KSU defense leads the way in victory

The Kent State women’s basketball team rolled to a 64-46 win after forcing Rhode Island to turn the ball over regularly yesterday at the M.A.C. Center.

The Flashes (4-1) were the aggressor throughout the first half, leading 32-16 at the break. Although Kent State shot just 28 percent from the field in the opening half, the Flashes held a 4-17 turnover ratio that gave the Flashes the 16-point cushion.

Kent State coach Bob Lindsay said the team’s defense was impressive in the first half, but the team can still do more.

“I thought we did a lot of good things out there today, and I thought we did really well defensively in the first half,” Lindsay said. “There were some spots we played really well, and I think the game got sloppy. We could be better than this.”

Senior forward Yoshica Spears accounted for 12 of Kent State’s 15 points in the paint.

The senior finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists and said her development can be attributed to her pride in being the team’s force inside.

“This year I think I’m just tenacious on the boards,” Spears said. “Nobody else is going to get them, so I said, ‘Hey let me go, I can make some easy money that way.'”

The Flashes’ struggles from behind the arc continued, as the team shot 7-for-24 on the day. Kent State came into Sunday’s game shooting 32.4 percent from long range, which is a drop from last season’s team’s 39.8 percent.

Sophomore guard Jena Stutzman, who is 8-for-11 from 3-point range in the last two games, added 12 points for the Flashes but struggled from long range.

Lindsay said Stutzman, who went 2-for-7 from 3, is capable of playing much better.

“The last two games she shot the ball pretty well,” Lindsay said. “She was looking for her offense, and I thought she took some shots that were real quick on the shot clock, and not necessarily open. There are some shots that were contested that she probably shouldn’t have taken.”

After holding a 16-point lead at half, the Flashes didn’t let up. Kent State edged the Rams 32-30 in the second half, cementing the team’s fourth win on the season and improving Lindsay’s record in home openers to 16-5.

Spears said playing at home was refreshing after the team came off a four-game road swing.

“It’s always refreshing to come back home because you have your fans behind you cheering you on, and it’s just the support you need sometimes,” Spears said. “Playing at home just gives you an extra burst of energy.”

Last Tuesday, Jamilah Humes and Jena Stutzman each scored 17 points in a route to an 84-66 victory over Florida Atlantic.

Despite playing 17 minutes because of foul trouble, Humes shot 6-of-8 with five rebounds and two steals.

The Flashes will return to their home court Saturday when they tip-off against Cleveland State (2-3) at 2 p.m.

Game Notes

Milestone win

The win ties coach Bob Lindsay with former Toledo coach Bob Nichols for first all-time in Mid-American Conference history with 376 victories.

No free giveaway

The Flashes turned the ball over seven times during the game, a school record that was previously broken Feb. 13, 2008 against Northern Illinois.

Inside presence

Junior center Ellie Shields, who received only six minutes of playing time last Tuesday, was a force in the paint for the Flashes against the Rams. Shields played 22 minutes and had eight points and nine rebounds (one offensive, eight defensive).

Contact sports reporter Lance Lysowski at [email protected].