Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Youngstown State University’s Jewel Watkins shoots and scores on a jumper during the second half in the 69-52 win over Clarion on Friday at Beeghly Center.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Youngstown State University women’s basketball team buckled down in the final seven minutes.

The focus offensively and defensively helped the Penguins pull away for a 69-52 win over Clarion on Friday night at Beeghly Center in Youngstown.

YSU (3-0) went on an 11-1 run in the middle of the fourth quarter, creating some separation from the Golden Eagles.

A Xoe Rosalez layup with 6:59 to play triggered the Penguins’ scoring outburst. At the time, YSU held a 48-45 lead, but a free throw by Sarah Baker and a jumper from Jewel Watkins got the Penguins’ offense going. Three straight baskets by Watkins increased the YSU lead to 61-46 at the 3:24 mark.

The Penguins didn’t start as well as they might have liked, trailing Clarion 18-17 at the end of the first quarter.

YSU took the lead with a solid defensive second quarter. The Penguins held the Golden Eagles to 10 points in the frame, and they had seven players score at least one point in a 16-point quarter.

YSU took a 33-28 lead into the halftime break.

Both teams traded baskets in the third quarter, and the Penguins held a 45-40 lead at the start of the fourth.

The Golden Eagles managed to cut the deficit to 48-45 on a layup by Hannah Wilkerson with 7:25 to play. But YSU dug deep and pulled out the win with its 11-1 run to turn the tide.

Watkins led all scorers with 24 points. Rosalez chipped in six points, seven rebounds and four assists, Malia Magestro added 11 points and Faith Burch registered five points and a game-high nine rebounds.

The Penguins will host Mercyhurst on Tuesday as they look to stay unbeaten. The opening tip is scheduled for 11 a.m.