First-place Ohio routs Kent State, 86-52

The score was pretty much what you’d have expected when 21-4 Ohio played 5-19 Kent State.

It was 86-52, but the way Ohio won was a little different that its usual formula.

Ohio usually scores from outside; the Bobcats are fifth in the nation in three-point scoring, averaging 9.9 per game. They are last in the MAC in rebounding margin at minus 3.7

Wednesday Ohio outrebounded Kent State 48-35, had 16 second-chance points and outscored KSU 44-22 in the paint. And the Bobcats still made 9 of 27 three-point shots.

“Ohio is rolling,” KSU coach Danny O’Banion said in her postgame radio interview. “They’re a fun team to watch except for the two nights a season we have to play them.”

The Bobcats are sixth in the Mid Major top 25. Their RPI is 29th best in the nation, and they’re 9-2 against teams in the top 100 RPI.

Ohio is 14-1 in the MAC and now 22-4 overall. Kent State is 2-12 and last in the MAC and 5-20 overall.

Ohio jumped to an 11-1 lead, and the game was never in doubt. They shot 49 percent from the field and scored 22 points off of 20 Kent State turnovers.

All-MAC guard Kiyanna Black led the Bobcats with 19 points in 26 minutes, the most played by an Ohio player. Eight Bobcats played more than 19 minutes, and the Ohio bench played most of the fourth quarter.

Kent State was led by Jordan Korinek, who had 18 points on 5 of 6 shooting and 8 of 10 foul shots. But she was in foul trouble through much of the game, as she has through much of the MAC season. She’s had four or more fouls in 12 of KSU’s 15 games.

“We just have to continue to educate Jordan that when she’s the best player on our team, other teams are trying to get her in foul trouble,” O’Banion said. “She’s one of best players in league, so it’s well worth their effort to get her out of there.”

Chelsi Watson played one of her best games off the bench with 11 points on 5 of 9 shooting and a team-leading seven rebounds. Tyra James had nine points and four steals. Second-leading scorer Larissa Lurken had just five points on 1 of 9 shooting and six rebounds.

“I still like this team,” O’Banion said. “There’s a lot of potential and capability in the locker room. We’ve got to make sure that the final score in this game does not deter us, as well as we’ve been playing.”

The Flashes finish the season with three competitive games. They play Akron, a team they led on the road by 11 at halftime, at home Saturday, then play Miami, the team a game ahead of them in the standings at home on Wednesday. They finish the regular season at 6-9 Buffalo.

Box score

Other MAC scores

  • Akron (14-12, 8-7) 65, Miami (9-17, 3-12) 62, in overtime at Miami.
  • Buffalo (14-12, 6-9) 55, Bowling Green (9-15, 5-10) 52, at Buffalo.
  • Central Michigan (18-8, 12-3) 67, Ball State (18-8, 10-5) 66, at Central.
  • Eastern Michigan (18-8, 9-6) 58, Toledo (*15-11, 10-5) 46, at Toledo.
  • Northern Illinois (11-15, 4-11) 80, Western Michigan (15-12, 7-8) 70, at Western.

MAC standings