Kent State University
8-7, 1-2MAC
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Western Michigan
9-6, 2-1MAC
Rally Falls Short in 66-61 Loss to Broncos
1/6/2018 10:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio — Kent State trimmed an 11-point deficit to just two heading in to the final period Saturday afternoon, but Western Michigan scored 11 straight to open the fourth quarter and the Broncos left the M.A.C. Center with a 66-61 victory.
The Golden Flashes (8-7, 1-2 MAC) trailed 10-2 at the game's first media timeout and made just one of their first nine shots from the floor. After baskets on back-to-back possessions, the Flashes went scoreless over the final two minutes of the period and trailed 14-6. It is just the second time this season they have failed to post double-figures in the first quarter.
"We are going to have to find a way to get a little more efficient offensively," said head coach Todd Starkey. "Western Michigan played us very physically and we never really could find an offensive rhythm. We got off to a slow start. We weren't the aggressor at the beginning of the game, and I was a little disappointed in that."
Senior Jordan Korinek and redshirt sophomore Megan Carter once again fueled the offense, Korinek poured in a game-high 22 points and Carter continued her stellar play off the bench with 15 points. The duo combined to make 13 of 14 free throw attempts as the Flashes shot a season-best 92.9 percent from the charity stripe.
Kent State matched its season-high with nine steals and forced 22 turnovers, which is the most by an opponent this season. Carter, senior Naddiyah Cross and sophomore Ali Poole had two steals apiece, while junior Alexa Golden and Korinek both had one steal and drew a charge.
Western Michigan won the battle inside with advantages in rebounding (40-27), points in the paint (38-22) and blocked shots (9-0). It is Kent State's worst rebounding margin since the season-opener at Northern Kentucky (-15).
A three-pointer by graduate student McKenna Stephens made it a one-possession game at 16-13 with 6:59 remaining in the second period. WMU scored the next 10 points, but Poole buried a three-pointer and Golden stripped a Bronco ball handler and coasted in for a layup to beat the buzzer and make it a 26-20 game at halftime.
Neither team attempted a free throw during the first 20 minutes of action.
Kent State closed the third period on a 15-6 run to make it a one-possession game heading into the fourth. Down 33-22, the Flashes scored on four straight trips down the court and then had an open look from beyond the arc that would have tied the game bounce around and out. WMU pushed its lead back to five, but the Flashes converted three of four free throws in the final 30 seconds to head to the fourth down 39-37.
The Broncos opened the final period with an 11-0 run to regain momentum and hold on for the victory.
Kent State concludes its mini two-game homestand on Wednesday, Jan. 10. when Eastern Michigan visits the M.A.C. Center. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
