Kent State University
3-4
Wright State
5-3
Women’s Basketball Drops Defensive Battle at Wright State, 61-55
12/2/2018 5:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DAYTON, Ohio – Both teams shot below 30-percent as Kent State dropped a 61-55 contest to Wright State on Sunday afternoon at the Nutter Center.
The Golden Flashes (3-4) held the Raiders, the No. 21 mid-major team in the country, to just 19-for-65 shooting overall and 1-for-12 from beyond the three-point arc. However, Wright State was able to grab 22 offensive rebounds and convert them into 17 second-chance points.
Kent State found success at the free throw line, converting 17 of 21 attempts. The Flashes shot just 18-of-66 from the field and 2-for-24 from long range. They posted season-high marks with 19 offensive rebounds and 11 second-chance points.
Megan Carter led Kent State with 18 points, matching her season average. Asiah Dingle, Ali Poole and Lindsey Thall added nine points apiece.
The turning point came midway through the second period. Following a three-pointer by Poole put the Flashes ahead, 21-20, Wright State scored 11 unanswered. A nifty reverse layup by Mariah Modkins with 32.9 remaining in the period ended the run but the Raiders made a pair of free throws on the other end to take a double-digit lead into the locker room at halftime.
Kent State turned up the defense in the third quarter and cut the deficit to just two points by holding Wright State scoreless for six minutes. The hosts made a jumper late in the period to lead 39-35 heading into the fourth.
The final period featured 31 combined free throw attempts and the Flashes were unable to get within three during the final five minutes.
Wright State won the rebounding battle, 55-47. Merissa Barber-Smith led Kent State with 10 boards and Alexa Golden added nine. Barber-Smith had a team-high two blocks and Golden had a team-high three assists.
Kent State travels to Robert Morris on Friday, Dec. 7 for the final game before a 10-day break due to finals week.
