Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. YSU sixth-year guard Casey Santoro eyes the net and scores on Detroit Mercy's Jasmine Edwards (23) and Kailee Davis (11) in the second half on Wednesday at Zidian Family Arena. Santoro scored eight points as the Penguins' lone senior on Senior Night.

YOUNGSTOWN — It was Casey Santoro night on Wednesday, as Youngstown State sent its lone senior out in style.

Despite trailing Detroit Mercy at halftime, the Penguins exploded to start the second half, using a dominant third quarter to dispatch the Titans 72-60 on Senior Night at Zidian Family Arena.

Throughout the game, YSU’s coaching staff and support staff donned shirts with “Santoro” and her No. 14 on the back. Plus, Santoro took to the floor to a standing ovation before the game, walking alongside her parents, Kory and Betsy, and her brother, Jalen, during the senior day ceremony.

It was all a tribute to the sixth-year senior guard.

“It was just a surreal moment, just taking it all in and obviously really grateful to be that appreciated,” Santoro said while holding back tears during her postgame press conference. “I didn’t know they were wearing those shirts, so that kind of took me back a little bit. But it was a really great feeling.

“(My family) is everything to me. They’ve been there through everything with me, and having them by my side was amazing. I love them so much. … Obviously, I wouldn’t want it any other way on senior day, so I’m glad we took care of business and are focused on what’s next.”

Despite spending just one season with the Penguins, Santoro has left a lasting impact on the program.

She came to YSU for her final season of eligibility after spending her first three years at Kent State and her last two at Florida Gulf Coast. Joining a young team composed mostly of freshmen and sophomores, Santoro has provided a steadying, veteran presence on the court for the Penguins.

“She’s meant so much to this program, to me. Just the belief that she had in coming here for her last year, I will be forever grateful for her,” head coach Melissa Jackson said. “She’s meant a lot to these young players and how she’s led them. She’s led them the right way. We’re reaping the success of a lot of things Casey Santoro has done for us.”

While leading the team in scoring this season at 12.5 points per game, she’s helped guide YSU to a 22-8 overall record, while earning the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League at 15-5. Plus, Wednesday’s win was YSU’s ninth in the last 10 games.

Now, with the regular season in the rearview mirror for the Penguins, they can set their sights on the conference tournament, which begins March 4 with a home game against an opponent still to be determined.

“Best thing about everything is we still get more basketball with (Santoro), right?” Jackson said. “Tried to give her an ovation there at the end of the game. But we’ve got one more home game, so hopefully we get to do that and really celebrate her and celebrate this team. Really proud of what she’s done all year and proud that we were able to get the win and wake up in that second half.”

YSU looked out of sorts for most of the first half. The Penguins trailed Detroit Mercy (5-23, 3-16 Horizon) by as many as five points during the second quarter after the Titans hit three straight 3-pointers to begin the period. By halftime, YSU had cut the deficit to two, trailing the Titans 34-32.

The Penguins regrouped in the locker room and ratcheted up their intensity to start the second half. YSU came out on a run and ended up outscoring UDM 25-7 in the third quarter to take a 57-41 lead heading into the final period.

“We talked about it at halftime. Our communications on both sides of the ball were not where it needed to be,” Jackson said. “We were blowing some coverages defensively, offensively. I didn’t think we were on the same page. I thought our intensity really came out in that third the way that we needed to.”

It’s hard to have an encore after her 37-point, 19-rebound performance last week, but Sophia Gregory gave it her best shot, finishing with her fifth double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

“I think it’s different matchups against different teams,” Gregory said. “Beginning of the year, I wouldn’t score as much as other people would score. So I think it just depends on the matchup, and I guess the matchup recently has pointed the ball towards me.”

The Penguins took advantage of their favorable matchups down low against Detroit Mercy. YSU’s other two posts also finished in double figures, as Sarah Baker had 18 points and Paulina Hernandez had 13.

“I think the matchup was really good [for us],” Gregory added. “I think we struggled a bit in the first half, but then we were able to regroup, figure it out and recognize it.”