Feb. 23, 2008

Vaughn's Career-High 28 Not Enough in Loss to Cleveland State, 82-66

    Youngstown -- Junior Velissa Vaughn scored a career-high 28 points but the Youngstown State succumbed to a hot-shooting Cleveland State squad and dropped an 82-66 decision on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center.

    The Penguins fall to 12-13 overall and 7-7 in the Horizon League while the Vikings, who shot 53.8 percent from the floor, improves to 15-10 overall and 9-5 in the Horizon League.

    With the scored tied at 11-11 in the first four minutes of the game, Vaughn, who went 11-of-20 from the field, hit a jumper and a 3-pointer to give the Guins a five-point edge, 16-11, at the 14:17 mark.

    However, the Vikings used a 15-1 run over the next five minutes to take a nine-point lead, 26-17, with nine minutes remaining in the half.

    Vaughn, who scored 14 points in each half, scored seven of the Penguins' next 11 points, including a 3-pointer and two jumpers, to pull the Guins within two, 30-28, at the 5:10 mark.

    After Cleveland State's Kailey Klein, who scored 24 points, hit a 3-pointer to boost the Viking lead back to five.

    YSU junior Kelsey Gurganus hit a jumper to cut the deficit back down to three, 33-30, at the 3:40 mark, but the Vikings closed out the stanza out-scoring the Guins, 14-3,  to take a 47-33 lead into the lockerroom.

    In the second half, Cleveland State expanded its lead to 18 points within the first two minutes of the half but Vaughn hit a jumper and senior Lauren Branson nailed a 3-pointer to bring the Penguins within 12 points, 56-44, at the 15:49 mark.

    The Guins would not get any closer and the Vikings, who were led by Dominque Butler's 25 points, led by as many as 24 points, 78-54, at the 4:03 mark.

    The Guins continue their three-game homestand against Butler, Thursday, Feb. 28. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m.