“Tonight, like last Wednesday [against Morgan State], was a total team effort,” Stony Brook head coach Beth O’Boyle said. “We did a great job closing out on their shooters and our execution on the offensive end down the stretch was terrific. Hopefully we can carry the momentum from these last couple games to the start of conference play next week.”
Junior Dani Klupenger (Aurora, Ore.) led Stony Brook (3-10) with 11 points while senior Tamiel Murray (Teaneck, N.J.) chipped in with a season-high 10 points and six rebounds. Stony Brook held Youngstown State 16 points below their scoring average and snapped the Penguins five-game road winning strak.
The Seawolves led 43-38 with 7:30 remaining but YSU scored five of the next seven points to close within two with 4:14 left. But junior Gerda Gatling (Woodbridge, Va.) hit one of two free throws with 4:01 left and junior Taylor Burner (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) followed with an easy lay-in to push the Stony Brook lead back to five.
Youngstown State crept back within three and it looked as if they would edge closer as Kelsea Fickiesen forced a Stony Brook turnover and appeared headed for an easy lay-up. But Murray poked the ball away from Fickiesen and SBU picked up the loose ball and called timeout.
Junior Jessica Previlon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) then scored on a put-back on Stony Brook’s ensuing possession to put the game away. Previlon finished with nine points and nine rebounds and freshman Kellie Krueger (Wilsonville, Ore.) had eight points and eight rebounds.
SBU won the battle of the boards 44-35 and held YSU to 22.2 (6-for-27) shooting from three-point range. The Penguins entered the game averaging over eight threes per game.
Stony Brook controlled play right from the start, jumping out to a 20-11 lead behind seven early points from Previlon. The Seawolves hit eight of their first 14 shots and forced YSU to miss 18 of their first 22 field goal attempts including 12 of their first 13 shots from three.
Youngstown State answered back with a 10-3 run to get within 23-21 before Klupenger knocked down her second three of the half with under a left minute to push the SBU lead back to five.
Brandi Brown followed with two free throws for Youngstown as Stony Brook went into the break with a 26-23 lead.
SBU led 37-31 at the midway point of the second half following a short jumper from Murray before Brown converted a three-point play to trim the Seawolves lead to three.
Klupenger earned America East Player of the Game honors for the Seawolves. Brown led YSU with 12 points and 18 rebounds.
The Seawolves return to action on Monday, opening America East play at Vermont. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
