MyValleySports Youngstown State

Home Stretch for YSU Men's Team

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:18:12 -0500

Men’s Horizon League Standings

Team	League	Overall
Cleveland State	10-2	20-4
Valparaiso	10-3	17-8
Youngstown State	8-5	13-10
Milwaukee	8-5	15-10
Detroit	7-6	13-12
Butler	7-6	13-12
Wright State	6-7	11-14
Green Bay	5-7	9-13
UIC	3-10	7-16
Loyola	0-13	5-18

This Week’s Schedule
Thursday, February 9
Valparaiso at Cleveland State, 7 p.m.
Butler at Youngstown State, 7:05

Friday, February 10
Milwaukee at Detroit, 7
Green Bay at Wright State, 9

Saturday, February 11
Butler at Cleveland State, 11 a.m.
UIC at Loyola, 2
Valparaiso at Youngstown State, 7:05

Sunday, February 12
Green Bay at Detroit, 1
Milwaukee at Wright State, 3

If the Horizon League Tournament Began Today
#1 Cleveland State and #2 Valparaiso would advance to the Semifinals to await the winners of the first two rounds.
#3 Youngstown State would host #10 Loyola
#6 Butler would welcome #7 Wright State
#4 Milwaukee would have a home game against #9 UIC.
#8 Green Bay travels to #5 Detroit for a first-round showdown with the Titans.

YSU Notes
-Four of the Penguins last six games will take place at the Beeghley Center including their next two versus Butler on Thursday and Valparaiso on Saturday. YSU has won four of their last five at home.

Next Two Opponents
Thursday vs. Butler
Last Five Meetings
Jan. 15, 2012: at Butler, 71-55
-Ashen Ward led YSU with 21 points.
Feb. 3, 2011: YSU, 62-60
Jan. 9, 2011: at Butler, 84-79
Feb. 11, 2010: Butler, 68-57
Jan. 16, 2010: at Butler, 91-61

Saturday vs. Valparaiso
Last Five Meetings
Jan. 13, 2012: at Valpo, 76-62
-Blake Allen and Kendrick Perry scored 16 a piece in their first encounter with the Crusaders this season.
Mar. 1, 2011: at Valpo, 80-71 (HL Tournament)
Feb. 5, 2011: Valpo, 86-78 (OT)
Jan. 7, 2011: at Valpo, 79-55
Feb. 13, 2010: Valpo, 77-75
*YSU has not defeated Valparaiso since the Crusaders joined the Horizon League.

-Of the 32 conferences in Division I (excluding the Independents), the Horizon League’s RPI sits at 15^th (0.4910).
HL’s Rating Percentage Index
344 Division I Teams
62. Cleveland State
104. Valparaiso
132. Milwaukee
148. Youngstown State
149. Butler
181. Green Bay
192. Detroit
216. Wright State
299. UIC
310. Loyola

-YSU has a higher RPI than the likes of Texas A&M (153), South Carolina (156), Clemson (168), Washington State (169), DePaul (180), and UTEP (185). YSU is 1-3 against top-100 RPI schools.
YSU’s RPI Ratings
Last Four Years
2010-11: 291
2009-10: 269
2008-09: 243
2007-08: 227

-The Penguins’ Strength of Schedule is at 203^rd of 344 teams (0.4807). YSU’s SOS is higher than the likes of Houston (212), Harvard (214), and Ohio (232).

Perry Named H.L. Player of the Week

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:27:00 -0500

Indianapolis, Ind. -- Youngstown State sophomore Kendrick Perry (Ocoee, Fla.) has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week for Feb. 6, the Horizon League announced on Monday. Perry led the Guins (13-10, 8-5 Horizon) to a 2-1 road record last week, averaging 25.7 points, 4.0 assists and 3.7 steals per game while shooting 60 percent from the field.

With eight conference wins, the Penguins have set a new program mark for most League victories since joining the Horizon League in 2001-02.

This is the first player-of-the week award of Perry's career and it marks the first time in Horizon League history and YSU history five different players from one school have earned the accolade. Earlier this season, senior DuShawn Brooks (Dec. 5), junior Damian Eargle (Jan. 2), senior Ashen Ward (Jan. 9) and junior Blake Allen (Jan. 23) all garnered the award.

