Kent State University
3-2,0-0MAC
Missouri
5-2,0-0SEC
Kent State Beats Missouri on Hauser's Late Layup
11/25/2023 9:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — For the second time in her young career, sophomore Corynne Hauser scored the go-ahead layup in the final 15 seconds to lead Kent State to a Power-Five victory. Hauser's basket with 12.3 seconds to play on Saturday evening was followed by a defensive stop and two free throws for a 67-64 win over Missouri in the team's final game at the Daytona Beach Classic.
The Golden Flashes (3-2) now have four wins against Power-Five opponents since the start of the 2021-22 season. Hauser made the game-winning layup with 4.7 seconds to play last year at Oklahoma State.
Graduate student Mikala Morris had her best game in a Kent State uniform and led the team with 18 points and nine rebounds. Hauser finished with a season-best 17 points and recorded a career-high eight assists.
Hauser came out aggressive and made her first two shots to go up 5-0. Shots continued to fall with the Flashes making nine of their first 16 shots of the night for a 21-7 lead with 1:22 to play in the first quarter. Missouri answered with a three-pointer and added two free throws to make it 21-12 after 10 minutes.
After missing their first shot of the second quarter, the Tigers made six in a row and seven of eight to go ahead 31-30 at the 4:11 mark. The Flashes held them scoreless the rest of the half and Morris' turnaround shot in the paint made it 32-31 heading into the locker room.
A 10-2 run put Missouri ahead by five with 1:20 to play in the third period, but an old-fashioned three-point play by Hauser and inside basket by Morris got Kent State within 49-47 entering the final quarter.
Six quick points in the opening minute of the fourth gave the Tigers their largest lead, 55-47. After junior Bridget Dunn made two big three-point shots to get within two, Missouri pushed its lead back to seven with 6:08 to play.
Kent State locked in defensively and prevented the Tigers from making a field goal the rest of the game. After baskets by freshman Janae Tyler and junior Jenna Batsch trimmed the deficit to one, Morris scored six straight to lead 63-60. Missouri converted four free throws to retake the lead with 19.0 seconds left and set the stage for Hauser's game-winner.
Out of a timeout, Hauser was able to beat a defender baseline and scored to make it 65-64. Redshirt senior Katie Shumate was fouled trying to rebound a missed layup attempt with 0.3 seconds left and sank two foul shots to seal the win.
12.3 4Q | Kent State 65, Missouri 64
— Kent State Women's Basketball (@KentStWBB) November 26, 2023
Corynne Hauser puts the Flashes back ahead!
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Kent State will host Coppin State in the home opener at the M.A.C. Center on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.
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