Kent State University
5-20, 3-11MAC
Bowling Green
9-16, 2-12MAC+
Kent State Hangs on to Best Bowling Green
2/21/2015 7:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Kent State entered the Stroh Center Saturday night, put its foot on the gas pedal and never hit the breaks as the Golden Flashes beat the Falcons 62-58 in an exciting finish.
The win is the first on Bowling Green's home court in exactly eleven years, as Kent State won 71-62 back on Feb. 21, 2004. The win marks the first season sweep of the Falcons since the 2002 conference season.
Larissa Lurken ignited the game with two threes to start off the scoring and Kent State kept ahead of Bowling Green. A Falcons' three with 5:27 to play in the first brought them within a point of the lead at 23-22.
A Mikell Chinn steal and layup then gave Kent State back a three-point cushion. The Golden Flashes led 32-27 at the break.
Kent State picked up the pace in the second with a 14-4 run to put itself comfortably in front of Bowling Green 46-31, forcing the Falcons to call a timeout with 15:09 on the clock.
Bowling Green was not able to come closer than ten points of the lead until it sunk a three with 3:25 to play to make it a 60-53 game. It then became a 60-58 game before Bowling Green turned the ball over with 29.7 seconds remaining.
McKenna Stephens was fouled after the ensuing inbound play and missed both to give the ball back to the Falcons. But another foul gave Stephens back-to-back opportunities at the line with 13.7 left on the clock. She made the second before another Bowling Green turnover with eight seconds left on the clock eventually sent Chinn to the line to seal the deal as she made her second attempt to close the Flashes victory.
Kent State shot an even and impressive 50% in the contest and outrebounded 25-23. Lurken led with 16 points while Stephens contributed with eleven and CiCi Shannon with ten. Shannon led the team with eight rebounds. Chinn matched a career-high with ten assists.
The Golden Flashes host Akron in a PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge game on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game will air locally on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel and nationally on ESPN3. Tickets are available by calling 330-672-2244.
