Game Notes vs. Youngstown State

Horizon League Network

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DETROIT -- The Detroit women's basketball team will play game two of its three-game homestand on Thursday as the Titans look to make it six straight over Youngstown State when the Penguins visit Calihan Hall. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.

With just six games left on conference play, including four at home, Detroit still has a good opportunity to move up in the standings and secure a bye in the opening round of the Horizon League Championships.

Detroit (10-13, 4-8 HL) was in action just once last week falling to Wright State, 75-55. Sophomore Dominique Dixon had a team-high 15 points, her 13th game this season in double figures as well as her 10th in 12 HL contests. Sophomore Yar Shayok registered her ninth double-double of the year - and the 19th of her career - with 12 points and 11 boards, while junior Britney Murphy had seven points, five rebounds and two assists.

Fans that can't make it out can watch the game on the Horizon League Network with Dan York handling the play-by play. CSTV's game tracker will also prove live stat updates. Both links are located on top of the page.

DETROIT VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE
It has been a close series for the most part, but by winning the last five meetings, the Titans have taken a 15-12 lead in the overall series.

During the five-game winning streak, the Titans have scored at least 66 points in each game and are averaging 73.7 points during that span.

The Titans also hold a 10-3 advantage against YSU in the Motor City, including an 80-44 victory on their home court last season.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS
Youngstown State defeated Valparaiso at home last Saturday, 79-76, to move to 4-20 on the year and 2-11 in conference play. YSU was winless last season, but first-year head coach Bob Boldon has the Penguins much improved from 2010.

Sophomore Brandi Brown has moved on top of the Horizon League in scoring at 18.6 points per game, while sitting fifth in the HL with 9.2 rebounds per game. Kenya Middlebrooks is second on the team in scoring at 9.7 ppg., while Tieara Jones is tallying 7.8 ppg., and 5.3 rpg.

LAST TIME VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE
Four Titans netted double figures in scoring and Detroit played some great defense down the stretch as the red, white and blue ended a three-game slide with a 66-57 victory over Youngstown State at the Beeghly Center.

Sophomore Yar Shayok led the way with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Sophomore Dominique Dixon had 15 points, while junior Jalesa Jones and sophomore Cherridy Thornton had 13 apiece.

Detroit led by one, 45-44, when the Titans went on a 9-2 spurt to put some distance between them and Youngstown State.

UDM kept its lead at eight when YSU, just like they did all game, came back to nearly wipe away the Detroit lead cutting it to three, 55-52, with just over eight minutes to go. Detroit ran its lead back to seven, but a Penguin try once again trimmed it to a four, 59-55, with 5:48 left.

The home team was able to get within four on one more occasion, 61-57, but that is when Detroit put the game away holding Youngstown State scoreless for the last 3:34, as YSU was 0-for-7 from the field with two turnovers during that span.

GOOD NUMBERS VS. YSU
A few of the Titans have good career numbers against the Penguins.

Yar Shayok is averaging 13.6 points and 11.0 rebounds in three games against YSU. She has two double-doubles and has been in double digit in scoring in all three games.

Jalesa Jones is tallying 8.6 points, 4.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds in five career games, which includes a 16-point, seven-assist performance last year. She has also netted double digits in scoring in two-straight games.

VALUE THE BALL
Detroit tied its season-low performance for the third time this season with just 10 turnovers against Wright State, its second-straight game with just 10 miscues. Detroit also had just 10 against Butler at home on Jan. 8.

Detroit is currently is 36th in the country in turnovers committing just 15.3 per game.

SHAYOK TOP 20 IN REBOUNDING
Sophomore Yar Shayok has moved into the top 20 in the nation in rebounding according to the latest NCAA statistics, released on Monday.

Shayok's 10.5 rebounds per game tops the Horizon League and is tied for 19th in the nation. Shayok has 14 games this year where she has collected double digit rebounds, including seven in her last eight outings.

In Horizon League play, the 6-1 forward is averaging 11.4 rebounds with nine games corralling at least 10 boards.

JONES NEARING ANOTHER MARK
With her six assists against Valpo on Jan. 6, junior Jalesa Jones became just the eighth Titan in school history to reach 300 career assists.

Her 333 career assists are just 15 behind Katie Solner (2002-06) for seventh in Titan annals.

Last season, the heady point guard put herself in the Detroit record books with 159 assists, the fourth-most in a season at UDM.

WHO IS STARTING
Detroit has used nine different starting line-ups this season. In fact, out of the current active 10-man roster, only freshman Julianna Glanz has yet to make a start this season.

TITANS AMONG HL LEADERS
Detroit has two Titans among the Horizon League leaders as of Feb. 14, led by sophomore Yar Shayok's 10.5 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, junior Jalesa Jones is third in assists averaging 3.9 per game.

In HORIZON LEAGUE GAMES ONLY, Shayok tops the rebounding field at 11.6 per game and is fourth in field goal percentage (.538). Sophomore Dominique Dixon is fourth in scoring at 17.7 points, while Jones is fourth in assists at 3.9 per night.