Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. YSU senior Dena Jarrells gives direction to sophomore Jenna Reppart last week versus WVU Tech. Jarrells has adjusted to the Penguins system and has played a major role of late.
YOUNGSTOWN — There was bound to be a learning curve when Youngstown State’s transfer class of Dena Jarrells, Emily Saunders and Shay-Lee Kirby came to YSU from their respective schools.
Recently, though, it seems those newcomers have turned a corner.
YSU (6-3) is on a five-game win streak and will seek No. 6 tonight as the Penguins host St. Francis (PA), which enters at 0-9. A big part of the recent surge has been the step forward the transfers have taken.
“I think all three of the transfers have really grown in the last month and a half in terms of being comfortable on the court in our offense and defensively with their teammates,” YSU coach John Barnes said. “It’s crucial, because the more comfortable they feel, the better they play. They’re all shooting better, they’re all defending better, they’re rebounding better. We knew coming in we need those three to play a lot of minutes and contribute in a good way if we want to win a championship.”
Jarrells, who joined the Penguins from Chattanooga, tends to agree.
“I feel like these past few weeks especially, we’ve kind of turned the page and kind of formed that (chemistry) everybody was talking about early in the year,” she noted.
That, Jarrells added, came by way of just getting minutes together on the court. Practice helped, she said, but there’s no substitute for game minutes.
“When you get out there, you have to get a feel,” she said.
There also came the adjustments to YSU’s style of play and Barnes’ coaching style. Jarrells mentioned the Penguins run “a lot of plays” and learning the playbook was paramount, and getting used to Barnes’ substitution patterns took time, too.
“The way that he coaches and the subbing, sometimes I feel like we would get down on ourselves,” Jarrells said. “But we would huddle after games and before and during practice, and he’s doing it to make us better. I feel like we’ve really been able to adjust to that these past two weeks. Starting off, I feel like that’s something we struggled with — it was something new to us, being coached in a different way. I think that once we completely turn the page, the second, third and fourth (pages), we’re going to be the team everybody is really talking about.”
For Jarrells, who runs the point when she’s in the game, the challenges have also included being in lockstep with Barnes in terms of plays and game situations. That, she added, meant developing chemistry with her coach.
To do so, the two have had plenty of one-on-one meetings.
“He does expect a lot from me, and I’m just not there yet,” Jarrells said. “We knew it was going to take time, being in a program for three years and then coming into a new one and not knowing really what to expect, just knowing, ‘Hey, I’ll fit in here.’ It’s a big adjustment.”
While Jarrells feels things are still a work in progress, there is tangible growth on her end. Jarrells has played at least 16 minutes in each of YSU’s last three games, including a 12-point, six-assist day against Wright State and an eight-assist performance against Canisius.
Kirby, a transfer from Austin-Peay, has played 20-plus minutes in three of YSU’s last four games, and posted a season-high 13 points against West Virginia Tech on Dec. 6. Saunders, in from Tennessee, played 10-plus minutes each against Northern Kentucky, Wright State and WVU Tech and scored 10 against Tech.
“I feel like all of us are doing what we can, and I think that we’re almost where we need to be,” Jarrells said.
And in those recent wins, Jarrells said the group’s confidence is growing.
“I think confidence has a lot to do with it, too. … We’ve been able to be up by 20, by 30, and (Barnes) has been able to be more lenient with us and leave us in, and it’s helped,” Jarrells said. “It’s helped that chemistry, because being able to play — the longer you’re in, it’s what you need. You need that experience and to be able to stay out there. That’s what we needed in order to turn to that next page.”
Now, the transfers and the Penguins welcome a Red Flash team that Jarrells says is better than its 0-9 record reflects.
“They have played some really strong teams. What we watched on film (Wednesday), I feel like we still need to come out and bring it with everything we’ve got,” she said.
Barnes noted that SFU is balanced in scoring. Filippa Goula averages 8.3 points per game, while Aaliyah Moore scores 8.3 points and snags 9.7 rebounds per contest. Layla Laws also scores above eight points per game at 8.1.
“They’re very good at getting to the basket and to the free throw line,” he added. “They’ve been really close in some games on the road, so they can definitely do it. They’re just trying to figure out how to get over the hump.”
The game is the front end of a double-header, as the YSU men host Southern in the nightcap. Tipoff is slated for 5:15 p.m.
jwhetzel@tribtoday.com
