YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Down 42-32 with two minutes left in the third, it appeared the 12-1 Youngstown State Penguins were on their way to their 13th league win. But, Brianna Breedy and the Golden Grizzlies locked up, kept fighting and held the Penguins to 10 fourth-quarter points. With the 56-52 win, Oakland improved to 8-4 in the league, 10-9 overall. 

Breedy led Oakland in scoring with 14 points, but seven came during the late-game push. Breedy hit three jumpers, one three, to kickstart the game-winning run. Over the last 12 minutes of game time Youngstown State scored only 12 points, as the Oakland defense held firm against one of the Horizon's best offenses.

The win in the Beeghly Center vaulted Oakland to fifth place in the league, a half game behind both Cleveland State and Northern Kentucky. 

The Golden Grizzlies got off to a red-hot start, taking an early 11-2 lead. The Penguins responded with two threes from Paige Shy, closing the gap to 11-8 midway through the first quarter. Luchenbach and Folley each led Oakland with four points. 

Following those two Shy threes, the Oakland defense clamped up, holding Youngstown to just two more points in the rest of the quarter. Breanna Perry hit a turnaround jumper to give Oakland a five-point lead going into the second quarter, 15-10. 

The Penguins started off the second quarter better, pushing back to kick off the period. The Penguins cut the lead to 15-14 before Oakland regained control. Beatty hit a three to extend the lead to five again.

With the lead still at five, Youngstown State gave Oakland all they could handle, capitalizing off turnovers and chipping away at the lead steadily. With a minute and a half left in the first half, YSU knotted the game at 23.

After two Chelsea Olson free throws, Youngstown took their first lead of the game, 27-25. Breedy hit a free throw, putting Oakland behind by just one. 

The late push from Youngstown kept the game tied at halftime, 27-26. The eight-point swing to close the half was pivotal, providing YSU the chance to regain momentum for the second half. At halftime, Folley led Oakland with seven points. Beatty wasn't far behind, she had six to go along with a team-high three rebounds. 

The Penguins were able to climb back using the offensive glass and capitalizing on turnovers. Oakland lost the turnover battle, 11-7 and gave up seven offensive rebounds compared to their two. The Golden Grizzlies out-shot YSU from the floor in the first half, 45% to 35%. 

The third quarter was a defensive battle to start, as Youngstown took a modest 31-28 lead after five minutes passed. The Penguins then went on a 7-0 run, taking a 10-point lead with two minutes left in the quarter. The YSU offense attacked in transition and pushed the ball inside. 

Oakland responded with four straight after two baskets from Sydney Gouard and Breedy. With a few defensive stops, the Golden Grizzlies trailed by six going into the fourth, 42-36.

Breedy opened the fourth with a three, bringing the YSU lead to just one possession. She hit a mid-range jumper to cut the lead to just one. The Golden Grizzlies defense held strong, holding Youngstown scoreless for two and a half minutes. Breedy had all five for Oakland to kick off the fourth and was the first Oakland player to reach double figures. 

Dean stole the ball, brought it up for Oakland and hit Breedy with a pass, shifting the defense and freeing Beatty for a three, which she drained. That three tied the game at 44, and Dean took the lead back on the ensuing possession with a layup. With four minutes left, Oakland led 46-44.

The Oakland defense held strong still, keeping YSU at 44 as C'Erra Maholmes hit a bank shot to take a four-point lead. 

After YSU took a 49-48 lead, Dean hit three free throws in a row to give Oakland a two-point lead. Dean hit five free throws in a row, going a perfect 5-5 to that point. YSU split free throws after, keeping the Oakland lead at one. Breedy hit a mid-range shot as the shot clock expired, putting Oakland up three. 

Youngstown hit a layup, then after a three bounced off the rim, Gouard pulled down a crucial offensive rebound to give Oakland a chance to ice the game. Oakland called timeout with 4.5 seconds remaining, then Dean converted the first free throw, putting the game at 54-52 with 3.5 seconds left. 

On the Penguins' inbound, the pass went too far for Lily Ritz, and she stepped out of bounds. Beatty nailed two free throws, sealing the win for Oakland over the top-ranked Penguins. 

Next up for Oakland is another week away from the O'Rena. The women's basketball team takes on IUPUI on Friday, Feb. 4 and UIC Sunday, Feb. 6.