By Teziah Howard / The Jambar
Following a power outage in Beeghly Center, the Youngstown State University women’s basketball team was forced to cancel its match up against the University of North Dakota.
Tipoff was set to begin at 5:30 p.m, but was delayed when the lights in the arena shut off while the teams were nearing play.
First-year Head Coach Melissa Jackson will have to wait until the end of the week to make her YSU debut.
Jackson had high praise for her athletes when asked about their performances prior to the season. Jackson said her players are quick learners and bring excitement to the court.
“They have been an unbelievable group to coach. They have been so coachable and receptive,” Jackson said. “There is a ton of excitement around our program and being in Beeghly Center.”
Although Jackson is new to the program, she is a familiar face in the Horizon League. For the 2023-24 season, she served as assistant head coach for Cleveland State University.
Jackson’s time at CSU was short, but she led the Vikings to a 29-6 overall record that earned them the regular season title.
For the past seven years, the Penguins have showcased a home court advantage, as they have had winning records in consecutive seasons inside Beeghly Center.
In total, Jackson added six freshmen and four transfers to the women’s basketball program, including senior Jewel Watkins and redshirt junior Faith Burch.
Burch transferred from Cleveland State over the offseason. As a member of the Vikings, she played in 35 games and averaged 3.6 points per game with 47.8% from the field, to go along with 3.9 rebounds.
Watkins joins the Penguins from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she played in 28 games. Before Charlotte, she spent two seasons at Coppin State University and was a Second Team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection.
The Penguins will look to lean on their six returners for leadership early in the season.
Graduate-student Malia Magestro returns for her fifth year at YSU. She has been a main factor of the offensive firepower in previous years.
Magestro highlighted her role as a veteran on the team. She said it’s an opportunity to lead by example.
“Now it’s my turn to be the oldest on the team, and I’m really trying to lead and grow this program in the right direction for coach Jackson,” Magestro said.
In the 2023-24 season, she totaled 310 points and 68 rebounds. Magestro was also YSU’s top-scoring guard and second-leading scorer in the Horizon League, averaging 11.8 points per game.
Junior Abby Liber played in every game her first season with YSU basketball as a sophomore. Liber put up 110 points, 85 rebounds and 35 assists last season.
Senior Haley Thierry played in all 32 games of her junior campaign, including 15 games of which she started. Theirry was a main staple in the Penguins’ defense throughout the season, as she recorded 120 rebounds and dished out 61 assists on the season.
Last season, the Penguins were led by their opponents in various categories, including total points per game, rebounds and steals.
With the cancellation of week one’s home matchup against North Dakota, the Penguins will have three more opportunities to showcase their basketball team inside Beeghly Center.
YSU will host Lake Erie College, with Friday’s tipoff set for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 8.
The Penguins will continue their home stint for the following two weeks against St. Bonaventure University and Mercyhurst University.
