Kent State University
6-1,0-0MAC
St. Bonaventure
5-2,0-0Atlantic 10
Flashes Beat Bonnies, 64-53
12/3/2021 10:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
OLEAN, N.Y. — The Kent State women's basketball team posted a 64-53 wire-to-wire victory Friday night at St. Bonaventure.
Senior Mariah Modkins drained a three-point field on the game's opening possession and the Golden Flashes (6-1) scored on each of their first three times with the ball to build an early 8-2 lead. Kent State made its first four attempts from long range and led 19-13 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bonnies got within 19-18 with 6:52 left in the second period before freshman Bridget Dunn ended a four-minute scoring drought with a three-pointer. Dunn's second triple of the game extended the lead to nine at the 2:57 mark, and it was a 34-26 game at halftime.
Junior Katie Shumate drove in for a layup to start the third and senior Hannah Young answered a St. Bonaventure three-pointer with one of her own on the ensuing trip down the court to make it 39-29. After the Bonnies trimmed the deficit to four, the Flashes' defense forced six straight misses, followed by turnovers on three possessions in a row to take a 47-36 lead into the final period.
Junior Nila Blackford and Shumate took control in the fourth, combining for 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting to help Kent State build a 15-point advantage with less than six minutes remaining. St. Bonaventure made a final push with a 9-0 lead to get within six at the 3:40 mark. The defense once again stepped up for the Flashes, not allowing a field goal the rest of the way.
"We found a way to win, and that's what you have to do on the road," said head coach Todd Starkey. "This is a tough place to win. We told our players that. I'm not sure they believed us, but they did once we got into the game. We had too many mental errors today. But once again, when you're not playing your best, defense has to show up for you. We held them to 53 points and am really pleased with that."
Shumate led all players with 19 points. Blackford (16) and sophomore Casey Santoro (11) also scored in double-digits. Young grabbed a game-high nine boards, while Blackford and senior Lindsey Thall were right behind with eight rebounds each.
Kent State will begin a four-game homestand to bring 2021 to a close, beginning against Duquesne on Wednesday, Dec. 8.
