Flashes’ free-throw shooting leads to victory
The Kent State women’s basketball team missed plenty of shots from everywhere on the court tonight at the M.A.C. Center.
Everywhere, except from the foul line.
On a night of poor shooting from the field for the Flashes (14-4, 3-3 Mid-American Conference), the team still converted 22 of 27 free throws to pull off a 70-59 win over Western Michigan. Sophomore guard Jamilah Humes knocked down all 11 of her attempts to lead the team.
“Later on in the game, free throws kept us in the game,” Humes said. “Their limited free throws helped us too.”
On the other side of the court, the Broncos experienced a completely opposite shooting night. Western Michigan shot 46.4 percent from the field, including 14-of-27 in the first half, and 50 percent from the 3-point line. However, the Broncos barely touched the foul line all night, shooting 2-of-8.
Kent State played catch-up to Western Michigan for much of the night, many times being matched basket for basket. The Broncos finished the first half with a four-point lead over the Flashes.
In the second half, Kent State closed to tie the score six times, but could never hold a solid lead until back-to-back scores late in the game by senior center Anna Kowalska and sophomore forward Chenel Harris.
Kent State’s perfect free-throw shooting down the stretch finished off the Broncos.
Humes finished with a team-high 17 points, while Kowalska was right behind her with 15 on 7-of-10 shooting.
“We tried to go out tonight and play the game with a little more intensity, a little more energy defensively,” Kent State coach Bob Lindsay said. ” . From a defensive standpoint, the number of free throws they shot and the fact that they turned the ball over significantly made the difference in the game from our standpoint.”
Contact sports reporter Josh Johnston