Bulls run wild in big win over Kent State
Kent State senior forward Jordan Korinek picked up two quick fouls Wednesday night, which set the tone early in the game.
Buffalo (18-4, 9-2 Mid-American Conference) finished the first quarter on a 14-0 run, and Kent State (11-13, 4-8 MAC) trailed, 25-9, after the first quarter. The Bulls shot the ball well early on and were able to get out in transition.
Korinek checked back into the game about a minute into the second quarter. She scored 14 points in the period, shooting 5-for-6 from the field and 4-for-4 from the line.
However, the team shot just 8-for-27 from the field and 1-for-11 from three-point range. The Flashes’ remaining starters combined for just nine points in the half. Graduate student forward McKenna Stephens had five points, struggling from the floor, shooting 2-for-7. The team also finished the half with only four assists.
Buffalo had three players in double-digits after the first half. The Bulls shot 15-for-35 from the field and 4-for-11 from three, while also knocking down 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. The team also moved the ball well, finishing the half with 12 assists. Kent State trailed, 41-23, at the half.
The second half was even more of a struggle for the Flashes.
They could only muster 19 points on 5-for-35 shooting. Korinek was the team’s leading scoring with eight points in the half. However, she struggled from the floor, shooting just 1-for-9. She scored the rest of her points from the free-throw line (6-for-10).
Junior guard Alexa Golden was the only other starter to score during the second half (1-for-2 from the line). The rest of the Flashes’ points came from the bench. Sophomore guard Megan Carter scored four points shooting 2-for-5 from the field, and freshman guard Erin Thames added three points.
Kent State shot an uncharacteristically low percentage from the line. The Flashes finished the game 15-for-24 (62.5 percent). Entering the game, they were the second-best free-throw shooting team in the MAC (74.5%).
The Flashes turned the ball over 14 times, which led to easy transition buckets for the Bulls. Kent State also finished the game 13-for-62 (21%) from the field and 1-for-17 from three. The team also finished with just five assists.
The Flashes are now 1-10 in their last 11 meetings with Buffalo. After Wednesday’s game, the Bulls hold a commanding lead over the Mid-American Conference’s East division. They have the second-best scoring defense in the MAC (65.7 ppg), which is one spot below Kent State (65.8 ppg). Buffalo leads the MAC in opponent’s field goal percentage (37.1%).
Kent State will look to snap its two-game losing streak at 2 p.m. Saturday at the M.A.C. Center as the Flashes take on Ohio (12-10, 6-5).
Ian Kreider is a sports reporter. Contact him at [email protected].