CLEVELAND, Ohio (Interstat) — In a Horizon League clash defined by defensive pressure and a decisive final-quarter surge, the Youngstown State Penguins delivered a significant upset, defeating the Cleveland State Vikings 70-63 in a women’s basketball game Monday afternoon at Wolstein Center.

Entering the contest with a 12-2 record and a dominant 91.4% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, Cleveland State found itself out-executed down the stretch by a resilient Youngstown State squad that improved to 9-4.

The game’s pivotal sequence unfolded in the fourth quarter. After three tightly contested periods that saw the Penguins cling to a narrow 42-38 lead, the visitors exploded offensively. Youngstown State poured in 28 points in the final frame, their highest-scoring quarter of the afternoon, while simultaneously clamping down on the Vikings’ attack. The Penguins’ 9-2 run early in the quarter, capped by a Paulina Hernandez layup off a Sophia Gregory assist with 9:20 remaining, stretched their lead to 51-40 and forced a Cleveland State timeout.

Cleveland State, led by Macey Fegan’s 14 points and Izabella Zingaro’s 14 points and 10 rebounds, fought back valiantly. A Paula Pique three-pointer with 2:09 left cut the deficit to 53-50, injecting life into the home crowd of 404. But each Viking push was met with an immediate answer. On the ensuing possession, Youngstown State’ Casey Santoro, the game’s leading scorer with 18 points, drained a critical three-pointer to push the lead back to six.

The Penguins sealed the victory at the free-throw line in the final minute. Santoro, a 5-foot-4 guard from Bellevue, Ohio, was fouled on a driving layup with 55 seconds remaining and made both free throws. After a Cleveland State turnover, she was fouled again and hit two more, extending the lead to 68-61 with 14 seconds left and effectively ending the contest.

While Santoro provided the closing poise, the Penguins’ victory was a product of balanced contributions and superior efficiency on a afternoon where both teams struggled with ball security. Hernandez, a 6-foot-2 forward from Oak Creek, Wisconsin, matched Santoro’s 18 points, adding a key block. Sarah Baker came off the bench to provide 12 crucial points, and Erica King directed the offense with a game-high 7 assists.

Statistically, the game was a tale of shooting percentages and possession battles. Youngstown State shot 45.9% from the field (28 of 61), outperforming Cleveland State’s 38.6% (22 of 57). The Penguins also held a marked advantage from beyond the arc, hitting 9 of 26 three-point attempts compared to the Vikings’ 5 of 18. Cleveland State won the rebounding battle 40-33, including a 10-6 edge on the offensive glass, and attempted more free throws (21 to Youngstown State’s 8), but could not overcome their 17 turnovers or the Penguins’ hotter shooting hand.

The loss snapped a strong start to the season for Cleveland State, which fell to 12-3 overall. Jada Leonard joined Fegan and Zingaro in double figures with 12 points for the Vikings.

For Youngstown State, the road victory represents a major statement within the conference, proving their capability to win a close, physical game against the league’s top-tier competition. The Penguins weathered an early back-and-forth affair—the first quarter ended tied at 12—and a low-scoring second quarter to take a 23-21 lead into halftime. They maintained that slim margin through the third before unleashing their game-winning run.

Both teams now look ahead to continued Horizon League play. Cleveland State travels to face Green Bay on Friday, Jan. 2. Youngstown State returns home to host Salem on Wednesday, Dec. 31. The intrastate rivals are scheduled to meet again in Youngstown on Sunday, Jan. 25.