Kent State University
4-2
Robert Morris
2-3
Carter’s Layup in Closing Seconds Completes Flashes’ Epic Comeback Effort
11/24/2019 5:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – Redshirt senior Megan Carter intercepted a deflected inbound pass and laid it in with 2.2 on the clock as Kent State rallied from a 13-point deficit with 4:54 remaining to beat Robert Morris, 82-81, at the M.A.C. Center on Sunday afternoon.
Carter, who has made two game-winnining baskets already this season, scored 11 of her 16 points over the final 3:33 of the contest. Sophomore Lindsey Thall's three-pointer to get within 81-80 with 6.2 to play kept the Golden Flashes' hopes alive. Freshman Nila Blackford then knocked the ensuing inbound pass out of bounds. After a review to confirm that 4.8 seconds was the correct time on the game clock, Kent State put two defenders on the ball to make the throw-in more difficult. The strategy worked, as freshman Katie Shumate tipped the pass and it landed in Carter's arms.
"We put Katie, who is bouncy, and Lindsey, who is long, on the inbounder and told them to get a hand on the ball. They did that and Megan had the wherewithal to understand that she had to score it quick," head coach Todd Starkey said of the game's conclusion.
Nila Blackford poured in a career-high 31 points, the most by a Kent State freshman since Ellie Shields in 2008, to lead all scorers. Blackford converted six of seven field goals in the second half and was 4-for-4 at the free throw line. The freshman from Louisville, Ky. finished with nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.
After shooting 9-for-23 and trailing 42-30 at halftime, the Flashes went 19-for-32 from the floor in the second half. Kent State shot 11-for-16 in the final 10 minutes and tied a program record with 31 points in the fourth quarter.
"I really am proud of our players for making the adjustments we did at halftime and really executing," Starkey added. "We really wanted to get the ball to Nila because they were helping so heavily on Lindsey, and Nila did a great job of finishing."
Robert Morris held its largest lead of the game, 39-21, on a Natalie Villaflor layup with 3:16 remaining in the second period. The Flashes scored on five of their final six possessions to get within 12 at halftime.
A quick 8-0 run late in the third gave the home fans something to cheer for. Blackford scored the first five points while adding two steals and a rebound before assisting on Megan Carter's three-pointer to get within 54-49. After the teams traded baskets, Honoka Ikematsu gave the Colonials back the momentum with her second buzzer-beating three-pointer of the game.
The teams traded baskets for much of the fourth quarter until a four-point RMU possession gave the visitors a 72-59 lead. Kent State still believed it could win, however, and Lindsey Thall answered with a three-pointer on the next trip down the floor. Carter then pushed the ball for transition layups, one of which was converted into a three-point play, following back-to-back defensive stops to cut the deficit to five at the 3:03 mark. Katie Shumate then made it a one-possession game with a pair of free throws.
It was a four-point game when the Flashes came up empty on a trio of good looks. RMU shot 5-for-6 at the free throw line over the final 33.1 seconds, but the lone miss proved to be the difference.
After making 13 three-pointers on Thursday night, Kent State made just three in the first 39 minutes on Sunday. Instead, the Flashes were in attack mode and scored a season-best 46 points in the paint while adding another 21 at the foul line.
Katie Shumate filled the stat sheet with 13 points, five rebounds, a career-best four steals, two assists and two blocked shots. Lindsey Thall added 11 points and a career-high four assists.
Kent State will conclude its three-game homestand with an early noon tip-off against St. Bonaventure on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
