Tip-off at the start of the Kent State - Akron Women's Basketball game. (Photo: Derek Dimit)
Kent, OH - With a ticket to the MAC Tournament already punched, the Kent State Golden Flashes Women's Basketball team welcomed the rival Akron Zips to the MAC Center Saturday afternoon. What started as a back and forth affair turned quickly after the 1st quarter media timeout. With 4:29 left in the opening frame, the Flashes held a modest 10-7 lead. Out of that timeout, they would go on a 10-0 run over the next 2:50, leading to a Zips timeout to try and stop the bleeding.
The first quarter ended with the Flashes holding a 22-9 lead, led by the guard tandem of Katie Shumate and Dionna Gray, with 9 and 7 respectively. The Zips outscored the Flashes 21-17 in the games 2nd quarter, relying on the post play of Reagan Bass who led the Zips at the half with 8 points.
Kent State Guard Katie Shumate shoots a runner in the lane in the 1st half of action. (Photo: Derek Dimit)
Kent State opened the 2nd half on a 9-3 run, to extend the lead back to 15 (48-33) before Akron head coach Ryan Gensler called a timeout. Kent State ended the quarter +16 on the scoreboard, 55-39.
Kent State was able to keep Akron post star Reagan Bass scoreless in the 2nd half, leading to a final stat line that is roughly 50% of the output she averaged coming in to this afternoon's contest. She was also not as sharp when it came to rebounding, totaling only 6 on the afternoon. It was a two player effort to keep Bass under wraps. Starter Mikala Morris and reserve Janae Tyler combined to cause Bass, and in turn the Zips offense, in fits all afternoon.
The final frame saw the Flashes out score the Zips 18-12, giving the Golden Flashes a 22 point (73-51) victory over their fierce rival, moving them to 16-8 on the year and 11-3 in MAC play. The loss dropped the Zips to 9-16 and 4-10 in MAC play.
Leaders on the Afternoon:
Kent State
Katie Shumate 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Janae Tyler 16 points, 4 rebounds
Jenna Batsch 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Akron
Teneshia Clark 9 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists
Raegan Bass 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Morgan Haney 8 points, 2 rebounds
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