Kent State University
8-9 (2-3MAC)
Ohio University
12-4 (3-2MAC)
Defense Downs Division-Favorite Ohio, 68-65
1/14/2017 4:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ATHENS, Ohio – A handful of clichés come to mind after Kent State (8-9, 2-3) traveled down to Athens and beat Ohio (12-4, 3-2) 68-65 in an intense contest Saturday afternoon.
Ohio, the Mid-American Conference preseason favorite in the East Division, lost a single game on home court last year and started this season 7-0, putting together a 29-1 home record dating back to the 2014-15 season.
Meanwhile, Kent State was picked last in the MAC East and won just 21 games total in four seasons leading up to this year. Before this season, the Flashes hadn't won a MAC road game since February 21, 2015. A tenacious defense changed all that and proved Kent State to be a dangerous contender.
"I couldn't be more proud, after how disappointed we were after the Northern Illinois game, to come back here and show some incredible heart by our players," said Head Coach Todd Starkey. "I'm really proud of our effort. It was the best defensive game of the season for us and a heck of a win."
McKenna Stephens scored the first basket of the night before the Bobcats took an early lead. A three from Alexa Golden tied the game at seven before Stephens knocked one down to put the Flashes ahead. Ohio then hit two from beyond the arc to take the three-point advantage back.
Kent State went 0-7 from the field after the first media break, but forced three turnovers in that span of four minutes to trail 18-13 at the end of the opening quarter.
That drought continued into the second until Jordan Korinek grabbed a missed Flashes' shot and put it back up. After a steal, Korinek then did some work down low and got to the line where she made both her opportunities to turn it back into a one-possession game.
Later in the quarter, Megan Carter drove in the paint and connected from the right side of the paint. That was followed by a steal by Korinek and two free throws by Lurken to make it a one-point game, 24-23.
After an empty possession, the Kent State defense picked up another steal, this one by Stephens, which eventually put Lurken back at the line and gave the Flashes the lead.
With less than a minute on the clock, Kent State then committed a turnover and allowed Ohio to take the lead. However, Carter dribbled down the court and once again drove in the lane to lay in a basket at the buzzer to put the Flashes up 27-26 at halftime. Kent State forced 15 Ohio turnovers in the opening twenty minutes with nine steals.
Korinek added to the Flashes' lead to start the third as she made two free throws before a Naddiyah Cross three and another Korinek free throw made it a five-point advantage. Ohio free throws tied the game at 35 but Lurken then made one from the charity stripe to keep the team in front.
With the game tied back up at 38, Lurken made her first field goal of the day, Korinek earned a steal and then Korinek had an old-fashioned three-point play to make it a 43-38 game. At the minute mark of the third quarter, the Bobcats connected on a three to get their first lead in some time, but Lurken reversed that with a layup to make it a 48-47 with one quarter remaining.
The fourth quarter went Ohio's way initially, as they hit a three and a layup. But as the game went all day, any advantage by either team was short-lived. Down by six, back-to-back threes by Lurken and Golden tied things back up at 56 with six minutes to play.
Tied back up at 60, Lurken had a block and Korinek did some more work inside to get back up. A Bobcat turnover gave the Flashes one more as Lurken drove to the lane, drew the foul and made one at the stripe.
An Ohio offensive foul put Carter at the line as she extended the lead to 64-60. Both those late fouls took two of the Bobcats' biggest threats out of the game.
A steal with a minute left in the game gave Kent State possession but they came up empty. Meanwhile, Ohio missed one of two free throws to keep the Flashes up and put the ball in their hands with just 10.2 seconds remaining.
Another trip to the line for Lurken made it a three-point lead. After a timeout, the Bobcats missed a layup and Korinek was there to grab the rebound. On the other end, Golden was then fouled but missed her free throws, giving Ohio one last chance with 1.1 seconds. A shot hurled up was too late as Kent State clinched the victory.
A strong defensive effort all game was key to the victory. The Flashes forced 22 turnovers and scored 17 points off of them thanks in part to 16 steals and three blocks. Kent State shot 36.5 percent from the field but battled to earn trips to the foul line where they went 25-for-34.
Korinek was the team's leading scorer with 24. Lurken, despite starting 0-for-15 from the field, finished with 19 while adding in six rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals. Stephens led the team in rebounding with eight with eight points and three steals. Golden was a persistent pest defensively all day and stole the ball six times.
Kent State will travel to Western Michigan on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game before returning to the M.A.C. Center to host Toledo on Saturday, January 21. Tickets are available at kentstatesports.com or by calling 330-672-2244.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
