Kent State University
16-11, 10-5MAC
Bowling Green
7-20, 3-12MAC
Second Half Run Gives Kent State 70-60 Win Over BG
2/22/2017 11:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Kent State women's basketball (16-11, 10-5 MAC) used a 14-0 run in the third quarter to spark a 70-60 win over Bowling Green (7-20, 3-12 MAC) Wednesday at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green. Kent State's fourth straight win gives them sole possession of first place in the MAC East with three game remaining.
Alexa Golden scored the game's first points, getting to the free throw line and knocking down both shots. A block by Larissa Lurken on Bowling Green's next possession led to a layup by Jordan Korinek, making it 4-0 Kent State one minute into the game.
The Falcons would go on a 7-0 run that spanned just over two minutes before Larissa Lurken got on the scoreboard by knocking down a 3-pointer, making the score 7-7. Each team would add a bucket going into the first media timeout tied at nine.
After Bowling Green hit two 3-pointers to go up 14-11 with 1:32 remaining in the first, Megan Carter would score four straight points giving Kent State a 15-14 lead heading into the second.
The second quarter was a back and forth battle with four lead changes and the point differential never going above four points. Carter and Korinek each scored four points in the second as the score at the break was 29-27 in favor of the Falcons.
Shortly into the second half, Bowling Green used a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 39-31 but that's when the Golden Flashes began to flip the script. Merissa Barber-Smith provided a timely spark for Kent State, grabbing two offensive rebounds which led a three from Golden and put-back layup of her own.
After Barber-Smith's layup, Lurken sunk a jumper putting Kent State on top 40-39, their first lead since the middle of the second quarter. Lurken capped off the 14-0 run with two free throws and 3-pointer, giving her nine points in the third quarter alone. The Falcons would add two free throws to close the gap to 45-41 at the end of the third, but four points is the closest Bowling Green would come to Kent State for the remainder of the game.
Korinek earned a bucket and a foul early in the fourth to keep the momentum going for Kent State. Golden added another 3-pointer, followed two free throws by Carter, pushing the Golden Flashes' lead to 53-44 with eight minutes to play. Lurken and Korinek combined to score 12 points over the next six minutes, extending the Kent State lead to 15, its largest of the game.
After a Korinek free throw, the Falcons would add two points before Carter dribbled out the clock, giving Kent State the 70-60 victory.
Lurken led all scorers with 20 points, 17 of which came in the second half. She now has 624 total points this season, moving her past Lindsay Shearer (623, 2005-06) for second-most in single season in Kent State history. Lurken also led Kent State with eight rebounds and three assists.
Korinek turned 18 points on 6 of 13 shooting, while Megan Carter added 14 after making six of nine free throws.
Kent State got the win despite being outrebounded 45-37. The Golden Flashes did however outscore Bowling Green 14-10 on points off of turnovers and 17-13 in second chance points. Kent State's defense held Bowling Green to just 33 percent shooting for the game.
Kent State returns to the M.A.C. Center Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. to face-off against Akron in part two of the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge. Tickets are available at kentstateports.com or by calling 330-672-2244.
