Kent State University
7-4
Hiram
3-8
Kent State Runs Past Hiram in Final Conference Tune-Up
12/30/2019 9:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – Freshman Clare Kelly poured in a career-high 20 points to lead five Kent State players in double-figures in a 92-36 win over Hiram to close the non-conference schedule Monday at the M.A.C. Center. The 56-point win is the third-largest margin of victory in program history.
Sophomore point guards Mariah Modkins and Asiah Dingle combined for 17 of the Golden Flashes' 25 assists, which is the most by a Kent State team since totaling 26 against Buffalo on January 19, 2012. Modkins had nine dimes in 21 minutes of action off the bench and Dingle recorded eight assists to go with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting. The duo combined for only two turnovers.
"Sharing the basketball was something we emphasized prior to the game and we wanted to get over 20 assists," head coach Todd Starkey said after his team improved to 7-4. "We have good individual players that can create for themselves, but one thing we need to get better at is creating for each other."
Making her first start since opening night, Kelly went 5-for-8 from behind the three-point line and grabbed a career-high five rebounds, which included four on the offensive end. She also led the Flashes with a +43 on-court plus-minus.
"I told Clare on the bench near the end of the game that I was more pleased with her defense and rebounding," added Starkey. "We expect her to make shots because she's a good shooter. It was good to see her get into a rhythm and her teammates get excited about it. That's no surprise to anybody on our team. We see her do that rather routinely in practice."
Sophomore Hannah Young posted career-best totals of 14 points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench. Senior Ali Poole had her best performance of the season with seven points and seven rebounds to help the Flashes score a season-high 29 bench points.
Freshman Nila Blackford added 14 points and sophomore Lindsey Thall scored 12. Both players had five rebounds. Senior Sydney Brinlee also grabbed five boards to match her career-high.
Kent State dominated play around the basket with a 53-26 rebounding advantage and outscored the Terriers 52-12 in the paint.
The Flashes have held two of the last three opponents under 50 points and were whistled for a season-low nine fouls. Hiram shot 14-for-54 from the field (25.9 percent) and managed only two second-chance points. Kent State turned 20 turnovers into 27 points.
Kent State will begin Mid-American Conference play at Ball State on Saturday, January 4.
