Kent State loses two over Thanksgiving
Shooting problems and foul trouble haunted the Kent State women’s basketball team this past weekend as Kent State lost to both Northern Arizona and Minnesota in the La Quinta Inn and Suites Thanksgiving Tournament.
It was 51 degrees in Flagstaff, Ariz. on Friday, but the Flashes were ice cold. They shot just 31.6 percent from the field en route to a 75-65 loss to Northern Arizona.
After missing its first 11 field goal attempts, Kent State (1-3) took an 8-7 lead after senior guard Kerrie James hit the back end of a two-shot foul. This turned out to be the Flashes’ final lead of the game.
Northern Arizona (4-3) went on a 25-13 run to take a 32-21 lead with four minutes remaining in the first half.
The Lumberjacks’ Alyssa Wahl, a two-time all-Big Sky selection, was held to just five points on 2-of-5 shooting from the field in the first half. Forward Megan Porter picked up the load for Northern Arizona, scoring 17 of her game-high 24 points in the first half.
Set off by Peoples’ team-high 18 points, Kent State tightened the gap to less than 10 points with a minute left.
Kent State missed 17 foul shots and failed to hit a single three-point shot for the first time in three games.
The Flashes were unable to bounce back in Saturday’s consolation game. In a game that saw the lead change hands seven times, Kent State lost to Minnesota 70-67.
Peoples continued her early season success by putting up 16 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals.
For the season, Peoples, who was named to the all-tournament team, is averaging team-highs with 32 minutes per game, 16 points per game, 2.5 steals per game and 4.75 assists per game.
Kent State will play at home for the first time this season when they play Washington (4-2) 7 p.m. Thursday at the M.A.C. Center.
Contact sports reporter Tyler McIntosh at [email protected].