Kent State University
19-11
Bowling Green
9-21
Barber-Smith’s 10-Point, 20-Rebound Night Leads Flashes to First Round Victory
3/11/2019 10:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – Senior Merissa Barber-Smith grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds and scored 10 points as Kent State extended its season with an 86-62 victory over Bowling Green on Monday evening in a Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball Tournament first round game.
Playing inside of the M.A.C. Center for possibly the final time, Barber-Smith grabbed nine offensive rebounds to help the Golden Flashes total 19 second-chance points. No Kent State players has totaled more than 20 rebounds since Tracey Lynn had 23 on Feb, 8, 1992. The 6'4" center shot 4-for-5 from the floor and blocked three shots.
Five Golden Flashes scored in double-figures for the first time since Dec. 21, 2010. Freshman Asiah Dingle impressed in her first collegiate postseason game with a game-high 25 points, while matching her career-high with six assists and recording four steals. Junior Ali Poole scored 14 points off the bench. Redshirt junior Megan Carter finished with 12 points and freshman Lindsey Thall had 11 points.
The Golden Flashes (19-11) controlled the game from the tip, as senior Alexa Golden and freshman Lindsey Thall drained three-pointers on the first two possessions of the night. Kent State shot 10-for-17 and built a 20-point lead in the opening period. Freshman Asiah Dingle led the way with eight points and junior Ali Poole made all three of her field goal attempts for six points.
Kent State put 20 points on the board in the second quarter and led 45-22 at halftime. Barber-Smith totaled 12 rebounds in the half.
Bowling Green was able to trim its deficit to 16 late in the third quarter, but Kent State closed with a 12-5 run over the final 2:42 to push the lead to 23. Transition baskets by Asiah Dingle and Lindsey Thall highlighted a frantic final 30 seconds of the period.
Merissa Barber-Smith converted following an offensive rebound to cap a 7-2 run to start the fourth and give Kent State its largest lead of the night, 74-46. The Falcons were unable to get within 22 the rest of the way.
Kent State shot better than 50-percent (31-for-61) from the field for just the third time and recorded the second highest-scoring game of the season against a Division I opponent. The Flashes' 16 assists are the second-most by the team this season.
The Flashes will play No. 4 seed Buffalo in a MAC Tournament quarterfinal games on Wednesday, March 13 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Tip-off will be 30 minutes following the conclusion of the opening game of the day, which is scheduled for 12 p.m.
