Malia Magestro outscored Saint Francis U by herself in the first half, and the Youngstown State women's basketball team went on to defeat the Red Flash 81-41 on Friday evening at Beeghly Center.

Magestro scored all 17 of her points in the opening half to help the Penguins take a 49-13 lead after 20 minutes. That was more than enough of a cushion as YSU's defense limited the Red Flash to 33.3% shooting and forced 20 turnovers.

Youngstown State extended its winning streak to six straight decisions, and it improved to 5-0 at home in 2022-23. YSU is now 7-3 overall, while the Red Flash dropped to 0-10.

Magestro's 17 points came in just 24:12 of action, and that was the most that any Penguin played. All 14 players who dressed saw the floor, and 12 Penguins found the scoring column. Dena Jarrells scored a season-high 13 points and assisted on six baskets without committing a turnover, and Lilly Ritz scored 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

Six players made 3-pointers, including five in the first quarter. YSU finished 11-of-29 from 3-point range, and Magestro and Jarrells each made three. The Penguins had 21 assists on 26 field goals.

Destini Ward led Saint Francis with 15 points, and Semaya Turner added nine.

The Penguins led 7-0 less than two minutes into the game on an early run that featured Paige Shy's 100th career 3-pointer. Shy had five of YSU's seven points in the early going, and the Penguins had another 7-0 run after SFU got on the board at the 6:50 mark. Mady Aulbach's 3-pointer with 3:40 remaining put YSU ahead 14-2, and Jarrells, Megan Callahan, and Magestro made 3s before the end of the period as the Penguins built a 25-9 lead.

Youngstown State scored the first five points and eight of the first 10 of the second quarter to extend its lead 33-11, and the Penguins went on to outscore the Red Flash 24-4 in the quarter to build a 36-point advantage at the break. Magestro had a perfect shooting quarter, going 2-for-2 on two-pointers, 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line.

YSU led by as many as 39 twice in the third quarter on a Jarrells 3-pointer at the 4:34 mark and two free throws by Lindsey Mack with 57 seconds left. The margin was 66-27 at the end of the period, which saw Tenleigh Phelps score eight of YSU's 17 points.

The margin eclipsed 40 for the first time a minute into the fourth quarter on a basket by Jarrells that got her into double figures. The largest lead was 44 points at 76-32 when Haley Thierry made a free throw with 5:11 remaining.

Youngstown State shot 49.1% from the field, and 37.9% from beyond the arc, and the Penguins went 18-for-20 at the free-throw line. YSU outscored the Red Flash 25-4 off turnovers and 9-2 in transition.

Youngstown State will conclude the non-conference portion of its schedule on Dec. 21 as it hosts Mount Vernon Nazarene at 11 a.m. in the Ninth Annual School Field Trip Game presented by Chick-fil-A.

Source:  Youngstown State University