8''
Hometown Bronx, N.Y.Last School Monsignor ScanlanPrevious School Previous School: Cleveland StateMajor Master of Health and Human Services
Full Bio for Jada Leonard
Erica King
Position G Academic Year Jr.Height 5' 7''
Hometown Akron, OhioLast School St. Vincent-St. MaryMajor Business Administration
Full Bio for Erica King
Hayden Barrier
Position G Academic Year Jr.Height 5' 7''
Hometown Mount Sterling, Ky.Last School Montgomery CountyMajor Psychology
Full Bio for Hayden Barrier
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Gemma Walker
Position G Academic Year Jr.Height 5' 10''
Hometown Venetia, Pa.Last School Peters TownshipPrevious School Previous School: Saint Francis (Pa.)Major Education
Full Bio for Gemma Walker
Paulina Hernandez
Position F Academic Year Sr.Height 6' 2''
Hometown Oak Creek, Wis.Last School Oak CreekPrevious School Previous School: Cleveland StateMajor Marketing
Full Bio for Paulina Hernandez
Dacia Lewandowski
Position G Academic Year Sr.Height 5' 11''
Hometown Butler, Pa.Last School North CatholicPrevious School Previous School: AkronMajor Business Administration
Full Bio for Dacia Lewandowski
Brooke Adkins
Position G Academic Year So.Height 6' 0''
Hometown Wayne, W. Va.Last School WayneMajor Marketing
Full Bio for Brooke Adkins
Mia Kalich
Position F Academic Year Sr.Height 6' 0''
Hometown Olmsted Falls, OhioLast School Olmsted FallsPrevious School Previous School: Seton HillMajor Mechanical Engineering
Full Bio for Mia Kalich
Kaitlyn Turinsky
Position F Academic Year Fr.Height 6' 3''
Hometown Marblehead, OhioLast School BellevueMajor Dental Hygiene
Full Bio for Kaitlyn Turinsky
Sarah Baker
Position F Academic Year Jr.Height 6' 2''
Hometown Florence, Ky.Last School RyleMajor Psychology
Full Bio for Sarah Baker

Coaching Staff

Melissa Jackson
Head Women's Basketball Coach
mdjackson02@ysu.edu
Full Bio for Melissa Jackson
Courtney Davidson
Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
cldavidson@ysu.edu
Full Bio for Courtney Davidson
Kayla DeCriscio
Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
kbdecriscio@ysu.edu
Full Bio for Kayla DeCriscio
Shayna Gore
Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
sbgore@ysu.edu
Full Bio for Shayna Gore
Shannon Sword
Assistant Women's Basketball Coach/Director of Operations
snsword@ysu.edu
Full Bio for Shannon Sword
Chloe Whitlock
Director of Creative Content/Event Specialist
cawhitlock@ysu.edu
Full Bio for Chloe Whitlock
Chloe Jeffers
Graduate Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
cmjeffers@ysu.edu
Full Bio for Chloe Jeffers

Support Staff

Emily Guerriero
Team IMPACT Player
Full Bio for Emily Guerriero
Mary Beth George
Associate Athletic Director – Sports Performance
megeorge01@ysu.edu
Full Bio for Mary Beth George
Jessie Rogge
Associate Athletics Director, Sports Medicine
jmrogge@ysu.edu
Full Bio for Jessie Rogge

G Fr. 5' 10''

Copley, Ohio Copley Marketing

G Jr. 5' 9''

Olmsted Falls, Ohio Olmsted Falls Biology

G 5th 5' 8''

Bronx, N.Y. Monsignor Scanlan Previous School: Cleveland State Master of Health and Human Services

G Jr. 5' 7''

Akron, Ohio St. Vincent-St. Mary Business Administration

G Jr. 5' 7''

Mount Sterling, Ky. Montgomery County Psychology

G Jr. 5' 10''

Venetia, Pa. Peters Township Previous School: Saint Francis (Pa.) Education

F Sr. 6' 2''

Oak Creek, Wis. Oak Creek Previous School: Cleveland State Marketing

G Sr. 5' 11''

Butler, Pa. North Catholic Previous School: Akron Business Administration

G So. 6' 0''

Wayne, W. Va. Wayne Marketing

F Sr. 6' 0''

Olmsted Falls, Ohio Olmsted Falls Previous School: Seton Hill Mechanical Engineering

F Fr. 6' 3''

Marblehead, Ohio Bellevue Dental Hygiene

F Jr. 6' 2''

