Kent State University
10-7, 3-3MAC
Buffalo
13-5, 4-3MAC
Flashes Lead Most of the Way in Loss to Bulls
1/25/2020 5:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State played stellar defense for three quarters and held the lead for more than 21 minutes in a 57-44 setback to Buffalo inside of the M.A.C. Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Flashes (10-7, 3-3 MAC) limited the Bulls to 30 points on 10-of-39 shooting and held a 33-30 lead through three quarters. However, Buffalo connected on more than half of its shots and outscored Kent State 27-11 over the final 10 minutes to pull away.
Freshman Nila Blackford led the Flashes with eight points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Asiah Dingle also had eight points but was limited to just 20 minutes prior to fouling out. Sophomore Lindsey Thall added seven points, seven boards, four assists and two blocked shots.
Redshirt senior Megan Carter opened the second quarter with a pair of three-pointers to put Kent State ahead, 14-10. Following a Buffalo free throw, sophomore Mariah Modkins and freshman Clare Kelly each added a triple to make it 20-11. The lead was still nine in the final minute of the period when a Flashes shot clock violation was followed by a UB three-pointer at the buzzer to make it 24-18 at halftime.
Kent State was held scoreless in the third quarter until Lindsey Thall drove to the basket from the top of the key and dropped it off to Nila Blackford, who laid it in at the 5:55 mark. Following back-to-back defensive stops, Asiah Dingle connected on a pull-up in the lane and Thall drained a shot from two steps beyond the three-point arc to push the lead back to nine. The Bulls ended the period with an 8-2 run to get within three.
Buffalo tied the game on a three-pointer 30 seconds into the fourth. Dingle put Kent State back in the lead with 8:40 to play on a strong take and finish in the lane, but was unable to complete the conventional three-point play at the free throw line. A driving layup by Thall ended a 7-0 UB run at the 4:55 mark, but the Flashes did not make another field goal the rest of the way as the Bulls closed with a 17-7 run.
Kent State outrebounded the Mid-American Conference's top rebounding team, 41-40. The Flashes grabbed 16 offensive rebounds but were only able to convert those second chances into three points.
The Flashes will host Ball State on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. in the final game of the month.
