GAME 16
RMU (7-8 / 1-5 #HLWBB) @ YSU (11-4 / 5-1 #HLWBB)
Thursday, January 12 | 7:00 p.m.
Beeghly Center (6,300) | Youngstown, Ohio
 
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Anthony Romo (pxp), Ron Potesta (analyst), Drae Smith (radio)
Twitter & Instagram: @RMUWBasketball
 
Opening Tip

• The Colonials (7-8) after facing Oakland and Detroit Mercy in Michigan, are headed back down south to face the Youngstown Penguins (11-4). This is the third and final game of the three-game road trip.
• Last time out, RMU fell to Detroit Mercy (1/7), 64-58. Sophomore Alejandra Mastral led the way with 15 points, five steals and four rebounds. Both Mackenzie Amalia and Danielle Vuletich each added 10 points to the box score.
• Freshman Fatim Sarr Ndow earned more playing time, getting eight minutes on the court against Detroit Mercy. Her time played was effective as she posted a career best four points, three rebounds and two steals.
• In the first game of the road trip, RMU lost at Oakland (1/5), 71-59. Sophomore Phoenix Gedeon recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Alejandra Mastral scored 12 points and dished out four assists.
• Up next, RMU will host IUPUI this Saturday (1/14) at 1:00 p.m. in the UPMC Events Center.

 
YSU LINKS
- Live Stats
- Video
- Radio
- RMU Game Notes
- YSU Game Notes
- RMU Athletics Gameday App 

The All-Time Series (Youngstown) – Only about 50 miles apart, these two programs have played 28 times, dating back to 1983. YSU currently holds the advantage with a 21-7 record over the Colonials. RMU's first win against Youngstown came back on January 7, 1988, beating the Penguins 77-63. On three occasions, the Colonials season opener has been against Youngstown State in 1984, 2005 and 2018. Two times in recent history, extra time was needed, as this happened in 2014 and 2018. Under head coach Charlie Buscaglia, the Colonials are 3-5 against the Penguins. His first time against the opposing program was back in 2017, winning 84-52. At home, RMU is 5-9 when hosting Youngstown, and 2-12 at their campus. Throughout this series, RMU is averaging 63.1 points per game, while YSU is averaging 68.5 points per night. Only by a 5.4-point difference, most games have been very close as the winning team beat the other by 10 points or less, 12 times. Sophomore Simone Morris has shown recent success in three games played vs. the Penguins. She's posted 27 points in three games, including two double-digit efforts.
 
Scouting the Penguins – Currently tied for second place in the Horizon League, YSU is 5-1 in conference and 11-4 overall. Youngstown is riding a three-game win streak as they've beaten Purdue Fort Wayne (12/31), Detroit Mercy (1/5) and Oakland in overtime (1/7). Dating back to the end of November, they've won 10 out of 11 games. YSU this season is averaging 70.5 points per game and only allowing 55.7 per contest. The leading scorer for their program is fifth-year forward Lilly Ritz. Ritz is second in the Horizon in points per game (17.3), and first in rebounds per game (10.4). Junior guard Malia Magestro is second on the team, averaging 11.7 points. Senior point guard Dena Jarrells facilitating the offense for the Penguins has a team leading 53 assists on the year. Featured on their roster is senior guard Mady Aulbach who played basketball with junior guard Mackenzie Amalia at Blackhawk High School in Beaver Falls, Pa.
 
MASTRAL MANIA
From Zaragoza, Spain, sophomore guard Alejandra Mastral has been on a tear in recent games for the Colonials. Playing 34 minutes at Oakland (1/5), Mastral tied her career high scoring 12 points and tied her career best in assists with four. The following game at Detroit Mercy (1/7), Mastral played the whole game but two minutes and earned a new career high in points with 15. She also stood out on the defensive side, collecting a career best five steals. Mastral in the past two contests has put together her best stretch of basketball for RMU. In two games she's paced for 27 points, eight steals, six assists and seven rebounds. The Spaniard overall shot 11-for-20 (.550) from the field.
 
CONTINUE THE PLAY
All season, the Colonials have managed to earn offensive rebounds and continue their possession. Phoenix Gedeon ranks third in the Horizon League in offensive boards with 46. Simone Morris owns 32 and center Danielle Vuletich has collected 25 caroms on the offensive side of the court. Continuing the play has led to more second chance opportunities and being fouled in the paint, earning more free throw shots. Morris is currently ranked seventh from the charity stripe shooting 69.6% from the line. Gedeon is right behind her shooting 69.4%. Gedeon's 74 free throw attempts is the second most in the conference. Hosting Cleveland State (12/31), the Colonials scored 13 second chance points and produced 14 at Oakland (1/5).
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Sophomore Phoenix Gedeon owns the second most double-doubles in the Horizon League so far this season with five. She's scored and rebounded in double figures against Waynesburg (11/12), at Wright State (12/2), vs. St. Bonaventure (12/16), Purdue Fort Wayne (12/29), and at Oakland (1/5). Gedeon has led the team in points seven games and pulled down the most rebounds on eight occasions. She'll face off against YSU's forward Lilly Ritz who is tied for first with the most double-double's this season with eight.
 
PASSING THE CENTURY MARK
Gedeon sits with 196 points this season and 295 career points. Amalia owns 279 career points and 91 this season. She's made 94 field goals in her career, making her six away from 100 baskets made as a Colonial. Rebecca Dwomoh has a chance to reach the century mark at YSU as she's two away from 100. Mastral's recent success has boosted her to 197 career points and 92 on the year.

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