Kent State University
2-10, 0-1MAC
Central Michigan University
6-6, 1-0MAC
Golden Flashes Can't Hold Off Chippewas' Balanced Attack in MAC Opener
1/3/2015 4:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State (2-10, 0-1) began Mid-American Conference play with a loss, as a balanced attack from Central Michigan (6-6, 1-0) could not be matched. The visitors' starters all netted at least 14 points each in the contest.
The Golden Flashes scored the first basket of the game before the Chippewas went on a 10-0 run. McKenna Stephens broke that streak with a three to make it a 10-5 game early.
Central Michigan then cruised from beyond the arc, making 9-of-16 by the 3:23 media break to increase its lead to 17.
Late in the first half, Larissa Lurken made two threes of her own on back-to-back possessions to bring the game back to within ten. The game remained a ten-point difference, 44-34, at the half with Central Michigan in front.
The difference in the opening half came from the three-point line. Central Michigan entered the break with just one more field goal made than Kent State, but they drained nine from deep versus just four by the Golden Flashes. The Chippewas also had a large advantage on the boards in the first, 19-9. Kent State hung in the game by forcing nine turnovers and scoring 11 points off of those while only committing three turnovers itself.
Kent State's shooting went cold leading up to the first media break of the second half, as they made just 2-of-12 while Central Michigan did not let up, taking a 16-point lead at the 14:28 mark in the closing period.
The Chippewas upped their lead to more than twenty before settling on an 83-62 final score.
Kent State committed only ten turnovers in the game while forcing 18 total, scoring 22 points of of them. They also had 22 assists on 28 field goals. However, the Golden Flashes were outrebounded 44-28 and outscored in the paint 34-18.
McKenna Stephens led the way offensively with a career-best 17 points. Lurken finished with 13. Jordan Korinek led in rebounds with eight. Krista White set a new career mark in steals with six.
Conference play continues as the Golden Flashes travel to take on the Rockets of Toledo on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