Perry scored a career-high 30 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field, including four 3-pointers, and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. He also dished out four assists and had two steals.

His 30-point effort was the first since DeAndre Mays scored 30 points against Loyola on Jan. 9, 2010. He is also the first sophomore to score at least 30 points since Mike Alcorn scored 35 against Pitt-Bradford on Feb. 24, 1992.

In the 72-68 loss at UIC, which was the Guins' third game in six days, Perry scored 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field. He almost rallied the Guins to a frantic comeback scoring eight points in 35 seconds to cut a nine-point deficit down to two.

Perry connected on 11-of-14 from the field with two 3-pointers for a game-high 28 points in an 80-63 win over Loyola. He also dished out six assists and collected a career-high seven steals against the Ramblers.

He is the first player to record at least six steals in a game since Marlon Williamson tallied six against UMKC on Dec. 21, 2002.

With 11 steals on the week, Perry set a new Youngstown State sophomore record with 56 on the year. The total is the second-best single-season mark in school history, trailing only the 64 of Marlon Williamson in 2002-03. Perry's 2.4 spg ranks second in the Horizon League, while the point guard ranks second in scoring (15.7 ppg), third in assists (4.1 apg) and first in assist-turnover ratio (2.2).

The Guins host Butler, Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Beeghly Center. Tipoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3.com.

Courtesy: YSU Sports Information

Hot-Shooting Penguins Drop Loyola

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:46:00 -0500

Sophomore Kendrick Perry scored a game-high 28 points and the Youngstown State men's basketball team shot 63,3 percent from the field en route to an 80-63 over Loyola on Sunday afternoon at Gentile Arena.

Perry, who connected on 11-of-14 shooting from the floor, also dished out six assists and had seven steals. Perry is also the first YSU player to collect six-or-more steals in a game since Marlon Williams had six against UMKC on Dec. 21, 2002.

The Guins shot 60 percent in the first half and 65.5 percent in the second half. Their overall field-goal percentage of 63.3 percentage marks the first time since 2006 that the Guins shot above 60 percent in a game.

Junior Blake Allen scored 19 points while junior Damian Eargle posted 12 points and senior Ashen Ward added 11.

With the win, the Guins improve to 13-10 overall and 8-5 in the Horizon League, which sets a school mark for most league wins since joining the circuit in 2001-02. Loyola falls to 5-18 overall and 0-13 in the Horizon League.

The Guins led 37-30 at halftime but started the second half on a 9-0 in the first 1:48 to take a 46-30 advantage with 18:12 to go.

Perry opened the half with a steal and layup and after Allen drilled a 3-pointer to go up 12, he added another layup and a jumper to give the Guins a 16-point cushion.

Ward hit a 3-pointer to put the Guins up 20, 56-36, with 15:12 remaining and the Guins never led by less than 14 points the rest of the way. A Perry layup at the 3:31 mark put Guins up by a game-high 23, 78-55.

In the first half, the Guins only trailed twice, 10-9 at 14:52 and 12-11 at 13:19 before Perry scored seven straight points on jumper, two free throws and a 3-pointer to take an 18-12 edge with 11 minutes to go.

A Ward 3-pointer with 7:11 to go gave the Guins a 28-21 lead before the Ramblers used a 9-4 run to get within two, 32-30, at the 2:45 mark.

The Guins held the Ramblers scoreless the rest of the half and Perry's jumper with 11 seconds left put YSU up 37-30 at the half.

The Guins return home to host Butler, Thursday, Feb. 9. Tipoff is at 7:05 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3.com.

Courtesy: YSU Sports Information

Late Butler 3 Dooms Penguins

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:35:00 -0500

Butler's Mandy McDivitt made a deep 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds remaining to end another late comeback attempt by the Youngstown State women's basketball as the Penguins dropped a tough 65-63 decision on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center.

YSU, which trailed by nine with 14 minutes left, battled back to go ahead 63-62 on two Brandi Brown free throws with 28.7 seconds left.

