Thursday, December 30
Youngstown, Ohio
1 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
at
Youngstown State
Sylare Starks
Photo by: Rachel Von Art
2021 Comes to a Close for Mastodon WBB at Youngstown State
12/29/2021 10:03:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne women's basketball team will return to Horizon League play for good on Thursday (Dec. 30), as the Mastodons play at Youngstown State to finish up 2021.
Game Day Information
Who: Youngstown State Penguins
When: Thursday, December 30 | 1 PM
Where: Youngstown State | Beeghly Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Youngstown State | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Youngstown State is 10-1 with a 4-0 start to Horizon League play. The Penguins' only loss this year came in a road game at Penn State. YSU has won its four Horizon League games by an average of nine points, with the largest margin being 11. The Penguins are led by Lilly Ritz and Chelsea Olson, who are combining to average 28.3 points per game. Ritz was the HL Player of the Week on Nov. 22.
The Series
The Penguins have a 7-2 advantage in the all-time series against the Mastodons and have won the last four games. The 'Dons' last win came in 2010, which saw four Mastodons score in double-figures, leading to a 73-61 win. The two squads last met in the spring of 2021, when YSU beat the 'Dons in the Horizon League Championship 62-59.
A Win Would...
• Be the Mastodons' first win over the Penguins since joining the Horizon League
• Be the Mastodons' first win over Youngstown State since 2010
• Be the Mastodons' fourth League win, their most since 2013-14
• Tie the most wins against Division I competition in a season since 2015-16
Shooters Shoot
The Mastodons have the second-best 3-point shooting percentage in the Horizon League at 35.8 percent with the second-most makes. This percentage is 41st in the country. The 35.8 percent rate would rank in the top 10 in program history. Last season, the 'Dons were last in the league in both 3-point and overall shooting percentage categories.
In a League of Their Own
Purdue Fort Wayne has three players averaging over 10 point per game: Sylare Starks (13.9 ppg), Riley Ott (12.1 ppg) and Ryin Ott (10.3 ppg). Purdue Fort Wayne is one of two teams in the League to have three players averaging at least 10 points per game.
Pretty Good From the Line
Purdue Fort Wayne is second in the Horizon League and 14th in the country in free throw percentage. The 'Dons are making 78.2 percent from the line, which ranks in the top five in program history for a season mark. Purdue Fort Wayne has five players shooting over 80 percent from the line, led by Aubrey Stupp, who is averaging 90.0 percent on 20 attempts, and Shianne Johnson who is 2-for-2.
Sister Connection
Since her sister Ryin has joined the team, Riley Ott's per game stats have taken a significant jump. Here's how she compares without Ryin (2019-21) to with Ryin (2021-22):
Points: 10.4 -> 12.1
Rebounds: 2.5 -> 3.1
Assists: 2.1 -> 2.4
Steals: 0.9 -> 1.2
Blocks: 0.04 -> 0.2
FG%: 34.4 -> 38.7
3FG%: 28.5 -> 48.3
FT%: 74.8 -> 85.2
Rileeeeeeey for Threeeeeeeeeee!
Riley Ott is shooting 48.3 percent from 3-point range this season (14-of-29). With a minimum of 30 makes, the program's best season average is 46.1 percent, coming from former sharpshooter Trish Fleming (2000-01).
Sharp-Shooting 'Dons
Purdue Fort Wayne has five Mastodons shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range with at least one attempt: Shianne Johnson, Riley Ott, Valerie Clark, Ryin Ott, Shayla Sellers and Sylare Starks. Last year, the Mastodons had no one shoot over 31 percent. As a team, the 'Dons are shooting 35.8 percent, up from 25.0 percent a year ago.
Recent Riley
Over the last four games, Riley Ott has averaged 17.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, while shooting 12-of-24 for 50 percent from 3-point range. She was also 7-of-8 from the free throw line. In her last two outings, Ott averaged 22.0 points on 41.0 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from 3.
