Kent State University
Northern Illinois
Golden Flashes Win Sixth in a Row on National TV
1/14/2024 9:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio — Playing at the M.A.C. Center in front of a national television audience for the first time in program history, the Kent State women's basketball team took down visiting Northern Illinois, 73-48, on Sunday evening.
The Golden Flashes (10-4) have won six straight games and move to 4-0 to start Mid-American Conference play for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
After shooting 5-of-16 during the first 10 minutes, Kent State made at least half of its shots in each of the final three quarters. Following a 9-0 NIU run late in the opening period, graduate student Mikala Morris knocked down a baseline jump shot and junior Jenna Batsch converted a driving layup to put the Flashes ahead 12-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Kent State extended its lead to six before the Huskies scored consecutive baskets to get within 19-17 at the 6:10 mark in the second. Graduate student Abby Ogle pushed the ball back down the floor and found redshirt sophomore Kaley Perkins ahead of the defense for a layup that started a 16-0 run. Junior Bridget Dunn made two of her three three-point field goals of the period during the run, and the Flashes led 37-19 at halftime.
The lead never went below 18 the rest of the game and reached as many as 26 points midway through the fourth quarter.
Redshirt senior Katie Shumate scored a game-high 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting and tied her career-high with five assists. Shumate also grabbed five rebounds to surpass 700 for her career. Batsch and Dunn added 15 points each.
NIU shot just 15-of-54 (27.8%) and was held to its lowest scoring performance of the season.
Kent State will be back in action at the M.A.C. Center on Wednesday, Jan. 17 for a matchup with MAC co-leader Toledo. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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