Kent State University
4-2,0-0MAC
Southern Illinois
1-5,0-0MVC
Kent State Claims Christmas City Classic Title
11/27/2022 6:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Kent State women's basketball team led by as many as 20 points during Sunday's Christmas City Classic championship game and defeated a pesky Southern Illinois team, 72-66.
Graduate student Lindsey Thall set the tone with a trio of three-pointers in the game's first five minutes. Thall finished with a season-best 20 points and was named MVP of the tournament. Junior Casey Santoro shot 8-of-9 from the foul line in the fourth quarter and finished with 15 points, also earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
The Golden Flashes (4-2) used stifling defense to hold the Salukis to 11-of-46 shooting (23.9%) over the first 29-plus minutes and led 49-29 after a layup by sophomore Bridget Dunn with 44.3 seconds to play in the third quarter.
Southern Illinois went inside to Promise Taylor for a basket and then Tyranny Brown connected at the buzzer from well beyond halfcourt to beat the third period buzzer. The Salukis kept momentum going and scored the first seven points in the fourth to cut the deficit to eight.
A three-point field goal by senior Clare Kelly made it 59-47 and gave the Flashes breathing room with 3:42 to play. A quick 8-2 run by SIU made it a six-point game with 2:34 still on the clock. Santoro provided an answer with a basket and then sank two free throws to extend the lead back to double-digits, but it was back down to six with 42.9 seconds remaining.
Senior Katie Shumate split a pair at the charity stripe and Santoro followed with the defensive play of the day for Kent State, knocking the ball from a Salukis player to force a tied ball and regain possession. She then made two more free throws to make it 72-63. SIU made a three-pointer in the closing seconds to make it a two-possession game, but the Flashes were able to dribble out the clock to secure the victory.
Kelly logged a career-high 37 minutes and finished with 12 points. Freshman Dionna Gray provided a spark off the bench with a career-high 10 points in 12 minutes of action. Graduate student Hannah Young added eight points and game-high 10 rebounds.
Kent State will return to the M.A.C. Center on Sunday, Dec. 4 to host St. Bonaventure.
