Big performances from sophomore guard Mya Babbitt and senior guard Jenna Batsch carried the Kent State women’s basketball team to an 89-73 win over Niagara Thursday.
Babbitt finished with a team-high 23 points on 9-13 (69%) shooting and 3-5 (60%) from three-point distance. She also added four rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Even with the high production, it is not Babbitt’s season-high in points scored this season. She also has scored 20 or more points three times this season.
Batsch scored 22 points on 8-11 (73%) shooting and 2-4 (50%) from three-point range. She also finished with six assists and four rebounds.
Together, the backcourt duo combined for over half the Flashes’ total points.
The Flashes started out slow defensively; giving up 20 points on over 44% shooting in the opening quarter. These struggles carried over into the second quarter, as the team gave up 24 points on 45% shooting.
The Flashes’ offense kept the team in the game, edging Niagara’s point total by one for the first half (43-42). Even more impressively, the team was more efficient than Niagara, as the team shot 57% and 64% in the first and second quarter.
Once the second half rolled around, the Flashes came out hot. The team turned a one-point lead into a 66-55 lead by the end of the third quarter.
Three straight turnovers from Niagara mid-way through the third quarter turned a six point-lead into a 12-point lead for the Flashes, and the team never looked back from there. Defensively, the Flashes held Niagara to just 13 points on 25% shooting in the third quarter.
A strong fourth quarter helped put the game away for good, as the Flashes outscored Niagara 23-18. After a rough offensive performance vs Colorado State, the Flashes responded in style. The team shot 32-52 (62%) from the field, 7-14 (50%) from three and 18-20 (90%) from the free-throw line.
The offense got it done in several different ways Thursday, as the Flashes dominated in multiple categories. The team scored 50 points in the paint, 33 fast break points, 30 points off turnovers and 28 bench points. The Flashes outscored Niagara in all of these categories.
Babbitt and Batsch weren’t the only ones who stepped up for the Flashes. Senior forward Bridget Dunn nearly had a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds. Junior forward Tatiana Thomas also had a big game coming off the bench, as she finished with 14 points and four rebounds.
Niagara’s best performances came from junior guard Marlie Dickerson and sophomore guard Safiatu Kolliegbo. Dickerson scored 22 points on 9-15 shooting (60%) and 4-6 (67%) from three. She also added three steals and two blocks.
Kolliegbo finished with 17 points (7-16 from the field), four rebounds and two steals.
The Flashes, once again, move past the .500 mark at 5-4. Niagara falls to 1-6.
The Flashes will be out of action until Dec. 16, when the team hosts Virginia University of Lynchburg. Tipoff will begin at 11 a.m.
John Engoglia is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].