Kent State University
1-3
University of Minnesota
3-0
Flashes Post Strong Showing in 85-73 Defeat to Minnesota
11/24/2015 8:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio –
KENT, Ohio – Kent State (1-3) had a late lead and battled all the way through the full forty minutes on Tuesday night, but fell just shy of taking down Minnesota (3-0) in an 85-73 game.
The Gophers won the opening tip and started things off with a two early threes then hit six of eight to open up a 29-16 game at the end of the first quarter.
Jordan Korinek was 3-for-3 in the opening 10 minutes, then hit a pair of free throws to start the second quarter and close the deficit to nine points. Chelsi Watson grabbed an offensive board on the next possession and put it back and followed that with a layup to bring the game to 31-24.
Kent State kept the game close for the remainder of the quarter, including when Korinek dropped in a bucket to force a Minnesota timeout as the Gophers' lead had diminished to just five.
That lead dropped even further as Larissa Lurken connected on an old-fashioned three-point play to make it a one-point game in the final seconds of the half. A shot by Korinek rimmed out to send the game to halftime, Minnesota leading 42-41.
The Golden Flashes outscored the Golden Gophers 25-13 in the second to keep the game competitive while Korinek was four points short of her career-best at the break with 14.
The game became tied, and then Korinek put the Flashes in front out of the half with two free-throws. Watson then extended the lead to five after two made buckets. The Kent State lead grew to the biggest of the game late in the third when Tyra James made a layup and Lurken made both of her foul shots to put the Golden Flashes up by eight.
Kent State led by two at the end of the third quarter, but Minnesota came out and made back-to-back buckets to regain the lead. The Golden Flashes stayed right in the game and kept up the pressure, tying the game once again at 66 when Naddiyah Cross fed Keziah Lewis under the hoop.
However, late fouls and made shots on the Gopher end allowed the visitors to leave the MAC Center with the victory.
Kent State's defense had a strong effort with 12 steals and 20 forced turnovers while they committed just 14 turnovers themselves. Minnesota had the better game down low, outrebounding 48-36 and outscoring the Flashes in the paint 46-38.
Korinek hit a career-high in scoring with 22 points on the night with seven rebounds. Cross and Lurken both finished with 13 while Watson contributed with ten and seven rebounds.
The Golden Flashes are back in action on Saturday when they take on Malone in a 2 p.m. contest at the M.A.C. Center. Tickets are available at kentstatesports.com or by calling 330-672-2244.
