DETROIT (1-5-23) - After trailing at halftime by double figures, Detroit Mercy made defensive adjustments holding YSU to only seven third-quarter points after they scored 23 and 28 points in the first and second quarters respectively. However, the first-half deficit was too large to overcome as the Titans fell 77-45 to the Penguins to open a five-game #HLWBB home stand on Thursday night at Calihan Hall. Junior
Irene Murua led the Titans with a team-high 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting and a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line while grabbing six rebounds along with a block and steal defensively.
Sophomore
Akyia Baker added a season-second-best seven points while senior
Imani McNeal had an all-around performance chipping in with six points going 2-for-3 from 3-point range with two rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Freshman
Andrea Chiquemba scored a season-high five points hitting her first career 3-pointer while sophomore
Emma Trawally Porta added four points and four rebounds while posting her league-leading 25th block of the season.
Youngstown State (10-4, 4-1 HL) opened the game on a 13-2 run before freshman
Myonna Hooper and Trwally Porta connected on the Detroit Mercy's (2-12, 0-5 HL) first and second field goals of the game. The Penguins went on to finish the frame with a 25-10 lead.
After YSU opened the second quarter on a 6-0 spurt, the Titans' offense settled in scoring 15 points led by six points from McNeal and Murua. However, the Penguins hit a staggering 9-for-13 (69.2) from 3-point range to take a 53-25 halftime lead.
Detroit Mercy was able to outscore YSU 13-7 in the third quarter after the Titans' defense held the Penguins to just 2-for-12 from the field (16.7%) after they shot 66.7% for the first half. YSU returned the favor in the fourth quarter outscoring UDM 17-8 to close out the game.
Detroit Mercy's five-game #HLWBB home stand continues against Robert Morris on Saturday, Jan 7 at 1 p.m.
