Flashes earn first MAC victory of season

Sophomore forward Chenel Harris had a season-best performance as the Kent State women’s basketball team earned its first Mid-American Conference win tonight at Buffalo.

The Flashes (12-3, 1-2 MAC) won 79-61 over Buffalo (4-12, 0-3) at Alumni Arena to snap a two-game losing skid. Kent State led wire-to-wire against the Bulls, making the first buckets of the game and commanding a 22-point lead in the second half.

Harris was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line en route to scoring a team-leading 21 points. Senior center Anna Kowalska and sophomore guard Stephanie Gibson finished behind her with 13 points each.

Junior guard Rachel Bennett added 11 points, all in the second half, and sophomore guard Jamilah Humes scored 10 points.

“Overall I think we had good balance offensively,” Kent State coach Bob Lindsay said. “Chenel Harris had a very good game. When they made a run at us, we answered it and pretty much put them away.”

Kent State started the game shooting 5-of-7 from the field, including three baskets from behind the 3-point line. The Flashes held a 44-29 advantage at halftime thanks to a last-second 3-point heave by Gibson.

Buffalo reawakened with a 10-point run in the second half after falling behind 55-33. The Bulls closed to within 10 points of Kent State, but never came closer.

Buffalo guard Rachelle Matthys scored 22 points to lead the Bulls.

The Flashes play Ohio next at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the M.A.C. Center.

Contact sports reporter Josh Johnston at [email protected].