Kent State University
3-15 (1-6MAC)
Central Michigan University
10-8, (5-2MAC)
Kent State Loses Close Contest 65-63 at Central Michigan
1/28/2015 9:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – There's a reason you play the game, and that was shown Wednesday night when 3-14, 1-5 in the conference Kent State went to play the preseason Mid-American Conference favorite Central Michigan at McGuirk Arena.
Despite an 83-62 loss at the hands of Central Michigan to begin the MAC season, the Golden Flashes battled down to the wire and never allowed the Chippewas to get a safe lead. In the end, Central Michigan was able to escape 65-63 as a last-second Kent State shot rimmed out in an exciting matchup.
The Flashes began the game on an 8-0 run, forcing the Chippewas to call a timeout before the first media break. Threes from Melanee Stubbs and Larissa Lurken and a CiCi Shannon layup enabled Kent State to get ahead. Central Michigan then went on a run of its own to close the gap and take the lead.
Kent State would not let the lead get away from them, though, as the game was tied at 24 late in the opening half. The Chippewas went on an 11-2 run to close out the first to take a 35-26 lead at the halfway point.
The Golden Flashes kept the pressure up in the second, bringing the game within four points after a three by Madison Ridout and then as close as three points after a Lurken jumper. Naddiyah Cross then hit one from beyond the arc to make it a 54-53 game with less than six minutes remaining.
Ridout kept it going, sinking another from deep range to again bring the Flashes closer to the lead, this time 58-56 with 3:57 left in the game, forcing the Chippewas to call a timeout.
With just a minute remaining, Lurken again made it a one-possession game on a jumper, forcing yet another Central Michigan timeout as the Chippewas had the ball and the three-point lead with 47.8 seconds on the clock. A botched inbound pass resulted in a Cross steal and layup to make it 63-62.
However, reigning MAC Player of the Year Crystal Bradford worked her magic to score her 31st point of the game to put the Chippewas up by three.
On the other end, Lurken pulled up for a three to tie it and was fouled to keep the excitement going with just one second remaining. After making the first and missing the second, the Kent State bench called a timeout. Another miss and an offensive rebound gave the Flashes the ball; Ridout threw up another three but it bounced off the rim as time expired to allow the Chippewas to escape with the narrow victory.
Kent State turned the ball over 12 times in the first giving CMU 15 points, but improved to have just 18 turnovers by the end of the game. They outrebounded the Chippewas 36 to 32 and outscored them in the paint 28 to 22.
Lurken led the way in scoring with 18 points while Jordan Korinek netted 14 and Cross a career-high ten. Shannon led the team with 12 rebounds.
The Golden Flashes travel to Akron on Saturday at 2 p.m. as the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge comes to the hardwood for the first time this season.
