Sun Feb 05 2012
YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Kent State Golden Flashes saw their five-game winning streak halted Saturday with a 78-72 setback at Eastern Michigan.
Kent State (14-8, 7-3) trailed by as many as 18 points in the second half, but a 20-5 KSU run over a six-minute span pulled the Flashes within three, 67-64, with 5:47 to play.
But that was the closest Kent State could get.
“The comeback was offensive in nature; it wasn’t because of our defense,” said KSU coach Bob Lindsay. “We’ve tried to win with offense before, and it just doesn’t work for us.”
In three recent games during Kent State’s five-game winning streak, the Flashes rallied from a double-figure deficit.
Kent State was led by Taisja Jones, who had 18 of her 21 points in the second half. Jamilah Humes added 17 points, while Yoshica Spears tallied 12 points. Both Humes and Spears, along with Lorriane Odhiambo, had team-highs with seven rebounds.
Kent State held Eastern’s Tavelyn James to just seven first-half points, but her buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the first half gave Eastern Michigan a 38-26 lead at the break. Her 3-pointer capped a 9-2 run to close the half, giving Eastern its largest lead up to that point.
In the second half, Eastern Michigan kept Kent State at arm’s distance, and on five straight points by Sydney Hundley, the Eagles had a 62-44 lead with 11:47 to go.
But Kent State dug down and took advantage of a bounty of trips to the free-throw line. In the double-bonus with over 10 minutes to play, KSU started its comeback with four straight free throws.
Although Eastern Michigan shot almost 62 percent from the floor in the second half, a four-minute lapse without a field goal by the Eagles helped Kent State to pull within seven, 63-56.
From there, Kent State twice got within three, including at 69-66 on a bank shot by Odhiambo. But Eastern Michigan responded by converting on a Kent State miscue with 2:01 to play that gave the Eagles an eight-point cushion.
Kent State could not get closer than four the rest of the way.
Eastern Michigan’s James had 19 points, but was 5-of-16 from the field after coming into Saturday’s game fresh off a career-high 40 points against Buffalo. Cassie Schrock had 15 points, and Paige Redditt and Huntley each added 12 points for Eastern.
KSU returns to action Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest at Western Michigan to conclude the MAC West portion of its schedule.
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