The Kent State women came as close at any MAC team has to first-place Central Michigan Saturday but lost to the Chippewas on the road, 88-84.
Central is the only unbeaten team in MAC play at 5-0. The Chippewas had won their last three games by an average of 26 points. Their only close game was at 14-1 Ball State, where they also won by four points. Central, 13-3 overall, has won 14 straight games at home and 20 of its last 21 in Mount Pleasant.
Kent State is now 2-3 in the MAC and 9-8 overall.
KSU scored the first basket, but Central led the rest of the game. Kent State cut CMU’s lead to three points in the third quarter and to five several times in the fourth. The final margin was four because Megan Carter hit a three-point shot at the final buzzer.
Carter had a career-high 27 points for Kent State. Jordan Korinek, the MAC’s third-leading scorer, had 28 for the Flashes.
Kent State shot a season-beat 54 percent from the field.
Cassie Breen led Central with 26 points and made seven of 12 three-point shots.
DETAILED STORY, INCLUDING QUOTES FROM COACH TODD STARKEY, WILL FOLLOW