Kent State University
8-6, 1-2MAC
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Western Michigan
9-5, 2-1MAC
Golden Flashes Hand Broncos First Conference Loss
1/11/2020 6:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – Freshman Katie Shumate scored a collegiate-best 20 points inside of the M.A.C. Center on Saturday as Kent State defeated Western Michigan, 75-63, in a Mid-American Conference women's basketball contest.
The Golden Flashes (8-6, 1-2 MAC) had a 16-point halftime lead cut to four entering the final period and then stepped up on the defensive end to hold the Broncos scoreless for the first half of the fourth while extending the lead back to double-digits. A five-point WMU possession got the visitors within five with just over three minutes remaining, but sophomore Lindsey Thall answered with her 100th career three-pointer as part of a personal 5-0 that put the game out of reach.
"I like the way we fought from start to finish. It was a much better effort from right out of the gate," head coach Todd Starkey said. "We knew we kind of laid an egg the other day in the first two quarters, and that that's not who we want to be. I was really pleased with the way the team responded. Even though we didn't make some shots early, we played through that and did a really good job of defending."
Sophomore Asiah Dingle was aggressive from the opening tip and scored nine of her 17 points in the first seven minutes of the contest. Dingle finished with four assists and drew eight fouls on the Broncos.
Kent State had a trio of bench players log more than 15 minutes of action. Sophomore Hannah Young scored seven points and had two rejections. Sophomore Mariah Modkins provided leadership at the lead guard position and totaled six points and four assists. Junior Monique Smith added four boards and a basket.
The Flashes won the rebounding battle, 45-41. Katie Shumate led the balanced effort on the glass with eight boards. Freshman Nila Blackford shook off a foul-ridden first half and grabbed all seven of her rebounds during the final 20 minutes. Lindsey Thall had six rebounds, including a team-best four on the offensive end, and swatted two shots.
Kent State will hit the road next week with games at Northern Illinois (Jan 15) and Miami (Jan. 18).
