Kent State University
3-3
Gonzaga
2-2
Turnovers Cost Flashes in Loss to Zags
11/24/2017 11:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LAS VEGAS – Kent State's 20 turnovers were converted into 31 points in a 77-57 loss to Gonzaga in a Play4Kay Showcase game on Friday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
The Bulldogs, which are the seventh-ranked team in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll, applied pressure early and totaled a season-high 16 steals. Gonzaga shot a blazing 81.3 percent (13-for-16) and scored 18 points off eight Golden Flashes turnovers to lead 32-15 after the first period.
"Stanford and Gonzaga are two of the best teams on the West Coast, and we can't make the mistakes that we're making and expect to be in games with these types of teams," said Kent State head coach Todd Starkey. "We have to make sure that we learn from our mistakes and move on because nobody is going to have any sympathy for us. Everybody is trying to win their own games."
Kent State (3-3) outscored Gonzaga in both the second and third quarters and trailed 56-46 heading into the final 10 minutes. A wide open three-point shot was missed in the final minute of the third that would have cut the deficit to single-digits. The Flashes' defense limited the Bulldogs to just 9-for-27 shooting (.333) and caused eight of their 10 turnovers during the middle two quarters.
"I thought we outplayed them in the middle of the game and first part of the fourth quarter," noted Starkey. "But we have to put 40 minutes together if we're going to compete in these types of games. It's great that we are getting these opportunities, and I'm proud of the fact that we fought until the end."
The frontcourt tandem of graduate student McKenna Stephens and senior Jordan Korinek combined for 32 points on 11-for-17 (.647) shooting. Stephens led the Flashes with a season-high 18 points and five rebounds, while Korinek scored 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting and added three rejections.
After shooting just nine free throws on Thursday, Kent State went 21-for-30 (.700) from the foul line against Gonzaga. Stephens led the way with a 7-for-8 performance and junior Alexa Golden shot 6-for-8 and finished with 11 points.
Kent State won the rebounding battle, 32-28, with six Flashes grabbing three or more boards. Junior Merissa Barber-Smith and freshman Monique Smith led the way with three offensive rebounds apiece.
Senior Naddiyah Cross dished out six assists for the fourth time this season.
Freshman Margaux Eibel sank both of her free throw attempts to register her first collegiate points.
The Flashes' final game of the tournament will tip at 3:30 p.m. EST Saturday against Memphis, which fell to DePaul, 81-67, on Friday.
