A late 10-0 run by the Flashes was too little, too late in Oxford Wednesday night as the Redhawks topped the women’s team 73-55 to fall to 1-2 in the Mid-American Conference 2-11 overall.

After being dominated for most of the game, the young Flashes showed not only Miami, but also the rest of the MAC that this team will not go down quietly.

With just seven minutes left, the Flashes trailed by 19 points, like they were for most of the game. From that mark until the three-minute point, the Flashes went on a 10-0 run to bring the team back within 11.

Unfortunately for the Flashes, that was as close as they would get on the night as Miami rounded out the win, but not before the Kent State coaching staff saw some much needed signs.

“That’s what it is with a young team,” assistant coach Lori Bodnar said. “You’re down and then they cut it back to 11, but it feels like 1,100 and that’s when you’ve got to keep them going. You just make some mental mistakes and Miami is a very good team.”

Starting off the game by scoring the first four points for the Flashes, freshman Jamie Hutcheson appeared to be on her way to a big night until foul trouble kicked in.

“That’s a sign of a young player,” Bodnar said. “You have two and you have to stay away from the play if you can. That’s a lesson she learned tonight and hopefully Saturday she doesn’t get into foul trouble.”

What hurt the Flashes most was the team’s low shooting percentage of 35.8 percent. Getting off 53 shots, the young team struggled all night to find a consistent rhythm against the tough MAC East division leaders.

Two years ago Miami found itself in the same young shoes as Kent State, which gives head coach Bob Lindsay and company hope for the future of this team.

“You take your lumps for a couple of years, but to be honest, Bob Lindsay is such a good coach,” Bodnar said. “I don’t think it’ll take us that long. You can see the growth of this team just in the games we’ve had so far. Yeah, we do make some freshman mistakes, but you see us growing and growing every game.”

Wednesday’s game stands as the last warm-up game for the Flashes before a Saturday match up against rival Akron with the Wagon Wheel Challenge at stake.

“Akron is going to be a tough game for us,” Bodnar said. “They play really hard. They’ll press us really hard for forty minutes. They’ll shoot the three; they have Taylor Ruper, who’s a very good shooter, and they also have Sina King who’s playing pretty well for them now that (Rachel) Tecca is out of the game. It’s going to be a tough battle.”

Last season, the Flashes won both its games against the Zips and look hungry for another win Saturday at 1 p.m. in Akron.

Contact Matt Lofgren at [email protected] and @MLofgrenDKS.