YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (Interstat) — A Horizon League women’s basketball matchup featuring two of the conference’s top guards will tip off Tuesday when the Youngstown State Penguins host the Wright State Raiders at Beeghly Center.

Youngstown State (6-3) enters with the stronger overall record and looks to rebound from a 47-56 road loss at Green Bay on Dec. 7. The Penguins are led by guard Casey Santoro, who is coming off a 17-point, 7-rebound performance in that defeat. Santoro has been a consistent force, scoring in double figures in every game this season, including a 21-point outing at Mercyhurst on Nov. 20.

Wright State (5-7) seeks to end a two-game skid after falling 60-65 at Canisius last Friday. The Raiders have relied on guard Olivia Brown, who led the team with 11 points in that loss. Brown has shown scoring versatility, posting 12 points in a win over Indiana-East and 10 points at Ohio earlier in the season.

The Penguins hold a notable home-court advantage, having won decisively in their last two home contests against Akron and Bucknell by an average of 23.5 points. Wright State, however, has struggled on the road, losing five of its six away games this season.

This contest marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams, with the rematch scheduled for Jan. 14 in Dayton, Ohio. Following this game, Youngstown State will travel to Florida International on Friday, while Wright State faces a tough road test at Kentucky on Dec. 19.

The matchup hinges on backcourt play, with Santoro’s high-volume scoring for Youngstown State challenging a Wright State defense that has allowed an average of 68.3 points in its seven losses. The Raiders will need Brown and backcourt mate Breezie Williams, who had 7 points and 2 assists against Canisius, to counter effectively to secure a crucial road victory.