Kent State University
10-10 (4-4MAC)
Northern Illinois University
14-5 (7-1MAC)
Flashes Fall to MAC-Leading Northern Illinois
1/25/2017 10:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DEKALB, Ill. – A tough third quarter for Kent State (10-10, 4-4) would be the deciding factor in a 93-72 loss to conference-leader Northern Illinois (14-5, 7-1) Wednesday night despite McKenna Stephens tying her career best in scoring with 19 points.
Defense was strong in the start for the Flashes. In the six minutes of the game, Kent State forced five turnovers and had two steals to get out to an early 12-8 lead. Stephens had the hot hand in the opening stretch, hitting shots from everywhere on the court for eight before the first media break.
The Huskies would keep things close as they got fouled and the Flashes committed turnovers themselves. Down one, Northern Illinois made two at the free throw line to make it a 15-14 advantage. A Kent State turnover allowed NIU to then complete an old-fashioned three-point play.
Stephens would break that 10-0 run and Larissa Lurken followed with a three to turn it into a back-and-forth contest. Northern Illinois would lead 20-19 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter the Huskies were able to get out to as much as a nine-point lead as the Flashes went 0-for-5 from the field. Lurken drove and got to the line for one and Zenobia Bess followed with a basket to close the gap.
After a delay for an official review, Lurken drove, was fouled and made her free throw to make it a 31-27 game with 2:30 to go until the half. Stephens then added to her total as Northern Illinois was charged with an offensive foul. Kent State missed two threes with less than a minute remaining in the second and found themselves down 36-30 at halftime.
Two quick baskets by the Huskies and four missed shots by the Flashes allowed the home team to get out to their biggest lead of the night, 40-30, as the third quarter got underway. Kent State was forced to call a timeout as Northern Illinois hit a three.
The third quarter would belong to the Huskies and ultimately decide the game. NIU made ten straight field goals and totaled 37 points in the quarter to lead 73-51 with one quarter left to play.
The Golden Flashes outscored the Huskies by a point in the fourth, but the deficit was too large to overcome to result in a loss.
Kent State had seven steals and six blocks in the game but was outrebounded 57-51 and gave Northern Illinois 37 trips to the free throw line. The Flashes hit just two of twenty attempts from outside the arc.
Lurken continued to improve upon her season average with 24 points on the night while adding in six rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Stephens's 19 was accompanied by a team-high seven rebounds. Chelsi Watson also finished with seven rebounds.
The Flashes return home and pick up MAC East play on Saturday when they host Bowling Green at 3 p.m. The contest will be part of a doubleheader as the men's team hosts Central Michigan at noon. Tickets are available at kentstatesports.com or by calling 330-672-2244.
