YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (Interstat) — The Youngstown State women’s basketball team used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from Wright State and secure a 76-60 victory in Horizon League action Wednesday night at Beeghly Center.

The Penguins, who entered the contest with a 92.8% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, improved to 23-8 overall and solidified their standing near the top of the conference. The Raiders, meanwhile, concluded a difficult regular season with a 10-22 record.

For much of the first half, the game was a tightly contested affair. Youngstown State established an early edge, closing the first quarter with a 20-16 lead behind efficient play from Erica King and Sophia Gregory. Wright State, however, displayed resilience. A 13-point second quarter from the Penguins, hampered by offensive stagnation, allowed the Raiders to claw back. Key baskets from Breezie Williams and a late tip-in from Grace Okih helped Wright State narrow the gap, and the teams entered halftime with Youngstown State holding a narrow 30-29 advantage.

The most important part of the game arrived decisively after the break. The Penguins emerged from the locker room with renewed offensive firepower and defensive intensity, orchestrating a 23-point third quarter that effectively decided the contest. The run was a collaborative effort, but was spearheaded by the backcourt duo of Erica King and Sophia Gregory. King, a guard from Akron, Ohio, heated up from beyond the arc, hitting two critical three-pointers early in the period. Gregory, a 6-foot-2 forward from Alliance, Ohio, facilitated the offense with precision, dishing out multiple assists during the stretch while also contributing timely scores inside.

Youngstown State’s defense simultaneously stifled Wright State, holding the Raiders to just 14 points in the quarter. The Penguins forced several turnovers, converting them into transition opportunities, and consistently challenged shots at the rim, with Paulina Hernandez recording two of her game-high two blocks during this pivotal stretch. By the time the third-quarter horn sounded, Youngstown State had extended its one-point halftime lead to a commanding 53-43 margin.

The Penguins maintained their double-digit advantage throughout the final period, matching their third-quarter output with another 23 points to seal the victory. Wright State, led by Williams’ 14 points and 10-point efforts from both Ellie Magestro-Kennedy and Lauren Scott, could not mount a sustained comeback, never cutting the deficit to single digits in the fourth quarter.

Youngstown State’s balance proved overwhelming. King led all scorers with 19 points, showcasing her range with three three-pointers. Gregory filled the stat sheet with 13 points, six assists and a block in just 23 minutes of action, controlling the flow of the game whenever she was on the floor. Point guard Casey Santoro, a 5-foot-4 sparkplug from Bellevue, Ohio, played a game-high 39 minutes, contributing 12 points and six assists while orchestrating the offense. The Penguins also received valuable contributions off the bench, including eight points from Hayden Barrier and eight points and two blocks from Hernandez.

For Wright State, Maja Dilen added 11 points, but the Raiders struggled to find consistent scoring beyond their top performers. The loss marked the third time this season Youngstown State has defeated Wright State, following a 65-46 win in December and a 78-67 overtime victory in January.

The announced attendance of 2,007 at Beeghly Center watched as the Penguins used their signature second-half execution to turn a close game into a comfortable win, providing momentum as they look ahead to the Horizon League tournament. Wright State’s season, marked by offensive struggles and a young roster, comes to a close with the regular season finale.