This year’s basketball honoree is living proof that even smaller-sized high schools produce collegiate standouts on the Division I level.
Born February 1, 1996, she is a 2014 graduate of Lordstown High School where she rewrote the Red Devils’ record book.
She finished her career as the school’s all-time leading scorer (1,774 points) and rebounder (1,294), also setting the school standard for most consecutive free throws made.
During a stellar senior campaign, she averaged 17.8 points per fray en route to being named third-team All-Ohio in Division IV.
Voted to the Northeast Inland District first-team by the Associated Press, she was named the Youngstown-area girls’ basketball ‘Player of the Year’ by the Curbstone Coaches Association and was selected to play in the prestigious Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association North-South All-Star game.
As a junior, she was named first-team all-Ohio after averaging 22.5 points and 17 caroms per outing.
She scored the 1,000th point of her scholastic career during her junior season when she hooped 27 points against the Lowellville Rockets.
Named the Northeast Inland District ‘Player of the Year’ in Division IV, she was also named special mention all-Ohio as a sophomore.
A four-time all-conference selection, she also competed in volleyball, and track and field, was named class valedictorian and recognized by the OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) as one of its top scholar-athletes.
Her No. 20 jersey was retired by the school in November of 2018.
She earned a scholarship to Youngstown State University where she played for the Penguins from the 2014-15 through 2018-19 campaigns, starting 89 of the 135 games in which she played as she helped YSU to an 89-71 (.556) overall ledger and three, 20-plus win seasons.
As a freshman in 2014-15, she played in 31 of 32 contests, averaging 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds per outing as the team went 21-11 under then second-year head coach John Barnes.
As a sophomore in 2015-16, the team went 21-13, she started all 34 games, averaged 14.1 points, 7.1 caroms and a career-best 28.7 minutes per fray.
A knee injury during the 2016-17 campaign forced her to the sidelines after just seven games – she started one contest as the team struggled to a 9-21 mark – using a red-shirt season and when she returned in 2017-18 as a red-shirt junior, she played in 31 of 32 games – she started 22 contests – averaged 21.4 minutes per game, hooping 11.6 points while wiping the glass to the tune of 4.5 rebounds per game.
During her final collegiate season in 2018-19, she started all 32 games, helped lead the team to their third 20-plus win season – they went 22-10 – in five years while averaging 12.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per outing.
In five years with the Penguins’ women’s hoop program, she finished her career holding career marks for games played (135) and field-goal percentage (.570).
She joined former teammate Heidi Schlegel and Brandi Brown as the only Penguins to be named All-Horizon League multiple times, earning second-team laurels in both 2015-16 and again in 2018-19.
The only Penguin in YSU history to play in a post-season tournament in four different seasons, she finished her career ranked 11th in points (1,424), ninth in field goals made (539), sixth in free throws made (327), 13th in rebounds (630), fifth in blocks (102) and 13th in games started (89).
Isn’t it ironic that she started 89 games and the Penguins won 89 games during her career!
A second-team Academic All-Horizon League selection as a senior, she was also named to the All-District Academic second-team that same season.
She earned her BS in mechanical engineering degree from YSU in 2018 and is currently employed as a plumbing designer for VP Engineering in Charlotte, North Carolina.
She is the daughter of Troy and Janet Cash and resides in her hometown of Lordstown. She shares her home with her sister, Lauren, and her three dogs Kyrie, Cricket and Ella.
Career Notes: Finished her career holding YSU career marks for games played (135) and field-goal percentage (.570)… Joined former teammate Heidi Schlegel and Brandi Brown as the only Penguins to be named All-Horizon League multiple times… Was the only Penguin to play in a postseason tournament in four different seasons… In YSU history, finished her career ranking 11th in points, ninth in field goals made, sixth in free throws made, 13th in rebounds, fifth in blocks and 13th in games started.
Personal: Earned her bachelor’s degree in engineering in Spring 2018… Currently pursuing her master’s degree… Parents are Troy and Janet… Has a sister (Lauren)… Both of her parents, as well as two of her aunts, an uncle and a cousin, all attended YSU… Was the 2016-17 recipient of the Curbstone Coaches Athletic Scholarship.
High School: Finished her career as Lordstown’s all-time leading scorer (1,774 points) and rebounding (1,294 rebounds)… Also set the school record for most consecutive free throws made… As a senior, averaged 17.8 points to be named Third-Team All-Ohio at Division IV… Voted to the Northeast Inland All-District First Team by the AP… Selected to play in the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association North-South All-Star Game… Named the Youngstown area Girls Basketball Player of the Year by the Curbstone Coaches Association… As a junior, was named First-Team All-Ohio as a junior when she averaged 22.5 points and 17 rebounds… Scored the 1,000th point of her career as a junior against Lowellville in a 27-point effort… Named the Northeast Inland District Player of the Year in Division IV… Named Special Mention All-Ohio as a sophomore… Was a four-time all-conference pick… Also competed in volleyball and track…. Graduated as class valedictorian and was recognized as an OHSA Scholar Athlete.
