March 1, 2008

Karner, Schloemp Pace Guins But Fall to Valparaiso on Senior Day

    Youngstown -- Senior Heather Karner scored a game-high 21 points and senior Jessica Schloemp posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds but the Youngstown State women's basketball team fell to Valparaiso, 70-59, on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center on Senior Day

    The Penguins, who shot just 29.9 percent in the second half, held a three-point halftime lead, 37-34, but Valparaiso's Agnieszka Kulaga hit a jumper and Aimee Litka made a 3-pointer to give the Crusaders a two-point lead, 39-37, at the 18:47 mark.

    The teams battled through three more ties and five lead changes over the next seven minutes before the Crusaders took the lead for good on Whitney Farris's jumper midway through the half. Karner hit a jumper at the 11:29 mark to give the Guins a 52-51lead, their last of the game.

    Valparaiso built its lead to as many as 12 points and Penguins would score just seven points over the last 10 minutes of the game.

    Youngstown State shot 50 percent from the field and made five 3-pointers before the intermission.

    The Crusaders built a nine-point lead, 25-16, after a jumper by Launa Hochstetler with 7:17 remaining.

    YSU rallied with a 13-4 run to knot the game at 29-29, with 1:56 left.

    After two free throws by Hochstetler put the Crusaders ahead, 34-32, with 55 seconds remaining, Schloemp hit a 3-pointer and Tiara Scott made a jumper to put give the Guins a three-point halftime lead, 37-34.
    The Guins visit the Windy City to close out the 2007-08 regular season beginning against Loyola, Thursday, March 4. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. YSU also faces UIC, Saturday, March 8, at 4 p.m.