Kent State University
2-4
Western Kentucky University
3-2
Lurken's Career Day Not Enough As Flashes Lose Tough Game in Overtime
11/26/2016 3:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ESTERO, Fla. – Larissa Lurken broke numerous records on Saturday, but it was not enough for Kent State (2-4) to overcome Western Kentucky (3-2) in overtime. The Flashes fell 79-73 in their second game of the Gulf Coast Showcase.
It was slow going at both ends to start the game, as neither team shot better than 25% from the field leading up to the first media break. Both teams then found their rhythm. The Flashes had early success finding Jordan Korinek inside while Lurken matched her six points in the opening quarter as the two combined to lead Western Kentucky 12-10.
Kent State came into the second quarter strong, getting out to a six-point lead. Ali Poole helped the Flashes stay ahead as she hit two free throws and dropped in a three. The Lady Toppers were able to work the game back into a tie before Lurken sank her first three of the day to get back in front 19-22.
As WKU got the lead within a point, Korinek took an offensive foul from the Lady Toppers then did work in the post on the other end to get to the line and sink one. Lurken then blocked a shot and got to the line on a drive as the Kent State defense continued to remain tough. The Flashes held WKU to just 17.6% shooting as they led 25-21 at halftime.
Korinek started the third quarter where she left off, making two free throws then sinking a layup and getting to the line two trips later. Lurken then tied Kent State's career record for made threes, McKenna Stephens made a jumper and Lurken made two from the charity stripe to put Kent State up by 11.
That lead got as large as 14 points before WKU put together a 7-0 run to make it a 45-39 game and force a Kent State timeout with a minute left in the 3rd. The quarter ended with the Flashes leading 47-39.
Once Western Kentucky got the game within three after the 4th quarter media break, Lurken had an old-fashioned three-point play to get back some breathing room. The Lady Toppers tied the game with 2:39 to play after grabbing an offensive rebound and a steal while scoring on both possessions. Another steal and layup gave WKU a 62-60 lead, their first lead since the first quarter.
After making a free throw, Lurken blocked a shot, grabbed the ball and was fouled to get another trip to the line. She put the Flashes back in front, 63-62 before the Lady Toppers made two, and Lurken made a return visit back to go up by one again, as the final two minutes saw the lead be decided at the line.
Western Kentucky had two looks in the final seconds of regulation but could not connect as the game went into overtime tied at 67.
Overtime favored the Lady Toppers as the Flashes had a turnover in their first three possessions as WKU went up 7-0. A Lurken three, to make her the all-time career leader at Kent State in made three-pointers, stopped the WKU run, but the final period went 12-6 in the Lady Toppers' favor as they escaped with the 79-73 win.
Before the game reached overtime, Lurken set a new single-game scoring mark for any player ever at the Gulf Coast Showcase. Her 39 points was a personal career-best, which ranks as the 4th-most points in Golden Flashes' history and the most scored by a single player since Lindsay Shearer in November 2005 when she had 38 against Auburn. 22 made free throws on 25 attempts were both new Kent State single game records. As mentioned, her three in overtime was the 161st of her career, passing Kathy Carroll (1991-94) for the most all-time.
Korinek finished with 19 points. Lurken, Korinek and Chelsi Watson all led with five rebounds each. Naddiyah Cross had five assists.
The biggest factor in the game was WKU's 19 offensive rebounds and its 21 second chance points. They outrebounded 43-31 in total and had ten steals, forcing 17 Kent State turnovers.
The Golden Flashes will finish the Gulf Coast Showcase on Sunday at 11 a.m. They will play the loser of Florida Gulf Coast/George Washington.
