Kent State University
9-8, 2-3MAC
Central Michigan
13-3, 5-0MAC
Fourth Quarter Comeback Not Enough in Loss to First-Place Chippewas
1/13/2018 9:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. — Kent State fought to the final buzzer and made host Central Michigan earn an 88-84 victory to remain undefeated in Mid-American Conference play.
The Golden Flashes (9-8, 2-3 MAC) trailed by 17 with just 6:23 remaining but closed the game with a 23-10 run that was capped by a Megan Carter three-pointer as the final horn sounded. The basket marked the third straight quarter that the Flashes were able to score at the buzzer.
Carter and Jordan Korinek fueled the furious comeback attempt and combined for all but three of Kent State's point during the run. After not scoring in the first quarter, Carter finished with a career-high 27 points on 11-for-18 shooting, including 3-for-4 from beyond the three-point line. Korinek led all scorers with 28 on 11-for-16 from the field and 6-for-6 at the foul line. The All-MAC forward also pulled down seven rebounds
"I'm pleased with our effort. We played hard from start to finish, and this is a difficult place to get a win," said head coach Todd Starkey. "We had a stretch late in the fourth quarter where we had turnovers on four straight possessions, and you just can't do that and win games."
Trailing 82-73 with 2:36 to play, the Flashes got a stop but an errant outlet pass was stolen and laid in to push the deficit back to double-digits. Kent State committed turnovers on its next three possessions as well, but CMU was only able to add a pair of free throws to make it 86-73 with 1:45 on the clock.
Kent State had its high-scoring and most efficient offensive performance of the season. The Flashes shot a season-best 54-percent (34-for-63) from the field and a season-best 47.1-percent (8-for-17) from beyond the three-point arc.
Central Michigan (13-3, 5-0 MAC) was held below its season percentages both from the field and three-point distance, but the Chippewas held a 38-33 rebounding advantage and converted 17 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points.
"One of the things that hurt us were the offensive rebounds that led to direct scores. That really was the difference in the game."
McKenna Stephens scored 16 points to go with six rebounds and a team-high four assists. Alexa Golden matched Korinek for the team lead with seven rebounds and had six points on 2-for-3 from long range. Zenobia Bess provided quality bench production in the first half with four points and four rebounds in six minutes of action.
The Flashes made it difficult on All-MAC point guard Presley Hudson to get much going offensively. Hudson shot just 3-for-12 from the floor and scored more than half of her 15 points at the foul line. Cassie Breen made seven of her first 10 three-point attempts and finished with a team-high 26 points. All five CMU starters scored in double-figures.
"I have a lot of respect for Central Michigan. They are a really good team, obviously," Starkey added. "They have several offensive options. It seemed like when we took one option away, they found something else."
Kent State continues its stretch with four of five games on the road on Wednesday at Bowling Green.
Notes
• Kent State shot 60-percent or better in each of the final three quarters.
• The Golden Flashes have scored 27 points during the fourth quarter in each of the past two games.
• Redshirt sophomore Megan Carter has set a new career-high scoring mark in three of the five games she has played this season.
• Senior Jordan Korinek posted her 22nd career 20-point game.
