FAIRBORN, Ohio (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit and a dominant overtime performance, the Youngstown State women’s basketball team outlasted Wright State 78-67 in a Horizon League contest Wednesday night at the Ervin J. Nutter Center.

The Penguins, who led for only 4 minutes and 22 seconds in regulation, saved their best for the extra period, outscoring the Raiders 18-7 to secure the road victory and sweep the season series.

Youngstown State improved to 13-5 overall, while Wright State fell to 6-13.

The game’s most critical sequence arrived in the final seconds of regulation. Trailing 60-57, Wright State’s Ellie Magestro-Kennedy of Stoughton, Wisconsin, hit a deep 3-pointer with 19 seconds remaining off an assist from Breezie Williams to force overtime, capping a late Raiders rally.

That momentum was short-lived. Youngstown State controlled the tip in overtime and never looked back, opening the extra session with a 7-0 run. Sarah Baker, who finished with a game-high 25 points, assisted on a layup by Erica King and then found Sophia Gregory for another basket during the decisive spurt. The Penguins’ defense held Wright State to just 2-of-9 shooting in overtime while committing no turnovers.

The contest was a battle of contrasting styles and efficiency. Youngstown State struggled from beyond the arc, making only 2 of 17 attempts, but compensated by attacking the paint and converting at the free-throw line. The Penguins shot 29 of 66 from the floor overall and a crucial 18 of 21 from the foul line. They also won the possession battle, scoring 78 points on 73 possessions for an offensive rating of 106.9.

Wright State, which shot 25 of 67 from the field and 4 of 17 from deep, managed 67 points on 74 possessions for an offensive rating of 90.4. The Raiders were efficient at the line, making 13 of 15 free throws, but were ultimately undone by 10 turnovers and Youngstown State’s interior presence.

Baker, a 6-foot-2 forward from Florence, Kentucky, was the offensive catalyst for Youngstown State, adding three assists in 34 minutes. She was supported by Casey Santoro of Bellevue, Ohio, who played all 45 minutes and contributed 18 points and three assists. Gregory, from Alliance, Ohio, provided a vital interior presence with 13 points and two blocks, while Paulina Hernandez of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, added 10 points and two blocks off the bench.

Wright State was led by Magestro-Kennedy’s 17 points and two assists. Claire Henson of Germantown, Ohio, scored 13 points, and Williams, from Canton, Ohio, facilitated the offense with a game-high seven assists to go with 12 points. Maja Dilen of Stockholm, Sweden, provided a spark off the bench with 11 points.

The game was tightly contested throughout, featuring 10 ties and 15 lead changes. Wright State took a 35-24 lead into halftime after closing the second quarter on a 9-2 run. Youngstown State chipped away in the third quarter, outscoring the Raiders 19-14, and won the fourth quarter 17-11 to set the stage for Magestro-Kennedy’s dramatic tying three.

Youngstown State’s ability to respond in overtime, particularly on the defensive end and by securing second-chance opportunities with 12 offensive rebounds, proved the difference. The victory extends the Penguins’ winning streak to two games following a win over Fort Wayne last Saturday. Wright State has now lost three consecutive contests.

Attendance was 1,085.

Youngstown State returns home to face IU Indy on Saturday. Wright State continues its homestand against Northern Kentucky, also on Saturday.