Youngstown State Finds Groove Early, Outlasts IPFW, 91-81

Sunday, November 13

Fort Wayne, Ind.

2:00 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

0-2

Youngstown State

1-1

Youngstown State

IPFW

Photo by: Lucas Carter

Youngstown State Finds Groove Early, Outlasts IPFW, 91-81

11/13/2011 4:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOX SCORE

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - A career-high 21 points from sophomore Erin Murphy was overshadowed by a strong Youngstown State offensive showing, as the Penguins came out firing in the first half and never looked back, outlasting IPFW 91-81 at the Gates Center in Fort Wayne, Ind. on Sunday.

IPFW falls to 0-2 in the 2011 season, while Youngstown State picks up its first win this season and moves to 1-1.

The Mastodons took an early 5-4 lead, before Rachel Mauk drove the lane and finished with a layup to make the score 7-4 at the 16:26 mark. Unfortunately, it was the last time IPFW was on top.

Youngstown State answered with a three-pointer to even the game at 7-7, then steamed ahead on a 16-6 run to take a 23-13 lead with 8:54 left in the opening half. The Penguins increased its lead to 44-27 with five seconds left until halftime, when Amanda Hyde scored a layup before the buzzer to cut the deficit to 13 points. After 20 minutes of action, Hyde and Mauk led the 'Dons with 10 points each.

The second half featured a similar showing from the visitors, as the Penguins continued to find ways around the Mastodon defense, jumping ahead 58-39 at the 14th minute mark, then taking its biggest lead of the game of 24 points at 67-43 midway through the half.

Led by Murphy's four free throws and a pair of jumpers, IPFW fought back late in the second half and reached within 10 points with 2:55 left on the clock.

The Penguins spread the floor and played keep away with under two minutes left in the contest, forcing IPFW to hammer away fouls. With 18 seconds on the clock, Penguin Libby Ogden went to the line and hit two late free throws to seal the 10-point win.

Murphy's 21 points led the Mastodons, while Hyde finished with 15 and Anne Boese recorded 12. IPFW went 26-62 from the field (41%), while Youngstown State shot an impressive 51% from the floor (29-56), going 12-20 in the second half alone.

The Mastodons will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 15, when they travel to face Big Ten member Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST.

~Dons~