Second Half Surge Not Enough in Loss at Houston

Saturday, November 30

Houston, TX

3:30 PM

Kent State University

1-5

University of Houston

2-4

Kent State

Houston

Photo by: David Dermer

Second Half Surge Not Enough in Loss at Houston

11/30/2013 6:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas – Kent State (1-5) stormed out to a 9-0 run to grab the lead after halftime of Saturday's (Nov. 30) game, but ultimately could not hold of Houston in a 44-54 loss in the Flashes' first game in the David Jones Memorial Classic.

"We played well enough to win; we didn't play perfect," said Head Coach Danielle O'Banion. "The positive is that we probably executed today as well as we have all month. The negative is obviously that we didn't do so long enough, well enough to win."

After finding themselves down 19-24 at the half way point, Kent State posted nine unanswered points out of the locker room, including six points by CiCi Shannon in the first four minutes.

"The 9-0 run was two things," O'Banion said, "us offensively executing and defensively limiting them to one shot."

However, Houston slowly worked their way back in to the game. The Cougars worked the Golden Flashes into foul trouble and made the most of it, sinking 11 of their 14 free throws in the second half en route to the win.

Kent State did well down low, recording 32 of their 44 points in the paint and outrebounding Houston 38-32. However, 17 of the Cougars' rebounds came on the offensive end where they capitalized with 17 second chance points. They also forced 25 Kent State turnovers.

Shannon matched a career-high with 14 points and also grabbed eight rebounds. She also had two steals and two blocks. Ashley Evans had her best game this season, netting 11 points and eight rebounds with two assists.

"CiCi got some great opportunities in the paint to start the second half," O'Banion said, "and that's going to be something we continue to refine and focus on because she's good enough to do that and we have players around her good enough to get her the basketball."

Both teams have a quick turnaround as day two of the David Jones Memorial Classic takes place. Kent State will face Stephen F. Austin in a 2:00pm EST game.

The Golden Flashes finish out the non-conference season with four home games in the month of December, beginning with a 5:00pm contest against Niagara on December 4^th, which is part of a doubleheader with the men. Tickets for all games are on sale now at kentstatesports.com.