Kent State University
15-8,8-3MAC
Northern Illinois
10-12,4-7MAC
Five-Game Winning Streak Comes to End in DeKalb
2/5/2025 10:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DEKALB, Ill. — Despite trailing by 22 with less than five minutes remaining, the Kent State women's basketball team battled back to get within three before falling to host Northern Illinois, 73-69, in a Mid-American Conference contest Wednesday evening.
The Golden Flashes (15-8, 8-3 MAC) entered the night winners of five in a row by at least 14 points but struggled to slow down a hot-shooting Huskies lineup that shot 11-of-17 from three-point range over the first 35 minutes.
Facing the largest deficit during conference play with 4:22 left in the game, sophomore Mya Babbitt and a quartet of reserves made eight consecutive shots for a 21-2 run that made it a 72-69 game with 36.2 seconds remaining.
The comeback effort began with a floater by freshman Meghan Murray at the 4:07 mark. Murray then sank a stepback three-pointer and found Babbitt for another triple on the next possession. A driving layup by freshman Journey Hildebrand with 2:16 remaining made it 10 straight for the Flashes.
After NIU split a pair of free throw attempts to end the run, Babbitt drained two more triples and added a layup to get within six with 58.5 seconds to play. Senior Bianca Juzzo then recorded her third steal during the stretch, and junior Tatiana Thomas found Hildebrand for an open three in transition to make it 72-69.
Kent State was then whistled for a foul with 25.0 seconds left, and the Huskies split the pair of free throws. The Flashes missed three shots on the ensuing possession and ran out of time.
Babbitt went 5-of-7 from three-point range on the night and finished with a team-high 17 points. Senior Jenna Batsch added 15 points and junior Dionna Gray totaled 14 points and four assists. Senior Bridget Dunn had a game-high 12 rebounds.
Kent State will travel to Troy on Saturday for a MAC-Sun Belt Challenge matchup that is scheduled for tip at 2 p.m. ET
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