Kent State University
16-8,8-7MAC
Akron
13-8,10-5MAC
Women’s Basketball Suffers First Loss in February
2/19/2022 6:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio — Kent State's six-game winning streak ended on Saturday afternoon in a 73-64 setback at Akron in a Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge matchup.
The Golden Flashes (16-8, 8-7 MAC) were outscored 42-28 in the paint after controlling play near the basket during the first six games in February. Sophomore Casey Santoro was Kent State's leading scorer with 17 points and junior Katie Shumate was close behind with 15 points. Junior Nila Blackford added 10 points and team-high seven rebounds.
Shumate put the Flashes on the board by splitting a pair of free throws less than two minutes into the game. Blackford and Shumate added layups to give Kent State a 5-4 lead with 5:47 to play in the opening period. A 9-0 run by the Zips followed, and the Flashes trailed 18-10 through 10 minutes of action.
Akron took a double-digit lead on its first possession in the second quarter, but senior Hannah Young swung momentum back in favor of the visitors on the next trip down the down with a four-point play to get within six. Kent State got within 32-30 on a three-pointer by Santoro with 1:51 to play in the half but was outscored 4-1 the rest of the way and trailed by five heading into the locker room.
The Flashes held the Zips scoreless for more than three minutes to begin the third quarter but was only able to produce a layup by senior Lindsey Thall of its own. A basket by Young on a drive into the lane got Kent State within 45-44 in the final minute of the period. Young followed with a blocked shot to give the Flashes their first chance to take the lead since the first quarter, but Akron got a stop to remain ahead by a point.
A 10-1 run to start the final period gave the hosts a double-digit lead again. Despite trailing by 12 with just 3:38 to play, Kent State continued to battle and had a good look to make it a one-possession game, but Santoro's three-point attempt from the wing with 37.2 seconds to play rolled around the rim and out.
The Flashes will be right back in action on Monday when they host Bowling Green at 7 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center.
