Butler rolled into Youngstown having handled the Lady Penguins the last seven times they had met.  Youngstown State also entered the contest as the only team in Division-I without a victory this season.  The odds were against Youngstown State coming out ahead, but when a struggling team compiles 25 turnovers, the end result can seldom be positive.  All of these factors weighed in as the Bulldogs handled the Penguins, 74-48, at Beeghly Center on Saturday.  Youngstown State has to be looking to the sky for answers (pictured, above).

With 9:37 left in the first half, Butler opened up a 14-10 lead. As the pattern of late has reflected, YSU has played respectably in the first half over their last few games. The only two Penguins to score in the first ten minutes were Brandi Brown and Kenya Middlebrooks.

Rachael Manuel hit a running hook from short distance to cut the lead to 18-12. With 2:28 left in the opening half, Butler’s Melanie Thornton took an errant pass the length of the floor and layed it in to give her team a 22-14 lead. It was the Penguins 16th turnover of the first half.

Butler would tack on four more points to hold a 28-14 lead at the half. Terra Burns headed the Butler attack with eight points. YSU got eight points and six rebounds from Brandi Brown. Neither team connected on a three-point shot in the first half. YSU also had 17 first half turnovers, too many to stay in the game.

Melanie Thornton, who led all scorers with 19 in the game, took matters over in the second half. Thornton only had four points at halftime but scored nine of Butler’s first 19 points in the second half. With 11:49 left in the game, Butler held a 47-28 lead.

With 7:47 left in the contest, the Bulldogs were well in control holding a 58-34 advantage. The situation that seemed to pose the biggest problems to YSU’s defense was the passing. More than half of Butler’s points were layups, many uncontested, off of strong passes from beyond the foul line.

Macey Nortey fouled out with 4:17 left in the game, leaving just one sub on the Penguins bench. Butler was ahead 68-36 and well on their way to improving to 10-6 on the season (3-2 Horizon League).

Maryum Jenkins was the second Penguin to foul out with just under a minute left in the game. There was no Penguins bench to finish the game with.

To her credit, Cindy Martin was still coaching, even down by more than 30 points. The players were not quitting and still hustling, they were just outmatched on this particular Saturday.  “They [the players] are the ones who have to deal with the embarrassment of the record.  They are classy and they are ladies both on and off of the floor and I have alot of respect for them.”

Brandi Brown colected a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds.  It was the seventh double-double of the year for Brown.  Martin knows that other teams realize Brown is now the go-to Penguin.  “Valpo doubled Brandi Brown.  Teams are trying to create gameplans to stop her because Brandi is among the conference leaders in rebounding and scoring.  We have to remember that she is just a Freshman and we have three-and-a-half more years to enjoy watching her.”

The Lady Penguins take to the road with stops in Cleveland, Detroit and Wright State starting next Saturday.