The Penguins stopped the Bulldogs on their ensuing possession when Devin Brierly drove the lane and lost control of the ball when she collided with Brown. The Penguins grabbed the rebound, and Heidi Schlegel was fouled.

Schlegel missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Butler's Sarah Hamm grabbed the board. She gave the ball to Brierly, who drove the court and found McDivitt just in front of the Butler bench. McDivitt, who came into the game 27-for-101 from 3-point range from the season, hit her sixth triple of the contest to give the Bulldogs the lead with 2.3 seconds left.

On the final inbounds play, Brown caught the ball at midcourt and passed to Macey Nortey. Nortey drove to near the 3-point line and passed to Kenya Middlebrooks, who couldn't get a shot off as time expired.

Butler improves to 10-12 overall and 6-5 in the Horizon League while the Penguins drop to 10-12 and 4-7. Brierly scored 22 points to lead Butler while McDivitt finished with 18.

Brown led YSU with a game-high 23 points while Schlegel had 13.

After Butler scored the final 10 points of the first half, the Bulldogs took a 42-33 lead with 13:59 remaining. At that point, the Penguins were struggling against Butler's zone and had scored just six points in 12 minutes, but Brown started to assert herself. She scored YSU's next 10 points, and her two free throws at the 10:38 mark left the Guins down just 47-43.

Two Schlegel free throws with 3:16 left got the Penguins to within one for the third time, and YSU finally took the lead on a Middlebrooks triple with 1:18 left. Sarah Hamm scored for the third straight possession for Butler to put the Bulldogs back up 62-61, and Brown's two free throws with 29 seconds left set up the final sequence.

Brierly and McDivitt both matched career highs with 22 and 18 points, respectively. Butler, which came into the afternoon averaging 5.6 3-pointers, hit 12 for the game. Its previous season high for 3-pointers was eight.

YSU shot 57.9 percent in the second half and 46.7 percent for the game. The Penguins were 11-for-22 from the 3-point line but just 10-for-17 from the free-throw line. YSU was outscored 17-8 off turnovers despite committing just one miscue than Butler.

An 11-0 run by Youngstown State in the first half gave the Penguins an eight-point lead, but Butler scored the final 10 points of the half to take a 29-27 advantage into the locker room. Butler was 7-for-17 from beyond the arc in the first half while YSU was 6-for-15.

Both teams were sluggish in the early going, and Butler led 13-9 with 11 minutes left. Tieara Jones had a steal and breakaway lay-up to spark YSU's offense, and the Penguins scored 11 straight points to go up 20-13. A triple by Devan Matkin and back-to-back treys from Brown completed the run.

YSU led by eight twice in the first half, both after Schlegel triples, before Butler made its comeback. The Bulldogs scored the final 10 points of the period and held the Penguins scoreless for the final six minutes. A Haley Howard 3-pointer tied the score with 1:41 left, and she had a put-back bucket with 30 ticks remaining to give the Bulldogs their first lead since 13-11.

Schlegel had nine points to lead YSU, and Brown was 3-for-4 with eight points. Brierly scored 10 of Butler's first 16 points in the opening period but didn't score in the final seven minutes.

YSU goes on the road for the first time since Jan. 21 when they take on UIC on Feb. 9. Tipoff for the contest against the Flames is set for 8 p.m. on Thursday in Chicago.

Courtesy: YSU Sports Information

Def. Coordinator Still Needed at YSU

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:12:00 -0500

The YSU football team is still looking for a new defensive coordinator following the departure of Rick Kravitz from the team.

Coach Wolford said he's done a few interviews over of the phone, but has yet to make a final decision.

"I want someone that's passionate," stated Wolford. "I want someone who understands the standard here. I want someone who is going to appreciate this area and value it."

Coach Wolford says he hopes to have a new defensive coordinator by March 1.

YSU Tennis Opens Spring Schedule

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:49:00 -0500

The Youngstown State women's tennis team opened their spring schedule by winning three matches in a hard-fought 4-3 defeat to IUPUI at the Boardman Tennis Center on Friday afternoon.

