Kent State University
3-10, 0-3
University at Buffalo
10-4, 2-1
Hot Start Cools Off in 77-66 Defeat
1/9/2016 4:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State (3-10, 0-3) was hot out of the gate and opened the game strong, but Buffalo (10-4, 2-1) was able to bounce back to leave the M.A.C.C. with a 77-66 victory on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Flashes came out strong, making four of their first five baskets while the Bulls were held to just one basket in their first five tries. Kent State was also outrebounding 5-0 and leading 14-2 as Buffalo was forced to call a timeout early on.
Kent State cruised along in the first, until about a minute left in the opening period when Buffalo finally found its shot. The Bulls went on an 8-0 run to force a timeout with less than a minute left. A three by Larissa Lurken closed out the first with the Golden Flashes leading 24-13.
A Bulls' 6-point run brought the game within three, 25-22, with the Flashes in front and 4:56 on the clock. A three out of the break tied the game at 25. Alexa Golden sunk a mid-range jumper to end a deadlock and put the Flashes up two. Buffalo answered with a three out of a timeout to take its first lead of the day, leading 30-29 as the teams headed to the locker room at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Bulls pushed forward to grab their biggest lead of the day, 47-40 with two minutes left. Then, Tyra James hit a deep shot to diminish that advantage to five. A steal by James and free throw by Lurken made it a 49-44 game at the end of the third.
Buffalo came out of the 4th quarter media break to net a basket and push its lead up to nine, 53-46, with seven minutes left in the contest. McKenna Stephens made a jumper to bring it back down to seven, but a three from the Bulls' corner made that lead grow to ten.
The Golden Flashes could not break the deficit, falling 77-66.
Buffalo was able to grab 40 rebounds to Kent State's 32. The Bulls also made half of their three-point shots, sinking 11.
Jordan Korinek was Kent State's high-scorer, finishing the game with 19. Lurken had 17 while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds. James had 13 points, six rebounds and a team-high six assists.
Kent State is back in action next Wednesday at Western Michigan. The game is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m.
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