Florence, Ky. Ryle Psychology

Coaching Staff

Head Women's Basketball Coach /Women's Basketball

mdjackson02@ysu.edu

Assistant Women's Basketball Coach /Women's Basketball

cldavidson@ysu.edu

Assistant Women's Basketball Coach /Women's Basketball

kbdecriscio@ysu.edu

Assistant Women's Basketball Coach /Women's Basketball

sbgore@ysu.edu

Assistant Women's Basketball Coach/Director of Operations /Women's Basketball

snsword@ysu.edu

Director of Creative Content/Event Specialist /Women's Basketball

cawhitlock@ysu.edu

Graduate Assistant Women's Basketball Coach /Women's Basketball

cmjeffers@ysu.edu

Support Staff

Team IMPACT Player /Women's Basketball

Associate Athletic Director – Sports Performance /Women's Basketball

megeorge01@ysu.edu

Associate Athletics Director, Sports Medicine /Women's Basketball

jmrogge@ysu.edu


1	Evelyn McKnight	G	Fr.	5' 10''	Copley, Ohio / Copley		Marketing
2	Danielle Cameron	G	Jr.	5' 9''	Olmsted Falls, Ohio / Olmsted Falls		Biology
3	Jada Leonard	G	5th	5' 8''	Bronx, N.Y. / Monsignor Scanlan	Cleveland State	Master of Health and Human Services
4	Erica King	G	Jr.	5' 7''	Akron, Ohio / St. Vincent-St. Mary		Business Administration
5	Hayden Barrier	G	Jr.	5' 7''	Mount Sterling, Ky. / Montgomery County		Psychology
6	Gemma Walker	G	Jr.	5' 10''	Venetia, Pa. / Peters Township	Saint Francis (Pa.)	Education
7	Paulina Hernandez	F	Sr.	6' 2''	Oak Creek, Wis. / Oak Creek	Cleveland State	Marketing
12	Dacia Lewandowski	G	Sr.	5' 11''	Butler, Pa. / North Catholic	Akron	Business Administration
20	Brooke Adkins	G	So.	6' 0''	Wayne, W. Va. / Wayne		Marketing
21	Mia Kalich	F	Sr.	6' 0''	Olmsted Falls, Ohio / Olmsted Falls	Seton Hill	Mechanical Engineering
30	Kaitlyn Turinsky	F	Fr.	6' 3''	Marblehead, Ohio / Bellevue		Dental Hygiene
50	Sarah Baker	F	Jr.	6' 2''	Florence, Ky. / Ryle		Psychology


Melissa Jackson	Head Women's Basketball Coach	mdjackson02@ysu.edu
Courtney Davidson	Assistant Women's Basketball Coach	cldavidson@ysu.edu
Kayla DeCriscio	Assistant Women's Basketball Coach	kbdecriscio@ysu.edu
Shayna Gore	Assistant Women's Basketball Coach	sbgore@ysu.edu
Shannon Sword	Assistant Women's Basketball Coach/Director of Operations	snsword@ysu.edu
Chloe Whitlock	Director of Creative Content/Event Specialist	cawhitlock@ysu.edu
Chloe Jeffers	Graduate Assistant Women's Basketball Coach	cmjeffers@ysu.edu


Emily Guerriero	Team IMPACT Player
Mary Beth George	Associate Athletic Director – Sports Performance	megeorge01@ysu.edu
Jessie Rogge	Associate Athletics Director, Sports Medicine	jmrogge@ysu.edu

Mia Kalich handles the ball during a YSU women's basketball game vs. Hiram on Nov. 2, 2026 (Photo by Robert Hayes)

Women’s Basketball Hosts Buffalo on Saturday Night in First Meeting Since 2013

Thursday, November 05

Hayden Barrier cheers on her teammates from the bench during Youngstown State's win over Hiram on Nov. 2, 2026.

Penguins Open Campaign with 99-26 Win Over Hiram

Monday, November 02

YSU Women's Basketball 2026-27 Team Photo (Photo by David Dermer)

Penguins Host Hiram on Monday Night to Open 2026-27 Season

Friday, October 30

Dacia Lewandowski poses with her jersey patch after being selected as a Kay Yow Servant Leader award winner for the 2026-27 season (Photo by Chloe Whitlock)

Dacia Lewandowski Selected as Kay Yow Servant Leader for 2026-27 Season

Tuesday, October 27

Sunday, November 08

Coaching Staff
Image	Name	Title	Email	Phone Number
	Melissa Jackson	Head Women's Basketball Coach	mdjackson02@ysu.edu
	Courtney Davidson	Assistant Women's Basketball Coach	cldavidson@ysu.edu
	Kayla DeCriscio	Assistant Women's Basketball Coach	kbdecriscio@ysu.edu
	Shayna Gore	Assistant Women's Basketball Coach	sbgore@ysu.edu
	Shannon Sword	Assistant Women's Basketball Coach/Director of Operations	snsword@ysu.edu
	Chloe Whitlock	Director of Creative Content/Event Specialist	cawhitlock@ysu.edu
	Chloe Jeffers	Graduate Assistant Women's Basketball Coach	cmjeffers@ysu.edu

2026-27 YSU Women's Basketball Roster

Players

Evelyn McKnight

Danielle Cameron

Jada Leonard

Erica King

Hayden Barrier

Gemma Walker

Paulina Hernandez

Dacia Lewandowski

Brooke Adkins

Mia Kalich

Kaitlyn Turinsky

Sarah Baker

Coaching Staff

Melissa Jackson

Courtney Davidson

Kayla DeCriscio

Shayna Gore

Shannon Sword

Chloe Whitlock

Chloe Jeffers

Support Staff

Emily Guerriero

Mary Beth George

Jessie Rogge

Players

Evelyn McKnight

Danielle Cameron

Jada Leonard

Erica King

Hayden Barrier

Gemma Walker

Paulina Hernandez

Dacia Lewandowski

Brooke Adkins

Mia Kalich

Kaitlyn Turinsky

Sarah Baker

Coaching Staff

Melissa Jackson

Courtney Davidson

Kayla DeCriscio

Shayna Gore

Shannon Sword

Chloe Whitlock

Chloe Jeffers

Support Staff

Emily Guerriero

Mary Beth George

Jessie Rogge

Players

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