Kent State University
10-7,2-6MAC
Northern Illinois
7-9,4-4MAC
Free Throws in Final Minute Sink Flashes in DeKalb
1/26/2022 3:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DEKALB, Ill. — Kent State rallied from a 10-point deficit with 5:08 to play to even it up, but host Northern Illinois went 6-of-8 at the free throw line over the final 30.2 seconds to pull out a 61-55 decision Wednesday afternoon.
Junior Nila Blackford made her first seven shots of the final period and pulled the Golden Flashes (10-7, 2-6 MAC) even, 53-53, on a three-point play to conclude 10-0 run with 1:08 to play. After the Huskies scored on the ensuing possession, junior Clare Kelly found Blackford open inside for another layup to tie it at 55-55 with 30.2 seconds on the clock.
Following a video review of the play by the officiating crew, an intentional foul was assessed to Blackford. Although her basket still counted, NIU was awarded two free throws and possession of the ball. Janae Poisson split the free throws but was fouled after receiving an inbounds pass and sank both attempts from the charity stripe this time. Kent State missed its final four shots of the game and ran out of time to make another comeback.
Blackford finished with a season-high 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead all players in both categories. Senior Lindsey Thall drained three triples and totaled 11 points. Sophomore Casey Santoro and freshman Bridget Dunn added nine and eight points, respectively, off the bench.
NIU won the opening tip and scored on the first possession, but Blackford answered with a basket and Thall added a deep three-pointer for a 5-2 lead less than two minutes into the contest. The Huskies scored the next eight points before Dunn converted a putback layup at the 5:02 mark. Following seven consecutive misses from three-point range, Thall, Santoro and Dunn connected on three in a row, and Kent State led 16-15 at the end of the first quarter.
The Flashes shot just 1-of-12 in the second period and fell behind 29-23 at halftime.
Blackford converted in the paint on Kent State's first two possessions in the third quarter to get within two, but a 10-2 Huskies run followed to make it a double-digit game for the first time. The Flashes made all eight free throw attempts over the final 4:37 of the period to cut the deficit to four, but NIU drained a three-ball in closing seconds to lead 44-37.
A triple by Poisson gave the Huskies a 53-43 lead with 5:08 to play, but Kent State answered by going inside to Blackford for back-to-back baskets. After two more stops on the defensive end, Santoro penetrated the lane and delivered to Thall on the wing for a three-pointer to make it 53-50 with 1:59 remaining.
After boarding a missed NIU shot, Blackford was able to seal her defender up the lane and finish through contact at the basket off a lob pass from senior Hannah Young. She sank the free throw to tie it at 53-53 and setup the dramatic final minute.
Three-point shooting was the difference in the game, as NIU shot 8-of-18 (44.4%) and the Flashes went just 6-of-34 (17.6%).
Kent State outrebounded the Huskies, 37-36, and totaled 11 assists to 12 turnovers. Santoro and Young shared the team lead with three assists each.
The Flashes will not play this weekend and are scheduled to return to action for the Unity Game against Central Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.
