Flashes Fall to Bobcats in Overtime
2/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Athens, Ohio - Ohio closed the gap for second place in the MAC East with a 75-71 Valentine's Day victory in overtime against Kent State Wednesday night (Feb. 14) at the Convocation Center. A pair of Lauren Kohn free throws with four tenths of a second remaining in regulation sent the game into overtime. Kohn then sank six-of-six from the charity stripe in OT leading the Bobcats to their fifth win in six games.
Kristin Peoples led all scorers with 19 points, including six in overtime. Kohn struggled in the first half, but went 12-for-12 from the line after halftime, to help bring Ohio (14-10, 7-5 MAC) within one game of second place in the MAC East behind the Golden Flashes (12-11, 8-4 MAC).
Rachel Frederick led four Bobcats in double figures with 15 points and pulled down an impressive 19 rebounds. Ohio shot 89 percent (24-of-27) from the line, while KSU went 16-of-27 from the stripe, including some critical misses down the final stretch of regulation.
After nine early lead changes, the Bobcats took a 35-30 advantage into halftime. Ohio led by as many as nine (50-41) with 11:35 to play in regulation. The Flashes trailed throughout the second half until a three-point play by Kerrie James tied things up at 57 all with 5:56 on the clock.
Two more free throws by James gave KSU its first lead in over 17 minutes, but the Bobcats bounced back and led 62-61 with two minutes remaining. Jamilah Humes buried a jumper from the left side with 1:15 to play to give KSU a one-point edge (63-62).
After pulling down a defensive rebound, La'kia Stewart was fouled and made one of two free throws to put the Flashes up two. On the following possession, Peoples took a charge from Ohio's Jennifer Bushby and Humes went to the line after another Bobcat foul. Humes missed both tosses giving the Bobcats five seconds to go the length of the court for a score.
Kohn drove to the key and missed a runner as the buzzer sounded, but to the surprise of everyone in the Convocation Center, Peoples was called for a foul. With 0.4 seconds put back on the clock Kohn made both free throws to force a third period. Kohn's free throw shooting in overtime combined with a Simone Redd three-pointer was enough for the improbable win.
Ohio connected on 7-of-14 three pointers for the game, while Kent State was just 1-of-7 from behind the arc.
Wednesday marked just the second victory for the Bobcats in the last 26 games of the series with KSU. It was also Kent State's first loss to a MAC East team other than Bowling Green since Feb. 2, 2005.
Stewart tallied her seventh double-double (12 pts., 11 rebs.) of the year and 15th of her career, along with three steals. James finished with 10 points and four assists and Tiffany LaFleur tallied nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks before fouling out in the second half. Sarah Burgess made her return after missing eight straight games, but played for just three minutes.
The Golden Flashes will host the University of Akron Saturday (Feb. 17) at the M.A.C. Center on Senior Day. Tip-off with the rival Zips (9-14, 2-9 MAC) is scheduled for 2 p.m with a Senior Day presentation beginning at 1:45 p.m.
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