Kent State University
18-9,12-4MAC
Ball State
26-4,15-2MAC
Flashes’ Rally Falls Short in Home Finale
3/6/2024 8:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENT, Ohio — Kent State made it a one-possession game after trailing by nine midway through the fourth quarter but was unable to complete the comeback in a 75-71 setback to visiting Ball State in a Mid-American Conference women's basketball contest Wednesday.
The Golden Flashes (18-9, 13-4 MAC) took excellent care of the ball and had only nine turnovers against a defense that forces 20 per game, but the Cardinals were able to convert those miscues into 16 points.
Playing at the M.A.C. Center for the final time in her storied career, redshirt senior Katie Shumate led Kent State with 16 points and nine rebounds. Led by freshman Janae Tyler and sophomore Tatiana Thomas, the Flashes held a 30-16 advantage in bench scoring. Tyler had 12 points and seven rebounds, while Thomas contributed seven points and three rebounds over seven minutes in the fourth period.
Neither team led by more than six points during the opening 20 minutes and Ball State closed the second quarter with a 7-2 run to take a 35-31 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Cardinals pushed the lead to double-digits less than two minutes into the third and held the Flashes to a 1-of-14 start from the field while leading by as many as 14 points. Kent State then made three in a row to get within six, but Ball State sank a triple in the closing seconds to make it 56-47.
The Flashes were still behind by nine with 4:54 remaining when Thomas made her presence known. After grabbing an offensive board and converting an old-fashioned three-point play, Thomas finished inside off a dish from Shumate to get within four. That was still the margin when she pulled down another miss by a teammate and put it through the net to make it 73-71 with 12.5 seconds left. Thomas attempted to draw a foul on the ensuing defensive possession, but Kent State was forced to foul and the Cardinals sank two free throws to account for the final score.
The Flashes will play the final contest of the regular season on Saturday at Toledo.
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