Kent State University
12-5,6-1MAC
Eastern Michigan
5-12,2-5MAC
Batsch’s Career-High 20 Points Leads Flashes in Victory Over EMU
1/24/2024 10:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio — Junior Jenna Batsch scored 12 of her career-high 20 points during the third quarter to lead Kent State to a 66-57 victory over visiting Eastern Michigan during the "We Back Pat" game on Wednesday at the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes (12-5, 6-1 MAC) outscored their guest 39-27 during the second half to overcome a halftime deficit in victory for the second time this season. Sophomore Corynne Hauser and redshirt senior Katie Shumate finished with 13 points each, while graduate student Mikala Morris added 10 points. Junior Bridget Dunn grabbed 11 rebounds, one short of matching her career high.
After falling behind by five in the opening minutes, Kent State used a 10-0 spurt to lead 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Following a basket by Hauser in the first minute of the second period, EMU scored seven in a row to retake the lead. Shumate scored the Flashes' next eight points for a 24-21 lead with 5:22 left in the half. That was Kent State's final field goal of the quarter, and a three-pointer in the closing seconds put EMU ahead 30-27 at halftime.
Batsch got hot in the third quarter with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting, and her three-pointer in the final minute put the Flashes ahead 45-43.
The Eagles evened the score three times in the fourth quarter, but Kent State answered with a basket each time. Hauser sank a long three-pointer near the end of the shot clock to go ahead 62-59 with 6:28 remaining. The Flashes got three straight stops on defense while Batsch made two free throws and Morris scored inside to extend the lead to seven. Eastern Michigan knocked down a couple of three-pointers and got within three entering the final minute before Kent State scored the final six points of the contest.
The Flashes will be on the road for the next two games, beginning with a contest Saturday at Bowling Green.
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