Rockets Outlast Flashes 54-51
2/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
TOLEDO, Ohio - Despite a solid defensive effort, Kent State could not change its MAC road fortunes in a 54-51 to Toledo Sunday afternoon (Feb. 11) at Savage Arena. The Golden Flashes forced 28 Rocket turnovers, but shot just 32 percent from the field.
Toledo (14-10, 8-3 MAC) never led by more than three points in the final 10 minutes of a second half defensive struggle. With four minutes remaining, Toledo sat on a 52-49 lead until Chenel Harris was fouled pulling down a rebound with 37 seconds left. Harris sank both shots of a one-and-one, but Toledo's Naama Shafir hit a runner in the lane with under 10 seconds to play. Trailing by the three, the Flashes in-bounded the ball at half court, but had its second pass tipped away as time ran out. Anna Kowalska scored 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. She went 7-of-11 from the field, while the rest of the Flashes went just 12-of-49. The KSU offense got off to a slow start with just two points in the opening 6:30. Once the offense got started, Jamilah Humes sat the final 12 minutes of the half with foul trouble. The Flashes scored just two points from the line in the first 20 minutes, but got 12 points from Kowalska on six field goals. Jena Stutzman was the Flashes' second highest scorer with eight points. Rachel Bennett grabbed six of KSU's 16 steals.
Shafir paced the Rockets with 13 points and pulled down seven boards. Jessica Williams tallied 12 points, going 4-for-7 from three-point range. Kent State will be back in action next Sunday (Feb. 22) hosting Miami. The Flashes (16-7, 5-6 MAC) and RedHawks sit in a second place in the MAC East. KSU heads back to the M.A.C. Center after going 1-5 in its first six conference road games.
