It has been a tough few years for the Youngstown State Women’s Basketball team.  The Lady Penguins looked dominant and Brandi Brown scored a career-high 35 points as YSU coasted to a 72-58 victory over UIC.  Brown also tied a school record with 12 consecutive free throws made tying Brianne Kenneally and Liz Hauger.

With the win, the Penguins could finish ninth in the Horizon League.  It is a mark of improvement over last season and the Penguins improved to 5-23, and 3-14 in the Horizon League.  UIC fell to .500 at 14-14 with the loss.

The first half was all YSU.  The Penguins held a 41-23 halftime lead.  The 41 point effort in the first half was the second highest total this season.  Brown paced the Penguins with 17 points and five rebounds.  UIC got ten first half points from Briana Hinkle.  UIC turned the ball over 13 times in the half and got only one assist.  Youngstown State, which was outrebounded 20-18 in the opening half, shot 5-15 from three point land, whereas UIC did not attempt a three.

In the second half, UIC rallied to trail only 53-42 with 11:35 left in the game.  Too much Brandi Brown on this night, who tied her career high of 29 points with a pair of free throws at the 9:58 mark to restore a 12 point lead for the Penguins.  Liz Hornberger hit a three to also tie her career-high of nine points to put YSU ahead 60-49.

Jasmine Bailey, who played a great second half for the Flames, cut the Youngstown State lead to nine points at 60-51 when she followed her own miss.  The Penguins, however, responded when Tieara Jones hit a runner and drew the foul with 6:05 left to extend the YSU lead to 63-51.

The Penguins couldn’t ask for much more from Brown who finished with a career-best 35 points and 11 rebounds.  She was also an impressive 12-12  from the free throw line.  In fact, the entire Penguins team was a perfect 17-17 from the line.  It was Brown’s 12th double-double of the season.

While looking at his stat sheet, Coach Bob Bolden joked, “17 of 17, it was good coaching.”

UIC got 13 points from Bailey and Taylor Foulks contributed another 14.  Unfortunately for the Flames, it is hard to win on the road when you turn the ball over  17 times.

Boldon also commented on his team keeping composure down the stretch.  “This was a lot like the Cleveland State game.  We had a good lead at halftime and collapsed.  I left that game wondering if we had learned anything.  I got my answer tonight that we did indeed learn something.  I was happy that we were able to keep our composure down the stretch.  Brandi was fantastic. This might be the most complete game we played this year.”