YSU won three of the four singles matches that were played and split the doubles matches.

At No. 1, freshman sensation Marta Burak cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 decision over Alisha Cummings. At No. 2, Lauren Hankle knocked off Danielle Haefele 6-2, 6-3 while at No. 3, Carolyn Jesko defeated Shelby Hullett 6-2, 6-0.

Burak and Jesko picked up a win at No. 1 doubles by an 8-2 score over Hullett and Haefele.

Head Coach Mark Klysner was coaching his first dual with the women's team on Friday. He was pleased that his quartet gave it their all.

"I am extremely pleased with the way we played today. For it being our first match of the year, I can't ask for a better effort out of them," Klysner said. "Playing two players short is not an easy thing to do especially mentally but they really perservered through it and showed in the results we did have today."

The Penguins return to action tomorrow when they visit St. Bonaventure.

Singles
No. 1 -- Marta Burak (YSU) def. Alisha Cummings (IUPUI) 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 -- Lauren Hankle (YSU) def. Danielle Haefele (IUPUI) 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 -- Carolyn Jesko (YSU) def. Shelby Hullett (IUPUI), 6-2, 6-0
No. 4 -- Vanessa White (IUPUI) def. Gimena Puppo (YSU) 6-1, 6-3
No. 5 -- IUPUI wins by default
No. 6 -- IUPUI wins by default

Doubles
No. 1 -- Burak/Jesko def. Hullett/Haefele 8-2
No. 2 -- Vanessa Whyte/Abbey Neff def. Hankle/Puppo 8-1
No. 3 -- IUPUI wins by default

Courtesy: YSU Sports Information

"I Heart Penguins"

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:48:00 -0500

The Youngstown State athletic department and YSU Bookstore are teaming up to sell "I Heart Penguins" t-shirts and are looking for fans to Red-Out the Feb. 11 men's basketball game against Valparaiso at the Beeghly Center.

Fans who purchase shirts will have the opportunity to win a wide array of prizes as YSU celebrates Valentine's Day in style. The grand prize winner will receive a special night on the town courtesy of some fine Penguins sponsors.

T-shirts are currently in stock at the bookstore and are available for purchase for $12.99. By purchasing a shirt you will receive a Valentine card. Complete the information card and place it in YSU's Valentine register-to-win box, which is located at the YSU bookstore and will be at the Beeghly Center on Feb. 9 vs. Butler. There is no purchase necessary to enter to win the grand prize that will be awarded at halftime against the Crusaders.

Additional prizes will be available for following the Penguins on Twitter (@YSUsports) and being a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ysusports). Prizes featuring YSU bookstore gift cards, FTD floral gift cards, local movie theatre gift cards and a restaurant gift card will be awarded.

On Friday, Feb. 10, the YSU Bookstore will be drawing three finalists for the Grand Prize. After the drawing, the finalists will be notified that they are eligible to win the grand prize and will be encouraged to attend Saturday's game against Valpo. Pete and Penny will draw the winner at halftime on Saturday, Feb. 11.

The grand prize includes the following: dozen roses, $50 YSU bookstore gift card, $50 restaurant gift card, movie gift card and jewelry or gift card from Komara Jewelers. The other two finalists will receive a gift card to the Bookstore, as well.

Courtesy: YSU Sports Information

YSU's Copley Breaks Pole Vault Record

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:56:00 -0500

Youngstown— YSU senior Johny Copley broke his own school record by reaching a height of 4.80m in the pole vault competition Friday night, day one of the two-day YSU National Invitational. Senior Kaityln Griffith and sophomore Katrina Rettburg also won their respective events.

Men's Results

Copley claimed first place in the pole vault competition with a height of 4.80m; his previous pole vault record was 4.71m, which he set on February 5, 2011.

In the shot put, George Thomas took second, throwing 17.25m, and Benjamin Goodnight finished in fifth, throwing 15.97m.

With a mark of 6.96m, Dorian Davis placed third in the long jump; Dan Skiba came in at eighth with a mark of 6.52m.

Aaron Hartsough and Taylor Monroe each jumped a height of 1.85m in the high jump to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.

