Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. YSU junior forward Paulina Hernandez drives and scores during the first half on Monday against Thiel at Zidian Family Arena.

YOUNGSTOWN — In addition to talent, money and resources, one of the primary contrasts between Division I college basketball and the lower divisions is the size difference on the floor.

The Youngstown State women utilized their height and size advantage to great effect on Monday, as the Penguins tipped off the 2025-26 season by cruising to a 104-33 victory over Division III foe Thiel during the 12th annual School Day Kids game at Zidian Family Arena.

“I really wanted to get a lot out of today, one of it being confidence,” head coach Melissa Jackson said. “I knew that if we played the way that we are capable of playing and do what we do best, hopefully that was going to come to fruition.”

It was YSU’s most points in a game since scoring 106 against Chicago State in 1998, as well as the third-largest margin of victory (71 points) in program history.

The Penguins dominated the Tomcats on the glass, outrebounding them 57-21, while also outscoring Thiel in the paint 56-10.

“Especially in transition, just getting our posts on the floor and sealing them in the right spot,” junior forward Paulina Hernandez said, “just getting it right over, and using our size to our advantage.”

All 12 players on the roster played at least seven minutes, while everyone scored and made at least one field goal.

Eight different players scored at least eight points, as the Penguins shot 52.1% overall from the floor, while limiting Thiel to 21.3% shooting.

“Really excited to see a balanced stat sheet,” Jackson said. “We can score in multiple ways. Obviously, we’ve talked about our posts, but we got some really good 3-point shooters around them, so it allows us to space the floor. It allows us to hopefully not get doubled or digged on. And our posts are good passers once they’re settled in, so it was great to see so much balance.”

Transfer newcomers Hernandez and Casey Santoro each scored 14 points to lead the Penguins. Redshirt senior forward Faith Burch finished with an 11-point, 14-rebound double-double off the bench, while sophomore Sophia Gregory narrowly missed out on a double-double, pulling down 12 rebounds and scoring nine points.

Sophomore Erica King and freshman Brooke Adkins each added nine points, while Hayden Barrier finished with eight. Redshirt freshman Sarah Baker also had six points and nine rebounds.

Redshirt freshman guard Danielle Cameron sustained a season-ending knee injury in the second game last year that doomed the rest of her freshman campaign.

After rehabbing and recovering during the offseason, she returned to the floor for the Penguins, getting the opening day start, scoring 12 points and knocking down three 3-pointers.

“It definitely felt really good,” Cameron said. “It’s been a long road recovering, but I had a lot of really good people around to help me through it. So just the feeling of being back out there with the crowd made it feel so much better.”

YSU started slow in the first half, shooting just 31.8% overall. But from there, the team settled in and pulled away from the Tomcats with their team balance.

“I just think, first game, it was really loud. The kids were definitely screaming their heads off,” Cameron said with a chuckle. “We just definitely had to get rid of the jitters, had to settle in. As soon as we did that, we were really playing by our principals. We were trying to get it in a lot, in-and-out game, and I think that really worked well for us.”

After leading 46-13 at halftime, the Penguins raced ahead to a 16-0 run to open the third quarter. Santoro made a pair of threes, while Gregory, Cameron, Baker and Hernandez all hit baskets during the stretch.

“I thought we came out really strong in that second half,” Jackson said. “We talked a lot about that at halftime, and we made some adjustments. I thought our kids did a good job with the adjustments, but we talked about playing hard and we cleaned some things up. I thought our starters did a really good job of starting that second half, which allowed for a lot more people to play.”

With the season now officially underway, the Penguins now head on the road for a two-game stretch. YSU will visit North Dakota to face the Fighting Hawks on Friday at 8 p.m., then travel to Michigan State on Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m.