Rylee Bess (credit YSU Athletics)
Rylee Bess Records Career-High in Loss at Youngstown State
1/10/2026 3:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Rylee Bess had the best game of her career on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 10), but Purdue Fort Wayne fell to Youngstown State 58-54 in a Horizon League women's basketball contest.
Bess finished with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting and a 6-of-10 effort from beyond the arc. She played 31 minutes off the bench and the was the Mastodons' best offensive option all day.
Saturday's game featured five ties and a pair of lead changes, with the Mastodons leading for 15:59 and the Penguins leading for 17:40.
Youngstown State jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but Purdue Fort Wayne went up 9-6 after a Bess triple. The Mastodons did not trail until the 5:03 mark of the third quarter when Casey Sanotoro hit a pair of free throws. YSU led by as many as eight a few minutes later.
The Mastodons clawed back in the fourth quarter with a triple from Bess and a pair of free throws from Lauren Lee. This cut the Penguins' lead to one. The Mastodons had a possession that could have tied up the game and set it to overtime, but the Penguins forced a turnover and iced the game with a free throw.
Purdue Fort Wayne led in bench points 20-4 with all 20 coming from Bess.
Alana Nelson (13) and Lili Krasovec (10) joined Bess in double-figures. Santoro had 18 points for YSU, paired with 15 points from Sophia Gregory and Danielle Cameron.
Purdue Fort Wayne fell to 11-7, 5-3 in the Horizon League. Youngstown State improved to 12-5, 5-2. The Mastodons will visit Green Bay next week (Wed., Jan. 14) for a battle with the defending league champs.
Bess finished with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting and a 6-of-10 effort from beyond the arc. She played 31 minutes off the bench and the was the Mastodons' best offensive option all day.
Saturday's game featured five ties and a pair of lead changes, with the Mastodons leading for 15:59 and the Penguins leading for 17:40.
Youngstown State jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but Purdue Fort Wayne went up 9-6 after a Bess triple. The Mastodons did not trail until the 5:03 mark of the third quarter when Casey Sanotoro hit a pair of free throws. YSU led by as many as eight a few minutes later.
The Mastodons clawed back in the fourth quarter with a triple from Bess and a pair of free throws from Lauren Lee. This cut the Penguins' lead to one. The Mastodons had a possession that could have tied up the game and set it to overtime, but the Penguins forced a turnover and iced the game with a free throw.
Purdue Fort Wayne led in bench points 20-4 with all 20 coming from Bess.
Alana Nelson (13) and Lili Krasovec (10) joined Bess in double-figures. Santoro had 18 points for YSU, paired with 15 points from Sophia Gregory and Danielle Cameron.
Purdue Fort Wayne fell to 11-7, 5-3 in the Horizon League. Youngstown State improved to 12-5, 5-2. The Mastodons will visit Green Bay next week (Wed., Jan. 14) for a battle with the defending league champs.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Team Stats
Pur-FW
YSU
FG%
.317
.423
3FG%
.258
.200
FT%
.750
.917
RB
31
41
TO
16
20
STL
7
10
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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