Month: January 2018

Ball State’s fast break takes Cardinals to 79-58 win over Flashes

Ball State scored 26 fast-break points and beat Kent State 79-58 at the M.A.C. Center.

The Cardinals jumped to a 26-14 first-quarter lead, hitting five of six three-point shots and nine of 15 field goals. Many of those shots came when the Cardinals grabbed rebounds and pushed the ball down the court.

Kent State played BSU fairly evenly in the second half and got within 13 points twice.

Ball State, which started the season 11-0, is 4-3 in the MAC and 15-3 overall. Kent State Dallas to 2-5 in the conference and 9-10 overall.

Jordan Korinek led Kent State with 18 points. McKenna. Stephens had 11 and Ali Poole 10.

All five Ball State starters scored in double figures. Point guard Carmen Grande, who is second in the nation in assists, had 10 Saturday.

Box score

DETAILED STORY WITH QUOTES FROM COACH TODD STARKEY WILL FOLLOW

Both teams need win badly as Flashes host Ball State Saturday afternoon

Both Kent State and Ball State are reeling as they face each other at 2 p.m. Saturday at the M.A.C. Center.

Ball State started the season 11-0 and looked as if it would challenge Central Michigan for the West Division title. But Central beat the Cardinals at Ball State in their MAC opener. In the last week, Ball State lost to Buffalo (14-3, 5-1 in the MAC) at home and Toledo (12-5, 4-2) on the road. So the Cardinals are 3-3 (14-3 overall) and three games behind undefeated Central (14-3, 6-0) in the West.

Kent State also lost both of its games in the last week. The Flashes played well at Central Michigan but lost 88-84. They did not play at all well at Bowling Green (10-7, 2-4) Wednesday and lost 60-50. KSU is 2-4 in the MAC and facing tough games Saturday and Wednesday at Toledo. The Flashes could easily be 2-6 at this time next week and pretty much out of contention to defend their MAC East title.

Ball State has two of the MAC’s best players. Point guard Carmen Grand is second in the nation in assists at 9.6 per game. Forward Moriah Monaco is sixth in the MAC in scoring at 16.9 points a game and has scored in double figures 69 times in her career.

Kent State’s Jordan Korinek was held to seven points against Bowling Green and has dropped to third in the MAC in scoring at 19.6 points per game.

Inconsistent Flashes struggle with turnovers, effort, offense in 60-50 loss at Bowling Green

Coach Todd Starkey’s analysis of Kent State’s 60-50 loss at Bowling Green was clear.

Now the Flashes have to figure out what to do about it.

The 10-point loss was KSU’s first to a team with a losing record in the MAC in Starkey’s two years as coach. Bowling Green was 1-4 in the conference going into the game. The Falcons are now 10-7. Kent State is 9-9 overall and also 2-4 in the MAC.

Starkey’s analysis:

“We’ve been vastly inconsistent,” the coach said on his postgame interview on Golden Flash iHeart Radio. “We’ve got to quit playing at the level of our competition. We can’t score 50 points against this team and score 84 against Central Michigan. It just makes no sense.”

KSU had scored a season-high in its 88-84 loss Saturday to Central, the only team undefeated in MAC play. Central had beaten BG 90-54 in Bowling Green a week ago.

“We have to look inward and say, ‘What aren’t we doing as a coaching staff to get them to play their best?‘” Starkey said. “(Players) have got to look at themselves and say, ‘What do we have to do better?'”

Kent State struggled with the same problems it has faced all season.

The Flashes struggle when Jordan Korinek struggles. Korinek, the MAC’s leading scorer going into the game at 20.4 points per game, had only seven Wednesday and got off only six shots.

“Bowling Green did a good job in its game plan: If you beat Jordan up early, it takes her out of the game,” Starkey said. “They did a good job of clogging the paint.

“Partly it was their physical play. And partly it was our guards inability to get to ball to her without turning it over.”

Kent State, the worst team the conference in turnover margin, had 20 turnovers.

“We can’t play a team that doesn’t press and turn the ball over 20 times and think we’re going to be in a game,” Starkey said. “Until we get that fixed, it’s going to be a difficult road for us.”

Starkey has talked of an inconsistent effort from his team most of the season.

“We looked like we were running in mud,” Starkey said. “Effort-wise, focus-wise, aggressiveness-wise, we’re just too up and down, too inconsistent.

“Bowling Green just wanted it more than we did down the stretch. We didn’t execute well, they got to every loose ball and obviously knocked down some big shots.”

The game was close throughout. Kent State led by three after the first quarter and one at halftime. BG led by two after three quarters.

In the fourth, the teams traded six-point runs. Then with BG leading 49-46, Kent State missed a foul shot, a layup and a three-point shot. Bowling Green’s Sydney Lambert than scored a layup and hit a desperation three-point shot with the shot clock expiring to give the Falcons a 54-47 lead.

Kent State cut it to four, but Bowling Green hit six foul shots in the last minute.

For the game, the Falcons made 15 of 17 free throws. Kent was 13 of 19. Generally when the Flashes are outscored at the foul line, they struggle. Korinek, who is second in the country in made foul shots before the game, was three of five.

