Kent State University
1-0,0-0MAC
Louisiana
1-2,0-0Sun Belt
Stellar Defense Keys Season-Opening Victory at Louisiana
11/12/2023 9:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LAFAYETTE, La. — Kent State put on a defensive clinic Sunday evening to open the season with a 64-55 win at Louisiana, a game that was part of the inaugural MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
The Golden Flashes (1-0) forced the Ragin' Cajuns to take difficult shots throughout the contest, and the hosts finished 16-of-54 for 29.6%.
"We did not shoot the ball well, but I was proud of our defense," head coach Todd Starkey said. "This is a tough, gritty team we played today in Louisiana, and we're fortunate to get out of here with a win."
Kent State trailed for just 1:38 of game action and led by as many as 14 points but was unable to knock down enough shots to put the game out of reach until the final minute.
Junior Jenna Batsch scored a career-high 15 points to lead the Flashes in the scoring column. Sophomore Corynne Hauser and graduate student Mikala Morris scored 10 points each to join Batsch in double-digits. Morris made four of five shots and grabbed seven rebounds in her Kent State debut. Redshirt senior Katie Shumate led the Flashes with eight boards and two blocks to make an impact despite scoring nine points on 3-of-10 shooting.
Kent State trailed by three midway through the first quarter despite opening 1-of-9 shooting. The Flashes then made four in a row and led by nine on two free throws by Hauser with 30.9 to play in the period. Louisiana was able to get within 15-9 at the quarter break, however, after sinking a trio of free throws following a foul on a three-point attempt.
Batsch jumped a passing lane for a steal and fast break basket 20 seconds into the second, but Kent State missed six straight shots and the Cajuns went back ahead 20-19. Shumate pounded it inside for a bucket to quickly retake the lead. Batsch found the bottom of the net three more times over the final three minutes as part of an 11-2 run as the Flashes took an eight-point lead into the break.
Leading by just one, graduate student Abby Ogle splashed a three-pointer to make it 36-32 with 5:59 remaining in the third quarter. Kent State held its host to 1-of-5 shooting the rest of the period and built a 47-37 lead with five free throws by freshman Janae Tyler and paint baskets by Shumate, Morris and sophomore Tatiana Thomas.
Morris made all three of her field goal attempts in the opening minutes of the fourth period and a corner three-pointer by junior Bridget Dunn made it 56-42 for the largest lead of the game with 4:42 to play. Louisiana fought back within five with under two minutes left, but Batsch answered with a triple on the other end of the floor. Kent State allowed just one basket the rest of the way and put it out of reach with three free throws.
Contributions from reserves were crucial to the win, as the Flashes' benched outscored the Cajuns 15-6. Sophomore Dionna Gray, Ogle, Thomas and Tyler also combined for 12 rebounds and six assists.
Kent State will remain in the Bayou to battle defending national champion LSU on Tuesday at noon ET.
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