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Injuries force YSU to lean on freshman

YOUNGSTOWN — Jen Wendler felt the nervous energy in her 6-foot-2 frame, not a good thing for the Wisconsin native.

The Youngstown State University women’s basketball freshman had the basketball touch her hands in the post. She panicked.

“My first game I was really scared,” said Wendler, whose team plays Saturday at No. 12 Indiana. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. “I wasn’t aggressive and didn’t take it to the hoop a lot and pass it out.”

Things had to change, and in a hurry, for the YSU freshman post.

Mary Dunn, a 6-3, first-team All-Horizon League senior forward, had surgery to clean up meniscus in her knee. When the range of motion returns and the swelling and pain stop, it’ll be time for Dunn, who averaged 17 points in four games, to return. She’s been out since the Nov. 16 Eastern Michigan game.

Emma VanZanten, a 6-4 junior forward, suffered a slight fracture in her foot during the Nov. 20 Akron game.

Neither will be seeing the floor until Horizon League play at the beginning of the year at the earliest.

“It depends how they feel,” YSU coach John Barnes said. “If they don’t feel good, they’re not going to be able to play.”

Redshirt sophomore Amara Chikwe suffered a concussion at the beginning of the year. The 6-1 post cannot participate in any activities until she’s cleared by a doctor.

“Right now, we’re in a holding pattern,” Barnes said.

That leaves Wendler.

She has scored in double figures in two of the last three games and has made 16 of 18 from the foul line in that span.

“It helps knowing if I took it hard to the basket and didn’t fade away, I’d get a foul called,” Wendler said. “That really helped me build confidence shooting and keep making post moves in the post.”

She’s filled the void which YSU has needed in its inside-out game.

“We need that post presence,” Barnes said. “That’s the way we run our offense. For her to be doing so well in Mary’s and Emma’s absences has been great for the team.”

Both injured post players have been key for YSU (5-3), helping the young post player adjust.

“When I’m in the post, they tell me to calm down,” Wendler said. “If you slow down, you can do it. They reassure me in everything I do. If I’m struggling, they’ll be like, ‘you’re in the wrong place on defense.’ If I have a question, I know I can go to them and they’ll always answer it.”

Lordstown native and former YSU standout Sarah Cash has been at practices, helping Wendler adjust.

“It’s really built up my confidence if I go against players bigger than me,” Wendler said. “I’m on the smaller side for a post.”

There are 10 healthy players available for YSU with about three to four freshmen on the floor at one time.

“It’s kind of scary in a way, but exciting because we’re able to get some wins while these young players are getting a lot of experience,” Barnes said. “Hopefully that bodes well for the future.”

Right now, Wendler is thriving in her new role.

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