Kent State University
5-4,0-0MAC
Niagara
1-6,0-0MAAC
Flashes Beat Niagara for First Road Victory
12/5/2024 6:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. — The Kent State women's basketball team defeated Niagara, 89-73, on Thursday afternoon for its first true road victory of the season.
Efficient scoring performances from sophomore Mya Babbitt and senior Jenna Batsch helped build a double-digit lead that was maintained for the majority of the final 12 minutes of the contest. Babbitt made all six of her field goals after halftime and scored 16 of her game-high 23 points during the second half. She also totaled a career-high four assists and four steals. Batsch scored a season-high 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting and recorded a career-high six assists.
The Golden Flashes (5-4) totaled 26 assists as a team, the most in a game since Jan. 19, 2012, against Buffalo (26). Junior Dionna Gray had six to share the team lead and freshman Meghan Murray added five, as seven players contributed to the total. Murray also matched her career-high with nine points and had a team-best plus-26 +/-.
Hot shooting start gave the Purple Eagles a 10-2 lead less than three minutes into the contest. Kent State battled back and used an 11-0 run to take its first lead, 17-15, but a layup in the closing seconds of the first quarter gave the hosts a 20-19 lead.
The Flashes were able to get ahead of Niagara's pressure defense frequently in the second quarter and went 7-of-11 from the floor while taking a 43-42 halftime lead.
Down 49-45, Babbitt and junior Tatiana Thomas combined for a 9-0 run that allowed Kent State to take its largest lead to that point. The Flashes closed on a 21-6 run over the final 7:09 to take an 11-point lead into the final periods.
The lead dipped to single-digits twice during the opening minutes of the fourth, but Babbitt provided an answer on the following offensive possession both times.
Thomas scored 14 points to match her career-high, while senior Bridget Dunn just missed a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds
The Flashes will break for final exams next week and return to action at the M.A.C. Center against the Virginia University of Lynchburg at 11 a.m. for the annual School Field Trip Day on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
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