In the running events, Austin McLean's personal-best time of 2:32.21 in the 1,000m run was good for fourth place and is the eighth-fastest time in school history.

Women's Results

Griffith took first in the weight throw with a personal-best mark of 18.01m. Freshman Megan Wesner also threw a personal-best 14.23m, which was good for seventh place.

In the high jump, Rettburg finished first with a height of 1.66m while teammate Leanna Hartsough placed third with a mark of 1.60m.

With a mark of 5.53, Ciara Jarrett took fourth in the long jump; Kendall Homan finished eighth with a mark of 5.27m.

Nelly Yegon and Alexis Cooper finished together in the 1,000m race. Yegon placed sixth with a time of 3:12.93 while Cooper was right behind at 3:14.08.

The YSU National Invitational continues Saturday, February 4. Running events will begin at 9:00 a.m. while field events begin at 10:00 a.m.

Courtesy: YSU Sports Information

Swimming & Diving Finishes Home Season

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:39:00 -0500

The Youngstown State swimming and diving team finished up their home season on Friday against UIC at Beeghly Natatorium. Freshman Ashley Dow broke two pool records and junior Casey Hill continued her dominance in the diving events.

The Penguins honored their seniors Nishani Cicilson, Audy Grubbs, Kirstin Walker and Katie Wolf prior to the meet.

On the night, YSU won six events in a 166-133 dual loss to the Flames.

Dow eclipsed two pool records to earn first place in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke clocking a times of 58.61 seconds and 2:06.65 respectively.

Hill finished in first in the one- and three-meter dive with scores of 260.84 and 262.35. With those wins, she earned her 17 and 18 diving wins of the season.

Sophomore Megan Ciampa earned first in the 500- and 1000-yard freestyle with times of 5:20.25 and 10:49.71, respectively. Grubbs finished in second in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:22.00.

Sophomores Laura Paz and Kim Kurtz took first and second in the 200-yard butterfly with times of 2:12.75 and 2:24.02, respectively.

In the 50-yard free, Cicilson was less than a second away from first, earning second place with a time of 25.03 seconds. She also took fourth in the 100 fly.

Junior Sam Roberts finished in second the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke with times of 1:08.48 and 2:26.72.

The Penguins finished in second place in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:51.18. The squad was comprised of Dow, sophomore Angela Diorio, sophomore Laura Paz and Cicilson. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the team of Paz, Grubbs, junior Soriah Davis and Walker finished in second with a time of 1:41.70.

Diorio finished in second in the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:17.06.

Walker and Grubbs captured second and third place in the 200-yard free with times of 1:58.00 and 1:58.98, respectively. Walker also took third in the 100 free (54.66).

In the 1000 free, sophomores Brittany Vigar and Kim Kurtz took third and fourth with times of 11:06.09 and 11:25.03, respectively. Paz earned third place in the 100 fly.

YSU will host its annual Diving Invitational on Sunday at 11 a.m. The next full-team action will be at the Horizon League Championships on Feb. 22 in Brown Deer, Wis.

Courtesy: YSU Sports Information

YSU Men Fall at UIC

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:20:00 -0500

Daniel Barnes and Gary Talton scored 19 points apiece, helping Illinois-Chicago snap a four-game losing streak with a 72-68 win over Youngstown State Thursday night.

Darrin Williams and Hayden Humes each contributed 11 points for UIC (7-15, 3-9 Horizon), with Williams grabbing 11 rebounds and Humes 10. The Flames owned a 40-27 edge on the boards.

All five starters for Youngstown State scored in double figures. Kendrick Perry, coming off a 30-point game at Milwaukee two nights ago, led the Penguins (12-10, 7-5) with 19 points. Ashen Ward scored 14, Blake Allen 12, DuShawn Brooks scored 11 and Damian Eargle had 10 for Youngstown, with Nate Perry's two free throws being the Penguins' only points off the bench.

The Flames trailed 35-29 at the half before shooting 52 percent after the break to take control. Both teams were 25 for 56 from the field overall, or 45 percent.

YSU returns to action Sunday on the road at Loyola. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.

Courtesy: Associated Press