Kent State University
2-9
New Orleans
2-7
Women's Basketball Drops Final Non-Conference Contest 58-55
12/30/2014 9:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Kent State (2-9) stuck with New Orleans (2-7) the whole way but could not pull out the victory Tuesday night. The Golden Flashes dropped their last non-conference game of the season by a score of 58-55.
Kent State trailed slightly for most of the start of the game. Late in the half, Larissa Lurken sunk a three to tie the game at 22 before New Orleans was able to answer and take the slight lead again.
Not much later Lurken would again connect on a three to tie the game another time, now at 27 apiece. On the next possession, Madison Ridout barely missed a shot from beyond the arc and the two teams headed to the locker room in a deadlock.
Fouls did not help the Flashes in the opening twenty minutes. The visitors put the Privateers in the bonus by committing 11 fouls. New Orleans was able to connect on half of its ten opportunities at the line.
With the game still tied in the second half, Jordan Korinek blocked a shot that set up a Melanee Stubbs jumper on the other end to give Kent State the quick lead before that was relinquished on a Privateers' three-point shot.
Down the stretch it seemed that every time Kent State was able to make a shot and get within a point or two, New Orleans would come up with an answer.
CiCi Shannon helped keep the Flashes in the game with an offensive rebound and layup on back-to-back possessions, but the Privateers again answered to go up 47-45 with 7:07 left on the clock.
In the perhaps the deciding play of the game, Naddiyah Cross stole the ball, drove the to basket with 32 seconds left and, down by three, the Kent State bench erupted on the foul call – however, the referees called it a charge and the ball went into the hands of New Orleans.
Things would stay exciting, as Lurken was then fouled close to the three-point arc and was given two chances at the charity stripe with 6.6 seconds remaining in the game. Both shots missed their mark. Lurken was fouled again as time expired sending Lurken back to the line, but a four-point deficit could not be overcome, as the Flashes fell 58-55.
Kent State dominated the boards, grabbing 42 rebounds in the game compared to 27 by New Orleans. Other than that, the numbers were pretty equal across the board. Both teams made five three-pointers, but the Privateers came on ten attempts while the Flashes' shot up 17.
Lurken led the team in scoring with 14 while Stubbs finished with ten. Both Shannon and McKenna Stephens had a team-high seven rebounds.
Mid-American Conference play will begin on Jan. 3 when Kent State returns home to the M.A.C. Center to face Central Michigan. Tickets are available by calling 330-672-2244.
