Kent State University
Robert Morris
Women’s Basketball Travels to Robert Morris for Non-Conference Finale Tuesday Morning
12/18/2017 6:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
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The Kent State women's basketball team seeks to achieve its first winning non-conference season since 2010-11 when it returns to action Tuesday morning at Robert Morris in a contest slated to tip at 10 a.m. Due to construction to replace RMU's previous arena, the game will be played at the North Athletic Complex Student Rec Center.
The Golden Flashes (6-5) finished final exams last week as part of an eight-day break that followed a demanding stretch of three games in three states over six days. That stretch started with a gritty 65-57 come-from-behind overtime victory at Eastern Kentucky for the sixth victory of the season. The Flashes then lost to Wright State, 72-60, in just the second home contest of the season two days later before holding No. 24/21 Michigan 20 points under its season average in a 54-41 loss at the Crisler Center on Dec. 10.
A win will give Kent State a 7-5 record heading into the Mid-American Conference season, which begins Dec. 30 at Eastern Michigan. The Flashes last had a winning non-conference mark in 2010-11 when they went 9-3 in the non-league slate. That was season also the last time Kent State defeated Robert Morris, a 66-60 win on Dec. 29, 2010 inside of the M.A.C. Center.
In its last game, the Flashes shocked the home crowd at the Crisler Center by jumping out to a 15-5 lead on No. 24/21 Michigan at the end of the first period. Kent State put on a defensive clinic in holding the Wolverines to their lowest point total in a home game since Feb. 8, 2015 and a season-low five offensive rebounds. However, the Flashes struggled to make shots over the final three quarters and had a season-low 33.3 percent field goal percentage on 15-for-45 shooting while committing 21 turnovers. Junior Alexa Golden tallied a game-high 13 points, while senior Jordan Korinek added 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Korinek has been very efficient in scoring a team-high 19.8 points per game. She is shooting 53.7 percent from the floor, including 10-for-20 from the three-point line, and 80 percent at the foul line. She ranks 10th nationally in free throws made (56) and 11th in free throw attempts (70). Graduate student McKenna Stephens leads the team with 6.1 rebounds per game and adds 10.3 points per game. Cross is averaging a career-best in every major statistical category, including 5.2 assists per game.
Scouting Robert Morris
Coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, the Colonials were projected to finish second in the Northeast Conference prior to the season. Robert Morris has matched the school record for non-league victories and enters on a five-game winning streak. The Colonials have already played five home games this season with the lone loss coming in overtime, 64-62, to Bowling Green on Nov. 16.
Robert Morris is strong defensively and allows just 55.5 points per game, which is the 28th-fewest in the country. The Colonials also rank 41 in steals per game (10.9) and 67 in turnovers forced per game (19.3). Offensively, RMU averages 62.5 points and has scored more than 67 points just once. The Colonials are among the nation's worst teams at the free throw with a 58.2 percent conversion rate.
Center Nneka Ezeigbo totaled career-bests with 23 points 15 and rebounds RMU's last game against Clarion. Despite playing only 19.8 minutes per game off the bench, Ezeigbo is the Colonials' top scorer (12.8 ppg) and rebounder (7.3 rpg). Forward Jacelynne Jones adds 8.9 points per game and is second in the NEC in steals per game (2.9). Point guard Honoka Ikematsu (6.9 ppg, 3.0 apg) is RMU's top three-point threat at 42.1 percent (16-for-38).
Series History
• Kent State is 4-5 all-time vs. Robert Morris and has lost three straight in the series.
• The Golden Flashes' victory over the Colonials came on Dec. 29, 2010 (66-60).
• Last season, Kent State rallied from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime, where it was outscored 8-5.
• This will be just the fourth meeting in Moon Township with RMU holding a 2-1 advantage on its home court.
• The Colonials won their last home meeting, 78-44, on Nov. 15, 2011.
FLASHback to Last Meeting
• Kent State fell to Robert Morris, 68-65, in overtime inside of the M.A.C. Center.
• The Golden Flashes trailed by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter and five points with just over a minute in regulation before forcing an extra period.
• Robert Morris scored the first six points in overtime and Larissa Lurken's three-pointer in the closing seconds was off the mark.
• Larissa Lurken led the way with 32 points and 12 rebounds behind a 14-for-20 performance at the foul line.
• Naddiyah Cross added 13 points and four assists for the Flashes.
• Megan Smith paced RMU with 17 points.
• Anna Niki Stamolamprou and Rebeca Navarro added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
TV / Radio
Dave Wilson will have the call on the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel and the game will be broadcast on NEC Front Row.Â
Next Up For Kent State
The Golden Flashes will break for the holidays and return to action on Saturday, Dec. 30 at Eastern Michigan for the Mid-American Conference opener.Â
