Kent State University
19-11,13-5
University at Buffalo
20-9, 10-8
Kent State Battles Buffalo to Finish Regular Season with 80-71 Win
3/4/2017 5:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference East Division champion Golden Flashes stayed hot on Saturday afternoon as they won their 7th-straight game in an 80-71 victory over Buffalo (20-9, 10-8).
Kent State's win and a Northern Illinois loss gives the Flashes the No. 3 seed at next week's MAC Tournament. They will play the winner of the No. 6 Toledo/No. 11 Akron matchup on Wednesday in the day's fourth game. Kent State finishes the regular season at 19-11 and ends the year 13-5 in conference play.
The Golden Flashes got off to a slow start but got back into their rhythm as the game went on. At the start they called an early timeout as the Bulls got out to an 8-2 lead. The conversation by Head Coach Todd Starkey worked as Kent State stepped up its defense and was able to bring the game to a tie at ten apiece.
The 6-0 run that brought the game to a tie came by way of four Jordan Korinek free throws and a jumper from Larissa Lurken. The game went back and forth from that point until Buffalo pulled slightly in front for a 17-15 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
Buffalo's lone senior made a three to start the second quarter as the visitor's lead grew to five. McKenna Stephens and Lurken both made shots to bring it back to a three-point game. Just before the media break, Korinek fed Megan Carter for a three to make it a 28-26 game.
Lurken went to the free throw line out of the timeout and tied the game and made it a perfect 10-for-10 start for the Flashes from the charity stripe. They improved on that and took a two-point lead as Korinek was fouled and was good on both her foul shots.
A 30-30 tie was broke by a layup from Merissa Barber-Smith. Then the Flashes took their largest lead of the night, 34-30, when Lurken went back to the line and was good for both again.
With seconds on the clock in the quarter, Stephens grabbed a steal before Carter got her own rebound and was able to go back up and drain a three. Another forced Bulls turnover held the score at 37-32 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Kent State started out able to maintain its lead, but Buffalo worked its way back to tie it at 44 at the halfway point. The Bulls edged ahead by two, but the Golden Flashes stormed back in to lead by ten after a three and jump shot by Carter. The Flashes led 58-49 with one quarter remaining.
Buffalo continued to make things interesting as they made it a three-point game with 5:22 on the clock. Lurken then hit a three from Stephens before Stephens then made a shot of her own to stay ahead. Free throws by the Bulls kept it a three-point game with 3:07 left. Another three, this time by Stephens, bumped the lead back up to six and helped solidify the win.
In the final two minutes, Korinek and Lurken each made two free throws while Carter connected on a layup to finish the Bulls off in the 80-71 contest.
Kent State outrebounded 44-40 and had a strong defensive effort with eight blocks and nine steals. The Golden Flashes had a great day at the free throw line, getting 30 attempts and missing just four on the day.
Lurken was a perfect 15-for-15 at the line to finish with 32 points and 13 rebounds. She also had two assists, two blocks and a steal. McKenna Stephens also had a double-double with 11 points and ten rebounds. Carter finished with 13 points and a team-high five assists while Korinek scored 12.
More information on the upcoming MAC Tournament will be available at kentstatesports.com.
