Flashes Earn Convincing Road Win Over Buffalo
1/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Chenel Harris led five Golden Flashes in double figures with a season-high 21 points as Kent State never trailed in a 79-61 victory over Buffalo Wednesday night (Jan. 14) at Alumni Arena. The Flashes made their first 13 free throw attempts, finishing 19-for-20 at the line.
"There were some stretches of the game where we played really well," Head Coach Bob Lindsay said. "Overall the balance was great." Harris began the Flashes' 9-2 run to start the game with a pair of free throws. Harris and Rachel Bennett each went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. Harris, Stephanie Gibson and Jena Stutzman each made a pair of three-pointers in the opening half, helping the Flashes to a cmmanding 44-29 lead at the break. For the second time in three games, Gibson swished a halftime buzzer-beater from just inside the half court line. Less than five minutes into the second half the Flashes built their lead to 22 (55-33) just before the Bulls made a 10-0 run of their own. Buffalo later took the lead down to 10 before with just under five minutes to and Bennett responded with a three. Two minutes later, a three from Rachelle Matthys took the lead back down to 10, but Jamilah Humes made buckets on back-to-back possessions to help KSU pull away for good. "Give Buffalo credit they never stopped playing," Lindsay said of the Bulls run. "For us, that's when our better players needed to step up and we were able to come up with a few more plays than them tonight." Bennett scored all 11 of her points in the second half. Anna Kowalska ran into foul trouble, but still managed 13 points and eight boards in 20 minutes. Gibson had a solid all-around night with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and four steals. Humes also hit double figures (10 points) and added five assists. Matthys led Buffalo with 22 points, including four three-pointers. Buffalo's leading scorer and rebounder on the season, Kourtney Brown was held to just three points and no rebounds. "We figured Matthys was going to play well against us in our zone and she did," Lindsay said. "We were fortunate Kourtney (Brown) didn't get off on the right foot, but I don't think she'll have many nights like this." Harris, Gibson and Stutzman all hit three triples as the Golden Flashes finished 10-for-20 from behind the arc. KSU out-rebounded UB 46-29, its highest board total of the season. With the victory, KSU snapped a five-game losing streak in conference play and improved to 7-1 on the road this season. The Golden Flashes (12-3, 1-2 MAC) return home Saturday to take on Ohio. The 2:30 tipoff with the Bobcats will be the second half of a men's/women's M.A.C. Center doubleheader to be televised on Fox Sports Ohio.
