Kent State University
3-2,0-0MAC
Quinnipiac
2-3,0-0MAAC
Flashes Lock Down Bobcats for 58-55 Victory
11/26/2022 7:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Kent State allowed Quinnipiac to make just one field goal during the first nine minutes and change of the fourth quarter to close out a 58-55 victory in the opening game of the Christmas City Classic on Saturday afternoon.
Leading by just three to start the final period, the Golden Flashes (3-2) forced the Bobcats into a 1-of-14 shooting performance while building an eight-point lead with fewer than 30 seconds remaining. Kent State then conceded a pair of layups while ensuring not to commit late fouls, and Quinnipiac sank a three-point shot at the final buzzer to make it a one-score game.
Graduate student Lindsey Thall led the way for Kent State with a game-high 18 points and junior Casey Santoro added 15, her best scoring game of the season. The duo combined for nine of the team's final 13 points.
Santoro made a driving layup on the game's opening possession, but the Flashes missed 10 of their next 11 shots and fell behind 15-6 eight minutes into the contest. Thall then scored five in a row on two free throws and a three-pointer, and the deficit was 16-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Although the shooting struggles continued in the second quarter, Kent State's stellar defense kept it close and a 24-18 game entering the final two minutes of the first half. Senior Clare Kelly, graduate student Annie Pavlansky and Santoro each provided a basket as part of a 6-0 run that tied it heading into the locker room.
The three-ball started to fall after halftime and the Flashes opened a seven-point lead less than four minutes into the third. Kent State shot 5-of-8 from long range during the third quarter but was whistled for nine fouls to allow the Bobcats to keep it close, 47-44, entering the final 10 minutes.
A basket by Mary Baskerville made it a three-point margin once again with 7:49 to play and was followed by a scoring drought of nearly four minutes. Santoro made a jump shot with 3:59 remaining and sophomore Jenna Batsch followed with a layup to make it 53-46 with 3:25 on the clock. Batsch was unable to connect on a corner three-pointer on the ensuing possession that would have pushed the lead to double-digits, and Quinnipiac converted a pair of free throws for its first points in more than five minutes. Thall split two shots at the charity stripe to extend the lead to six and the Flashes made three consecutive stops on the defensive end, forcing the Bobcats to begin fouling as the clock neared 30 seconds. Graduate student Hannah Young then sank two foul shots for the largest lead of the day, 56-48.
Kent State held a 33-31 rebounding advantage and held Quinnipiac to only two second-chance points. Santoro and Young shared the team lead with six boards apiece and sophomore Bridget Dunn was close behind with five.
The Flashes will battle Southern Illinois in the Christmas City Classic championship on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. There will not be a video stream of the contest, so fans are encouraged to follow on the Kent State Radio Network or the GoFlashes app.
