Kent State Comes Alive in Second Half for 68-62 Win Over Ohio
2/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – The Kent State women's basketball team (19-7, 10-4 Mid-American Conference) found its groove in the second half Wednesday evening against Ohio, as the Golden Flashes out-scored the Bobcats 43-30 in the second stanza to post a 68-62 home victory.
Four players were in double figures for Kent State offensively, led by a 15-point effort by senior Ellie Shields (Warren, Ohio). Senior Taisja Jones (Dallas, Texas) tallied a double-double with 13 points and a team-season high 16 rebounds.
Senior guard Stephanie Gibson (North Canton, Ohio) added 13 points, including 10 at the free throw line, while Jamilah Humes (Saginaw, Mich.) tallied 12 points with a team-best six assists.
"I liked our second half effort a lot better than our first half effort," said head coach Bob Lindsay. "We played really lethargically in the first half. It certainly wasn't our best game of the season, but we got the win, and sometimes you have to win ugly."
Ohio (7-19, 3-10) was paced by Tenishia Benson, who tied a career-high with 27 points. Shavon Robinson added 14 points.
Kent State led by as much as five early on. However, after going two straight games without giving up the lead, Kent State found themselves trailing 32-25 at the half after Ohio clipped off an 8-1 run to end the stanza.
Ohio's lead grew to eight on a three-pointer by Benson with 16:28 left in the second half.
Kent State answered with solid efforts on both ends of the court, holding Ohio without a field goal for over four minutes while going on an 11-3 run. Then, with a three-pointer by Humes with 11:57 to play, Kent State took its first lead since three minutes left in the first half.
The Golden Flashes again held Ohio without a field goal for a four-minute stretch, this time helping for an 11-0 run to give Kent State the lead it wouldn't relinquish.
A late possession by the Flashes didn't seal the win, but gave Kent State a key boost. The Golden Flashes drew out a possession to 50 seconds after a pair of offensive rebounds, and with two free throws by Gibson, Kent State led 61-54 with 2:09 to play.
"We did a good job rebounding the ball in the second half," said Lindsay. "That was probably the most positive thing out of it."
Kent State finished with a 40-28 rebounding advantage, holding Ohio almost 10 rebounds below their season average.
Ohio tried to regain the lead by sending Kent State to the foul line, but the Golden Flashes were 9-of-12 at the charity stripe over the final 2:09 to seal the win. For the game, Kent State went 23-of-34 from the line compared to Ohio's 12 gifters on 14 shots.
Kent State will play its penultimate regular season contest Saturday, Feb. 26 when the Golden Flashes travel to Bowling Green for a noon ET contest that will be aired live on Sports Time Ohio.
