Kent State University
5-4
Wright State University
4-3
Kent State Takes 79-69 Road Win at Wright State
12/7/2016 9:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DAYTON, Ohio – Kent State (5-4) held off a late run by Wright State (4-3) on Wednesday night to leave the Nutter Center with a 79-69 victory. The road win is the biggest since November 16, 2010 when the Flashes beat Northeastern 71-53. The team has not won a road game by more than ten points since, until Wednesday night's fine overall performance.
"There are times that we are doing well and then we get away from what's working," said Head Coach Todd Starkey. "That's a good Wright State team. We knew it was going to be difficult and we knew down the stretch that they were going to come at us and they did. I was really proud of the way we finished the game out. We made enough good plays to keep them at bay. I'm happy to come away with the win."
Jordan Korinek got out to a hot start as she went 5-for-5 in the opening ten minutes and grabbed 11 points in seven minutes on the floor to help the Flashes to a 20-13 lead at the end of the first. Defensively, the team held the Raiders off their mark as they missed on all seven of their three-point attempts.
A strong spurt to begin the second half extended Kent State's lead into double-digits. Ali Poole sunk her second three of the game to get the scoring started for the second-straight period. Then McKenna Stephens was able to grab an offensive rebound and was fouled on the way back up as she then connected on a free throw. Naddiyah Cross stole the ball during the next Wright State possession and fed Poole down low to force a Raiders' timeout.
Wright State was unable to get any momentum after the timeout as Larissa Lurken missed a three, Chelsi Watson grabbed the miss and fed it back to her for a make from the perimeter to push the Kent State lead to 14.
Poole, in her first career start, matched Korinek's early 11 points with time still on the clock in the second. She was good on her first three attempts from beyond the arc. With seconds left in the second, Poole hit another high-arcing three-point shot as the Flashes took a 42-22 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Kent State was able to remain in control of the game as the trio of Lurken, Poole and Korinek continued to sink shots in the third quarter. In the fourth, the home crowd got the Raiders fired up as they were able to diminish the Flashes' 20-point lead to eight with 2:30 remaining in the game. Lurken stopped that run as she connected on an old-fashioned three-point play and Cross forced a violation to put the ball back in the Flashes' hands.
With 53 seconds left, Wright State stole the ball but then was swatted on the other end. However, a second consecutive three made it a five-point game, 74-69, with 40 seconds left on the clock. After a timeout, Cross was fouled, made her first shot, then Korinek grabbed the offensive board and threw it out to Cross who was fouled again and sunk another free throw.
A turnover by Wright State with 22 seconds left, down 76-69, sealed the Kent State victory as Cross was sent to the line again where she was good for one.
The Flashes shot very well in the win, making 52.9 percent and eight of their 12 attempts from beyond the arc. Their defense held the Raiders to 37.5 percent shooting in the game and a 5-for-20 three-point performance. Kent State also outrebounded 37-31.
Lurken led all in scoring with 23. Korinek added in a nice game with 21. In her first career start, Poole finished a perfect 5-for-5 from three and totaled a career-high 19 points. Chelsi Watson led the team with seven rebounds. Cross also had a nice game with nine assists versus just two turnovers. In five minutes played, Merissa Barber-Smith had four rebounds and a steal.
The team will return home on Saturday in a 5 p.m. contest against Youngstown State as part of a double-header with the men's team. Tickets are available at kentstatesports.com or by calling 330-672-2244.
