Kent State University
14-7,6-4MAC
Ball State
19-4,9-1MAC
Kent State Battles in Setback at First-Place Ball State
2/4/2023 3:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. — The Kent State women's basketball team refused to relent despite falling behind by 12 in the opening period and made it a one-possession game with less than nine minutes remaining before falling to Mid-American Conference co-leader Ball State, 80-71, in a road contest on Saturday.
The Golden Flashes (14-7, 6-4 MAC) were led by senior Katie Shumate, who totaled 22 points and nine rebounds to lead all players in both categories. Junior Casey Santoro added a season-best 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting along with four assists and two steals.
An entertaining first quarter ended with the Cardinals leading 29-20. Kent State's host shot 10-of-15 overall from the field, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, and led by as many as 12 before senior Clare Kelly drained a shot from well behind the arc.
The Flashes held Ball State scoreless for more than three minutes while scoring seven consecutive points midway through the second to get within 35-33. The Cardinals extended the lead back to nine before a driving layup by Santoro with just a few seconds remaining made it 43-36 at halftime.
A 15-6 run by Ball State to open the third period pushed Kent State's deficit to 16. After a three-point play by Santoro and jumper by Shumate cut it to 11, the Flashes used a six-point possession to get right back into it. Graduate student Hannah Young made all four free throws following two technical fouls being assessed to a Cardinals player and graduate student Annie Pavlansky finished the possession with a basket just before the shot clock expired. The teams then traded a pair of baskets, and it was 62-57 heading into the fourth quarter.
A driving layup by freshman Corynne Hauser made it a one-possession game, but a three-minute scoring drought followed as Ball State went back ahead by 11. The Flashes got within five twice in the final minute but could not get another stop on the defensive end.
Kent State will play back-to-back home games at the M.A.C. Center next week, hosting Central Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 8 and Bowling Green on Saturday, Feb. 11 for the annual Play4Kay Game.
