Kent State Starts MAC Slate with 76-62 Win Over Miami
1/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State women's basketball team (10-3, 1-0) got the Mid-American Conference slate off on the right foot Wednesday evening at the M.A.C. Center, as the Golden Flashes utilized a late 14-3 run to pull away for a 76-62 victory over Miami (Ohio).
Seniors Jamilah Humes (Saginaw, Mich.) and Taisja Jones (Dallas, Texas) led five Kent State players in double figures in scoring, as Humes had 13 of her game-high 18 points in the second half. Jones finished with 17 points as five players scored in double figures for the Golden Flashes for the third straight home game.
Centers Ellie Shields (Warren, Ohio) and Leslie Schaefer (Verona, Wis.) helped Kent State post a 48-36 advantage in points in the paint with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Guard Tamzin Barroilhet (Sainte Maxime, France) rounded out the quintet with 10 points.
"I thought we played a little bit better in the second half," said head coach Bob Lindsay. "Our offensive execution was better in the second, and I thought that was the difference in the game: our ability to score because of better execution."
The first half featured a see-saw battle between the two squads, as neither team led by more than four points as Miami and Kent State swapped seven leads and were knotted seven times in the first 20 minutes. Miami held a slim 32-30 advantage at the break, thanks in part to 44.4 percent shooting from the field.
The second stanza was more of the same for its first 15 minutes, as neither team could gain traction for a run. For the game, Miami and Kent State traded eight leads along with eight tied scores.
Kent State, who struggled from the three-point range in their last outing at St. Bonaventure, got the lift it needed from long distance from senior Chenel Harris (Mississauga, Ontario). Harris drained a pair of threes in a span of less than three minutes to ignite Kent State's offense. With Harris' second triple with 4:25 to go, the Golden Flashes owned a 65-55 lead.
Harris' three was part of Kent State's 14-3 burst over four minutes late in the game. Barroilhet spun for a nifty reverse layup with 1:25 to go, making it a 72-58 contest.
After shooting under 35 percent in the first half, Kent State righted itself to shoot over 50 percent in the second half to out-score the RedHawks 46-30 in the game's final 20 minutes.
Fouls plagued the contest, as the two teams were whistled for 49 infractions. Miami, who had 27 fouls on the night, had a pair of players foul out during Kent State's late run.
With the victory, Kent State improved to 21-8 all-time in MAC home openers. The win is also Kent State's 12th consecutive home win, dating back to last season.
"I know this is trite, but we play these games one at a time," said Lindsay. "The league is real tough this year in terms of parity."
Miami (8-6, 0-1) was led by Kirsten Olowinski's double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Kent State is on the road for its next two games, starting Saturday, Jan. 8 at Buffalo for a 5 p.m. tilt. Buffalo also started the MAC season with a win, defeating Akron 61-45.
