KENT, Ohio - Lindsay Shearer (Jr., Minerva, Ohio/Minerva) recorded 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Kent State womens basketball team past the OGBM Legends, 66-61, Monday night at the M.A.C. Center in the first of two exhibition games for Kent State.
Shearer, who scored 19 of her game-high 29 points in the first half, was 9-of-16 from the field with two 3-pointers and 9-of-12 from the free throw line. She was the only Golden Flash in double figures.
Kent State had its offense clicking in the first half and led by as much as 17 points twice en route to a 39-23 lead at halftime. But 13 second half turnovers by Kent State allowed OGBM to creep back into the game, cutting KSUs lead to four points when a layup by former Miami RedHawk Kim Lancaster made it 59-55 with 5:29 to play.
But Shearer and the Flashes made sure not to let this one slip away as on their next possession, Shearer tipped in a Malika Willoughby (Jr.-R, Milwaukee, Wis./Washington) miss and two free throws by Kacie Vavrek (Jr., Bellaire, Ohio/Bellaire) pushed KSUs lead back to eight with just under five to play.
Kent States defense then held OGBM to just two field goals and forced three OGBM turnovers in the final four minutes to seal the win.
Perhaps another bright spot was the play of freshman guard Asheley Harkins (Fr., Saginaw, Mich./Arthur Hill), who added eight points off the bench on three field goals and one 3-pointer. She also added six rebounds and committed zero turnovers in 33 minutes.
Vavrek, Willoughby and Melissa DeGrate (Sr., Amarillo, Texas, South Plains) all added seven points for the Flashes. DeGrate recorded four assists while the quick-handed Willoughby had four steals.
Lancaster led three of her teammates in double figures with 12 points and 11 boards. Angel Mason and former Bowling Green Falcon Lindsay Austin added 11 each.
The Flashes will have one final tune up before the start of the regular season when they play host to Ashland University at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14.
