Kent State University
9-3,1-0MAC
Buffalo
5-5,0-1MAC
Kelly’s Layup in Final Seconds Gives Flashes Victory in MAC Opener
1/4/2023 10:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio — Senior Clare Kelly scored the winning basket off a give-and-go feed from graduate student Lindsey Thall with 1.5 seconds remaining as Kent State secured a 64-63 victory over Buffalo to open Mid-American Conference action on Wednesday evening at the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes (9-3, 1-0 MAC) rallied from a six-point deficit to start the fourth quarter and finally reclaimed the lead, 62-59, when graduate student Hannah Young buried a three-pointer from the corner with 1:32 remaining. The Bulls rushed the ball down the floor and got within one on a layup less than 10 seconds later.
Despite turnovers on its next two possessions, Kent State led 62-61 with 10.3 seconds to play. A driving layup by Zakiyah Winfield put Buffalo ahead with 4.0 left.
Kent State used one of its two remaining timeouts to advance the ball into the frontcourt. The final timeout was then called after not being able to make the inbounds pass to the desired area. On the second attempt, Kelly found Thall rolling towards the corner and cut straight to the basket, catching the return pass and finishing around a help defender for the lead.
"These two did a great job of executing what we drew up," head coach Todd Starkey said. "Clare had the guts to throw the ball to Lindsey. Lindsey made a great catch. Clare with the backdoor cut, and Lindsey finds her and these two connected on a game-winner, which they'll have a nice memory of that. They'll be sharing that with each other 15 years down the road."
Buffalo moved the ball into the frontcourt by calling its last timeout but was unable to draw iron on a final attempt to steal a road victory.
One of three Flashes to reach double-figures, Kelly scored eight of her 11 points during the fourth quarter. Thall added a trio of three-pointers to her school record and finished with a team-high 15 points. Sophomore Bridget Dunn added a season-best 11 points.
Kent State held a 35-29 rebounding advantage, led by nine boards from senior Katie Shumate. Thall and Dunn added seven and six rebounds, respectively.
The Flashes will hit the road for the next two games, beginning Saturday at Ohio.
Clare Kelly's layup in the last second of the game that gets the @KentStWBB its first MAC dub is tonight's @IBEW 306 Electrifying Play of the Game, courtesy of #GFTV.#GoFlashes?? pic.twitter.com/97eXQxEmNi
— Kent State Athletics (@KentStAthletics) January 5, 2023