Last Time Out
The Mastodons are coming off a 55-53 loss to Indiana State. The 'Dons just missed the final buzzer to send the game to overtime. Riley Ott had a career-high 23 points.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will ring in the new year with a road game at Robert Morris at 1 p.m. on New Year's Day. RMU and the 'Dons split a pair of games in 2020-21.
Game Day Information
Who: Youngstown State Penguins
When: Thursday, December 30 | 1 PM
Where: Youngstown State | Beeghly Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Youngstown State | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Youngstown State is 10-1 with a 4-0 start to Horizon League play. The Penguins' only loss this year came in a road game at Penn State. YSU has won its four Horizon League games by an average of nine points, with the largest margin being 11. The Penguins are led by Lilly Ritz and Chelsea Olson, who are combining to average 28.3 points per game. Ritz was the HL Player of the Week on Nov. 22.
The Series
The Penguins have a 7-2 advantage in the all-time series against the Mastodons and have won the last four games. The 'Dons' last win came in 2010, which saw four Mastodons score in double-figures, leading to a 73-61 win. The two squads last met in the spring of 2021, when YSU beat the 'Dons in the Horizon League Championship 62-59.
A Win Would...
• Be the Mastodons' first win over the Penguins since joining the Horizon League
• Be the Mastodons' first win over Youngstown State since 2010
• Be the Mastodons' fourth League win, their most since 2013-14
• Tie the most wins against Division I competition in a season since 2015-16
Shooters Shoot
The Mastodons have the second-best 3-point shooting percentage in the Horizon League at 35.8 percent with the second-most makes. This percentage is 41st in the country. The 35.8 percent rate would rank in the top 10 in program history. Last season, the 'Dons were last in the league in both 3-point and overall shooting percentage categories.
In a League of Their Own
Purdue Fort Wayne has three players averaging over 10 point per game: Sylare Starks (13.9 ppg), Riley Ott (12.1 ppg) and Ryin Ott (10.3 ppg). Purdue Fort Wayne is one of two teams in the League to have three players averaging at least 10 points per game.
Pretty Good From the Line
Purdue Fort Wayne is second in the Horizon League and 14th in the country in free throw percentage. The 'Dons are making 78.2 percent from the line, which ranks in the top five in program history for a season mark. Purdue Fort Wayne has five players shooting over 80 percent from the line, led by Aubrey Stupp, who is averaging 90.0 percent on 20 attempts, and Shianne Johnson who is 2-for-2.
Sister Connection
Since her sister Ryin has joined the team, Riley Ott's per game stats have taken a significant jump. Here's how she compares without Ryin (2019-21) to with Ryin (2021-22):
Points: 10.4 -> 12.1
Rebounds: 2.5 -> 3.1
Assists: 2.1 -> 2.4
Steals: 0.9 -> 1.2
Blocks: 0.04 -> 0.2
FG%: 34.4 -> 38.7
3FG%: 28.5 -> 48.3
FT%: 74.8 -> 85.2
Rileeeeeeey for Threeeeeeeeeee!
Riley Ott is shooting 48.3 percent from 3-point range this season (14-of-29). With a minimum of 30 makes, the program's best season average is 46.1 percent, coming from former sharpshooter Trish Fleming (2000-01).
Sharp-Shooting 'Dons
Purdue Fort Wayne has five Mastodons shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range with at least one attempt: Shianne Johnson, Riley Ott, Valerie Clark, Ryin Ott, Shayla Sellers and Sylare Starks. Last year, the Mastodons had no one shoot over 31 percent. As a team, the 'Dons are shooting 35.8 percent, up from 25.0 percent a year ago.
Recent Riley
Over the last four games, Riley Ott has averaged 17.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, while shooting 12-of-24 for 50 percent from 3-point range. She was also 7-of-8 from the free throw line. In her last two outings, Ott averaged 22.0 points on 41.0 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from 3.
Last Time Out
The Mastodons are coming off a 55-53 loss to Indiana State. The 'Dons just missed the final buzzer to send the game to overtime. Riley Ott had a career-high 23 points.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will ring in the new year with a road game at Robert Morris at 1 p.m. on New Year's Day. RMU and the 'Dons split a pair of games in 2020-21.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
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