Kent State University
7-8 (1-2MAC)
Eastern Michigan University
5-10 (0-3MAC)
Three Flashes Record Double-Doubles in First MAC Victory
1/7/2017 2:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
YPSILANTI, Mich. – Three Flashes recorded a double-double Saturday afternoon as Kent State (7-8, 1-2) posted an impressive 86-67 win at Eastern Michigan (5-10, 0-3) for its first conference victory this season.
"I thought we did a really good job of moving the basketball and we executed, " said Head Coach Todd Starkey. "When we did make mistakes, which are inevitable, we did something about it, we stopped it right then and came back and did something good. That was important for us. Obviously getting a road win in the MAC, anywhere is a tough place to play, is a shot in the arm for us. It will help us with momentum moving forward."
An Eagles' three broke a 10-10 tie in to start the game, but Larissa Lurken answered quickly with a make from just inside the arc. That shot started a 7-0 run that helped the Flashes get in front. Lurken had a hot hand, making 5-of-7 and all three attempts from deep in the first ten minutes to have 13 points. She fed Megan Carter as time wound down and Carter sunk a three as the buzzer sounded for a 25-17 advantage at the end of the first.
The second quarter started with a missed three, but McKenna Stephens was ready to grab her third offensive rebound and put it back in to put Kent State's lead into double digits. The Flashes nearly doubled the Eagles' output in the second quarter as aggressive play made it a 48-29 game at halftime. Lurken was perfect in four three-point attempts to collect 16 points in the opening 20 minutes. Korinek was already over her season average at halftime with 13.
Eastern Michigan came out strong in the third, forcing a Kent State timeout. The Eagles grabbed two steals and converted both into baskets in the opening minute. In juxtaposition of the second quarter, EMU was up 19-10 in the third until McKenna Stephens converted on an old-fashioned three-point play in the waning seconds. Kent State maintained a 61-50 lead with one quarter remaining.
The Golden Flashes took control back in the fourth as they won the quarter and extended their lead to a final 19 points, thanks to a final three with 18 seconds left by Lurken.
The final rebound numbers greatly favored Kent State as they had 51 and Eastern Michigan 30. The Flashes made just under half their shots while sinking two more threes on the same amount of attempts.
Jordan Korinek, Lurken and Stephens were the trio to finish in double-digits in both points and rebounds on the day. Korinek had 21 and 13, Lurken 28 and ten, and Stephens 15 and 11 in the impressive stat sheet. Naddiyah Cross and Carter each had five of the team's 20 assists.
The Flashes return home to host Northern Illinois on Wednesday in a 7 p.m. game at the M.A.C. Center. Tickets are available at kentstatesports.com or by calling 330-672-2244.
