A 25-4 run spanning both
halves helped Valparaiso rally from a early 13-point deficit to defeat
Youngstown State 66-41 on Thursday evening at the Beeghly Center in Youngstown,
Ohio for the Crusaders’ first road victory during the 2009-2010 campaign.
Betsy Adams
(Monticello, Ind./Twin Lakes H.S.) scored 18 of her career-high 25
points during the run and Valpo’s offense exploded in the second half shooting
65% (20-of-31) from the floor.
“Betsy did a great job making
open shots,” head coach Keith Freeman
said. “When they came out and guarded
her she did a good job taking it to the basket.”
Youngstown State started with the hot hand from the floor, making five
of its first six shots to take an early 12-5 lead four minutes into the
contest.
Crusader turnovers aided the
Penguins’ cause, as 10 miscues allowed the hosts to expand the lead to 22-9
with 6:12 to play before intermission.
Adams helped bring the Crusaders back before halftime. Two straight triples cut the deficit to 24-17
with just over four minutes to play before the break, and her third triple of
the stanza in the final minute closed the gap to four, 26-22, heading into the
locker room.
Valpo committed 13 first half
turnovers, leading to 12 Penguin points, while shooting just 30% (7-of-23) from
the floor in the opening 20 minutes. Youngstown State connected on 35%, but was 0-of-7
from long range at the break.
The Crusaders scored the
first two baskets of the second half to tie the game and Adams
followed with a triple to give Valpo its first lead of the game, 29-26, with
18:15 to play. Ashley Varner (South Bend, Ind./Washington H.S.) followed with a triple to continue
the momentum and Adams added two more to cap a 17-0 spurt, part of a 25-4 run
over the two halves, pushing the advantage to 34-26 five minutes into the
period.
The lead continued to extend
throughout the second half as Valpo finished the game with a 51-19 run after
trailing by 13.
Adams made 10-of-15 from the floor, including 5-of-8 from
three point range to lead three Crusaders in double figures. Lauren
Kenney (Mooresville, Ind./Mooresville H.S.) added 14 points, 12
in the second half, making 7-of-8 from the floor while Varner tallied 10
points.
“I thought in the second half
we played very physical, got to loose balls, and played a lot better
defensively,” Freeman added. “The kids
did a good job moving the basketball.”
Skyler Gick
(Otterbein, Ind./Benton
Central H.S.) pulled down a team-high seven rebounds as Valpo outboarded Youngstown State 42-29, including 23-11 in the
second half. Laura Richards (Connersville,
Ind./Connersville H.S.) dished
out seven assists.
Kenya Middlebrooks led
Youngstown State (0-16, 0-5 Horizon) with 15 points and eight rebounds as the
Penguins shot just 21% in the second half and finished the game just 28%,
including 1-of-12 from three-point range.
“Anytime we go on the road,
shoot well, and play hard, it is a positive,” concluded Freeman.
Valparaiso (5-10, 2-2) will conclude its three-game road trip on
Saturday afternoon as the Crusaders head to Cleveland, Ohio
to battle the Vikings of Cleveland State.
Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CST.
Game Notes: Youngstown
State leads the overall series 14-12 and holds an 8-4 advantage at the Beeghly
Center … this was Valpo’s highest scoring output and first time scoring more
than 52 points since December 8 (Central Michigan, 68) … this is the seventh
straight game holding teams to 62 points or less … Richards assist total and
Gick’s rebound mark were both season highs … Gina Lange (Wyoming, Minn./Forest Lake H.S.) scored a career high
four points.