Kent State University
18-11, 12-5MAC
Miami University (OH)
10-20, 4-13MAC
Women's Basketball Secures MAC East Title
3/1/2017 10:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
OXFORD, Ohio – For the first time since the 2004-05 season, Kent State women's basketball can call itself Mid-American Conference East Division Champions.
The Golden Flashes went down to Miami and took a commanding 78-51 victory to claim the title Wednesday night. With their 18th win this season, the team has matched their win total from the three previous seasons combined. 12 conference victories surpasses the team's total MAC wins in the past four years.
"I've never been a part of anything like this," said Head Coach Todd Starkey. "I've won some championships before as a coach, I've had some great runs. To see what this group, from day one when we got here and the metamorphosis that's taken place and where we are now – I certainly didn't expect it.
"I wanted to bring a championship mentality here and they just bought in to everything we said," Starkey added. "They actually believed and have been fighting, digging, clawing, scratching the whole way through. They have given us everything they have. They deserve it. What a great thing for these players and for Kent State, to bring a championship back."
The win also clinches the No. 4 seed in next week's MAC Tournament which means Kent State will receive a bye from first round play on Monday and start competition on Wednesday, March 8 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
In the game, the Flashes got off to a 7-0 start thanks to a Jordan Korinek jumper, Alexa Golden three and breakaway layup from Naddiyah Cross after a steal. That forced the RedHawks to call an early timeout.
Miami would score out of the break but struggled to get much going as Kent State had five steals and five offensive rebounds in the opening ten minutes. The RedHawks were limited to just ten shot attempts while the Flashes made eight of their 18 to lead 18-9 at the end of the first.
The second quarter started with three straight buckets by Miami to bring the lead to within three, prompting a Kent State timeout. The RedHawks would tie the game at 18 before Megan Carter made a shot to get back in front. After the game became tied again at 20, the Golden Flashes strung together a ten-point run, capped off by a Larissa Lurken jumper. McKenna Stephens added in a three to add to the KSU lead late in the quarter.
Kent State led 40-26 at halftime as the team made more than half its shots to keep Miami at bay.
The Golden Flashes added to their lead in the third quarter and led by 18 at the quarter's media timeout. That lead grew to 25 as Kent State put together a 16-1 run and kept Miami without a field goal for more than six minutes as the time winded down.
In the final quarter, Kent State would add three to its advantage, starting with a layup by Korinek and ending with a fast break layup by Taylor Parker to close out the 78-51 win.
The Golden Flashes dominated the boards, outrebounding the RedHawks 44-27. They finished with nine steals and 20 points off turnovers. The game was tied just twice with the Flashes never trailing once in the contest.
Lurken led with 24 points while adding in nine rebounds, seven assists, three steals and one block. Korinek had a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds while also having three blocks and four assists. Stephens finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.
The team will finish the regular season at home on Saturday when they host Buffalo at 2 p.m.
"We want to continue to stay sharp and stay focused," said Starkey. "We are excited about getting back home and honoring our seniors. I hope we get a really good turnout, they deserve it. I'm really excited to bring a MAC East Championship back home to Kent."
Tickets for the regular season finale can be purchased at kentstatesports.com or by calling the ticket office at 330-672-2244. MAC Tournament information can also be found at kentstatesports.com or mac-sports.com.
