Kent State University
3-11, 1-2MAC
Bowling Green
7-7, 0-3MAC
Flashes Fire Off 55-48 Win Over Falcons
1/10/2015 4:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State (3-11, 1-2) fought hard on Saturday afternoon to win its first conference game of the season in a 55-48 victory over visiting Bowling Green (7-7, 0-3).
CiCi Shannon was a huge factor in the game, grabbing a career-high twenty rebounds while landing a point short of a career-high in scoring with 16. She also contributed with three blocks.
The Golden Flashes grabbed the opening tip and Jordan Korinek connected on back-to-back buckets to give the home team an early lead. The Falcons used their three-point game to make that lead short-lived, making three prior to the game's first media break.
Kent State stuck in it, though, not allowing Bowling Green to take more than a five-point lead and then coming back to get in front and lead 22-16 at the break.
Later in the second half after the Falcons brought the Flashes' lead to within three points, Naddiyah Cross drained a three to raise the advantage back to six. After the final media break in the game, Bowling Green hit a three to bring the score to 47-44 with 1:57 remaining.
CiCi Shannon then made a layup, missed a foul shot, she was able to grab her own rebound and put it back in to put the Bowling Green deficit back to two field goals.
With less than a minute remaining, the Falcons were forced to foul to put the game on the line. Kent State, leading by four, missed a shot and Bowling Green drove down the court, laid in a basket and made it a 50-48 game with 51 seconds left.
Bowling Green missed two late three-point shots and Shannon rebounded and made free throws to enable Kent State to come away with the victory.
The Flashes had success in the paint thanks to Shannon and Korinek with 22 points, a 12-point advantage over Bowling Green. They also outrebounded 39-29. While Kent State shot 51% in the game, its defense held Bowling Green to just shooting 31%.
Korinek finished with 13 points to match her career-high. She added in six rebounds.
Kent State will take to the road for its next two games. They play Ball State on Wednesday and Northern Illinois on Saturday before returning home on Jan. 24 after a bye.
