The Green Bay Phoenix rolled into Youngstown ranked #20 in the country. They had a perfect season underway. The Youngstown State Penguins were having a hard time keeping players healthy and remaining competitive. To their credit, the Lady Penguins have not waived the proverbial white flag yet and keep trying althouth their efforts have not resulted in a victory yet.

Green Bay had enough firepower at the end of the first half and beginning of the second to get by pesky YSU, 76-60.  Youngstown State had their finest night of the season shooting 50% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range.  As Coach Cindy Martin stated after the game, “There is a reason why they are 13-0 and ranked 20th in the country.”

Youngstown State did a good job for the first nine minutes of the game to make shots and maximize opportunities on offense. Green Bay was having a field day in the low post capitalizing on matchups that worked in their favor. With 11:20 left in the opening half, Green Bay held a 14-12 lead.

YSU took a 19-18 lead on a Brandi Brown layup with 8:52 left in the first half. Green Bay scored to reclaim a one-point lead, but Boki Dimitrov nailed a three to put YSU back on top, 22-20. Four three-pointers accounted for more than half of the Penguins offense.

The Penguins were up 28-22, but the Phoenix trap proved to be too much for YSU as Green Bay ended the half on a 16-0 run to take a 38-28 lead into the intermission. Kayla Tetschlag poured in 14 first half points and gathered four rebounds for Green Bay. Youngstown State got ten from Boki Dimitrov.

Green Bay built the lead to 23 with 10:53 left in the game and coasted home for the victory.  Balance and ball movement were the keys for the Phoenix in the second half.  Tetschlag, Heather Golden, and Celeste Hoewisch had at least 13 points each to to spark the balanced Green Bay scoring attack.

With the victory, Green Bay improved to 13-0 and did little to tarnish their national ranking with their play in the second half.

After the game, Coach Martin praised her team for their effort.  “I’m tickled to death and told the girls before the game that this is my dream, coaching Division I basketball.  We are building and growing but we want results now and we have to keep the long-term goals in focus.  I know the results are not very good on paper yet, but I am extremely encouraged with the progress.” 

Rachael Manuel had one of her best-ever games as a Lady Penguin with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Brandi Brown stayed hot as she had 16 points and nine rebounds, just missing her fifth double-double of the year.

Youngstown State fell to 0-13, but not due to a lack of effort. It’s like the old saying, the more gum you throw at the wall, sooner or later something is bound to stick.  Keep throwing Coach Martin, keep throwing.