INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — Green Bay defeated Youngstown State 57-49 in a Horizon League women’s basketball tournament game Tuesday at Fairgrounds Coliseum. The Phoenix used a strong fourth quarter to pull away from the Penguins, who led 28-25 at halftime. Jenna Guyer led all scorers with 21 points for Green Bay. Youngstown State’s Casey Santoro neared a triple-double with nine points and nine rebounds. Green Bay improved to 25-8 this season. Youngstown State finished its season at 24-9.

INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive struggle that typified the Horizon League tournament, the Green Bay Phoenix executed down the stretch to secure a 57-49 victory over the Youngstown State Penguins in a women’s NCAA Division I semifinal game Tuesday afternoon at the Fairgrounds Coliseum. The game, a rematch of two regular-season clashes each decided by single digits, followed a familiar script of physical play and offensive difficulty. Green Bay advanced to the tournament championship game, improving its record to 25-8. Youngstown State’s season ended at 24-9. The most important part of the game unfolded in the final five minutes, as Green Bay transformed a narrow two-point lead into a decisive advantage with a critical 8-0 run. With the Phoenix leading 46-44 and just over four minutes remaining, the Penguins had multiple opportunities to tie or take the lead but were undone by turnovers and a stifling Green Bay defense. The pivotal sequence began when Youngstown State’s Sarah Baker committed a turnover, stolen by Green Bay’s Maddy Skorupski. On the ensuing possession, Skorupski hit a mid-range jumper off an assist from Kamy Peppler to push the lead to four. Another Youngstown State turnover, this one by Casey Santoro stolen by Peppler, led to a Jenna Guyer layup and a foul. Guyer completed the three-point play, and on the next Phoenix trip, Peppler buried a three-pointer off a Guyer assist, capping the run and extending the lead to 54-44 with two minutes left. Youngstown State never recovered, getting no closer than eight points the rest of the way. The contest was characterized by tenacious defense from the opening tip. Both teams struggled to find offensive rhythm, combining for numerous turnovers, blocked shots, and contested attempts. Youngstown State held a slim 28-25 lead at halftime, but the third quarter proved costly. The Penguins managed only 11 points in the period, allowing Green Bay to seize a 40-39 edge heading into the final frame. Green Bay was led by a dominant performance from junior forward Jenna Guyer of Circle Pines, Minnesota. Guyer scored a game-high 21 points on efficient shooting, adding three rebounds and two blocks. Her interior scoring and ability to draw fouls were constant challenges for the Penguins’ defense. Guard Maddy Skorupski of Clarkston, Michigan, provided crucial support with 13 points, six rebounds, and relentless defensive activity, tallying five steals. Point guard Kamy Peppler of Hortonville, Wisconsin, orchestrated the offense with eight assists and six rebounds, hitting a key three-pointer during the game-sealing run. Youngstown State’s effort was spearheaded by the all-around play of senior guard Casey Santoro of Bellevue, Ohio. Despite facing constant pressure, Santoro played 40 minutes, finishing with nine points, nine rebounds, three assists and a block. Forward Paulina Hernandez of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, came off the bench to provide a spark with 12 points and five rebounds in 21 minutes. Center Sophia Gregory of Alliance, Ohio, recorded 11 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. The Penguins’ offense, however, could not sustain consistency. They committed 22 turnovers, which Green Bay converted into 19 points. The Phoenix also controlled the paint, outscoring Youngstown State 32-20 inside. The victory continued Green Bay’s recent mastery in the series, marking their third win over Youngstown State this season following a 56-47 win in December and a 54-51 victory in February. All three meetings were decided by eight points or fewer, underscoring the competitive balance between the programs. Green Bay now moves on to face the winner of the other Horizon League semifinal for an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. For Youngstown State, the loss concludes a season that saw the Penguins finish second in the regular-season conference standings but fall short of their tournament final aspirations.

Preview: Youngstown State vs. Green Bay in Women’s NCAA Basketball INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — A neutral-site showdown with postseason implications is set for Tuesday when the Youngstown State Penguins face the Green Bay Phoenix in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game at Fairgrounds Coliseum. Both teams enter with identical 24-8 records, adding high stakes to this late-season non-conference matchup. Green Bay holds a psychological edge, having won the two most recent meetings, including a 54-51 victory at Youngstown State on Feb. 7. The Penguins, winners of eight straight, are led by standout guard Sophia Gregory. She is coming off a 36-minute, 11-point performance in a 60-55 win over Cleveland State on Monday and has been a consistent force. Gregory’s remarkable versatility was on full display in a Feb. 21 outing at Fort Wayne, where she posted 37 points and 19 rebounds. Youngstown State’s recent success has been a team effort. In the win over Cleveland State, Danielle Cameron added 16 points and Erica King contributed 13. Green Bay, which routed Fort Wayne 73-48 on Monday, counters with its own dynamic guard in Maddy Skorupski. She nearly recorded a triple-double in that victory, finishing with 7 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. Skorupski has been a catalyst all season, scoring 25 points in a narrow overtime loss to Cleveland State on Feb. 11 and dishing 11 assists in a blowout of Milwaukee on Feb. 21. The Phoenix have shown dominance, with a 91-57 win over Milwaukee and an 81-57 victory over Detroit this month, but have also displayed vulnerability in losses to Northern Kentucky and Fort Wayne. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Green Bay is projected as a strong favorite with a 78.20 percent probability to win. However, the Penguins’ current winning streak and the neutral court setting could level the playing field. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 10.