FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Interstat) — Sophia Gregory recorded a dominant double-double with 37 points and 19 rebounds to lead Youngstown State to a 76-71 women’s basketball victory over Fort Wayne on Saturday at Gates Sports Center. The Penguins, who swept the regular-season series, improved to 21-8. The Mastodons fell to 16-12. Gregory, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Alliance, Ohio, played 38 minutes and added three assists and two blocks. Alana Nelson led Fort Wayne with 21 points. Youngstown State’s Casey Santoro contributed 11 points and seven rebounds, while Fort Wayne’s Destiny Macharia scored 15 points off the bench. The Mastodons were projected as favorites by a national metric.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Interstat) — Sophia Gregory delivered a career-defining performance, scoring 37 points and grabbing 19 rebounds to power Youngstown State to a 76-71 victory over Fort Wayne in a Horizon League women’s basketball clash Saturday at Gates Sports Center. The Penguins, who entered as underdogs according to advanced metrics, leaned heavily on their 6-foot-2 center from Alliance, Ohio, to overcome a scrappy Mastodons squad and sweep the season series. Gregory’s monumental double-double, which included three assists and two blocks, was the cornerstone of a victory that improved Youngstown State to 21-8 overall. Fort Wayne fell to 16-12. The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final minute with Youngstown State clinging to a narrow lead. After Fort Wayne’s Destiny Macharia converted a layup to cut the deficit to 71-69 with eight seconds remaining, the Mastodons immediately fouled Youngstown State’s Casey Santoro. The senior guard from Bellevue, Ohio, calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to four. On the ensuing possession, Fort Wayne’s Rylee Bess missed a desperate three-point attempt, and Youngstown State secured the defensive rebound to effectively seal the game. The tense finish capped a contest where the Penguins repeatedly answered Fort Wayne rallies, largely through Gregory’s dominance in the paint. Gregory was relentless from the opening tip, which she won. She scored Youngstown State’s first field goal and consistently provided an answer whenever Fort Wayne threatened to build momentum. Her 19 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass, helped the Penguins to a 44-34 overall advantage on the boards and limited Fort Wayne to just four second-chance points. Her performance was a stark departure from her recent outings, where she had been more of a facilitator and defender, averaging 10 points over her previous three games. On Saturday, she was the focal point, shooting efficiently inside against a rotating cast of Fort Wayne defenders. Fort Wayne was led by Alana Nelson of Springport, Michigan, who scored 21 points. Rylee Bess of Pickerington, Ohio, added 14 points and six rebounds, while Destiny Macharia provided a spark off the bench with 15 points. The Mastodons struggled from the perimeter, making only 4 of 20 three-point attempts, which hampered their ability to keep pace despite scoring 46 points in the paint. Youngstown State’s offense, while not always crisp, was more efficient. The Penguins posted an offensive rating of 96.8 points per 100 possessions, compared to Fort Wayne’s 85.3. Beyond Gregory, the Penguins received key contributions from Santoro, who finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists while playing all 40 minutes, and Sarah Baker of Florence, Kentucky, who dished out seven assists. The win solidified Youngstown State’s position in the upper tier of the Horizon League standings as the regular season winds down. The Penguins have now won three straight and seven of their last eight. Fort Wayne, which had won four of its last five coming in, saw a key opportunity for a resume-building win slip away in the final moments. Both teams return to action Wednesday. Youngstown State hosts Detroit, while Fort Wayne travels to face Milwaukee.

Preview: Youngstown State Penguins at Fort Wayne Mastodons FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Interstat) — A pivotal Horizon League women’s basketball matchup unfolds Saturday at Gates Sports Center as the surging Youngstown State Penguins visit the Fort Wayne Mastodons. The Penguins (20-8 overall), riding high after a decisive 75-55 road win at Northern Kentucky on Thursday, enter with momentum. They have won eight of their last ten contests. Guard Casey Santoro, a key catalyst, is coming off an 18-point performance in that victory and has averaged 14.3 points over her last five games. Fort Wayne (16-11) looks to rebound on its home court after a 71-64 loss to Oakland on Wednesday. The Mastodons have been inconsistent lately, alternating wins and losses over their past six games. Their fortunes often hinge on forward Lili Krasovec, who posted a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds in a win at Detroit on Feb. 14 and scored 24 points in a Jan. 27 victory over Robert Morris. This contest is a rematch of a Jan. 10 clash in Youngstown, which the Penguins won 58-54. In that game, Fort Wayne struggled from the field, shooting just 30.4%. The matchup features a contrast in recent form. Youngstown State’s defense has been stifling, holding opponents under 55 points in three of its last four wins. Fort Wayne’s offense, averaging 73.2 points per game at home this season, will test that defensive strength. Krasovec’s interior presence against Santoro’s perimeter playmaking will be a critical duel. A Youngstown State win would solidify its standing near the top of the league, while Fort Wayne seeks a resume-building victory to enhance its conference tournament positioning. Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Fort Wayne.