Box score

Notes

  • Ali Poole led Kent State with 17 points. She scored 12 in the first quarter, making five of six shots and two or three three-pointers. Megan Carter had 12 points on five of nine shooting and had three assists.
  • KSU made three of 19 three-point shots (15.8 percent). Overall, the Flashes were 17 for 50 shooting (34 percent), about six points below their average. Bowling Green shot fine from three-point distance — nine of 23 for 39 percent — but struggled on two-point shots. They were nine of 44 (20 percent). Much of that was because of good Kent State defense, but the Flashes gave up some easy drives to the basket in the fourth quarter when BG took control of the game.
  • Kent State outrebounded the Falcons 45-30, led by McKenna Stephens’ career-high 13. But the Flashes got just seven second-chance points on 10 offensive rebounds.
  • Korinek’s first basket put her over 1,500 points for her career. She has 1,505, 12th most in Kent State history. If she averages 20 for the rest of the season, she’ll finish in with place all time. Starkey said Korinek had been struggling with a jammed thumb for several weeks. It apparently was taped heavily in the second half Wednesday. (Before last night, she had averaged 24 points a game in MAC play.)
  • Merissa Barber-Smith, the 6-4 junior backup center, missed her third straight game with illness. Freshman Kasey Toles was unavailable because of an ankle injury.
  • Bowling Green had nine steals and turned KSU’s 20 turnovers into 23 points. Kent scored 13 points off of 11 BG turnovers.
  • The Flashes held Bowling Green’s leading scorer, Carly Santoro, to five points on two of eight shooting. That was nine below her average. Santoro had five rebounds, five below her average. Sydney Lambert led BG with 13 points and backup guard Catterrion Thompson had 12. Both made three three-pointers.

Kent State is home Saturday to play Ball State at 2 p.m. Ball State, which started the season 12-0, has lost two straight and is 3-3 in the MAC (15-3 overall). The Cardinals lost at Toledo (4-2 MAC, 13-5 overall), 72-66 Wednesday.

Other MAC scores

  • Central Michigan (6-0, 14-3) 81, Northern Illinois (2-4, 10-7) 78 at Northern.
  • Eastern Michigan (4-2, 8-9) 69, Western Michigan (10-8, 3-3) 67 in overtime at Eastern.
  • Buffalo (5-1, 14-3) 67, Ohio (3-3, 9-8) 63 at Ohio.
  • Miami (2-4, 10-7) 75, Akron (0-6, 6-11) 67 at Miami.

MAC standings

 

 

 

 

 

Turnovers, weak offense, late Bowling Green run beat Kent State 60-50

Bowling Green outscored Kent State 20-12 in the fourth quarter and beat the Flashes Wednesday, 60-50.

Kent State committed 20 turnovers and made only three of 19 three-point shots.

Bowling Green shut down Kent’s Jordan Korinek, the MAC’s leading scorer going into the game. Korinek scored only seven points and was able to take only six shots against a Bowling Green defense that played her physically inside. Korinek had averaged 20.4 points a game.

Ali Poole led Kent State with 17 points, 12 of them in the first quarter. Megan Carter had 12. McKenna Stephens had a career-high 13 rebounds.

Kent State drops to 9-9 on the season and 2-4 in the MAC. Bowling Green is 10-7 and 2-4 in the conference.

DETAILED STORY WITH QUOTES FROM COACH TODD STARKEY WILL FOLLOW

 

Kent State plays Wednesday at Bowling Green, which has struggled in MAC play

Kent State plays Wednesday at Bowling Green, a team that had one of the MAC’s better non-conference records but with one of the worst in-conference records.

The Falcons started the season 8-3 but are 1-4 in the MAC (9-7 overall). They won their first league game Saturday, coming from 12 down in the fourth quarter to beat Akron, 66-64. Akron is the only winless team in the conference.

It is Kent State’s second straight away game and part of a stretch in which they play four of five games on the road. Saturday they’re home against 15-2 Ball State. Next week they play at 12-5 Toledo and 6-10 Akron.

KSU is 2-3 in the conference (9-8 overall), with both wins coming over Eastern Michigan. Eastern is the surprise team of the MAC, beating Toledo at home and Bowling Green and Miami on the road after posting the league’s worst non-conference record and RPI.

Bowling Green’s RPI is 130, a little worse than Kent State’s 120 (of 349 Division I teams). Both teams beat Eastern Kentucky, Detroit and Robert Morris in non-conference play. BG’s best non-conference win probably was over Xavier, which is 8-10.

Bowling Green is led by 5-10 junior guard Carly Santoro, who averages a double-double at 14.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. Second in both categories is sophomore forward Andrea Cecil at 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Here’s how the two teams rank in MAC statistics:

SCORING OFFENSE: Bowling Green is ninth at 65.1 points a game, Kent State 11th at 64.6. Ball State leads the conference at 82.6.

SCORING DEFENSE: Kent State is sixth at 64.8 points per game, BG 11th at 68.2. Akron is first at 63.2.

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE: KSU is eighth at 40.8 percent, BG 10th at 37.8. Central Michigan is first at 45.4.

FIELD GOAL DEFENSE: Kent State eighth at 40.6 percent, Bowling Green ninth at 41.4. Buffalo is first at 36.7.

THREE-POINT SHOOTING: KSU is seventh at 32.2 percent, Bowling Green eighth at 31.9. Central is first at 38.9.

THREE-POINT BASKETS PER GAME: Kent is 11th at 5.2, BG sixth at 7.5. Central is first at 9.9.

THREE-POINT DEFENSE: Kent State is sixth at 30.2 percent, BG 11th at 35.2. Buffalo is first at 28 percent.

FOUL SHOOTING: KSU is third at 74.6 percent, Bowling Green fourth at 71.4. Central is first at 83.3.

REBOUNDING MARGIN: Kent State is second at plus-5.1. BG is ninth at plus-0.1. Central is first at plus-9.9.

TURNOVER MARGIN: KSU is 12th at minus-3.3, Bowling Green seventh at plus-0.2. Ohio is first at plus-10.5.

Kent State’s Jordan Korinek leads the MAC in scoring at 20.4 points per game and is tied with teammate McKenna Stephens for 13th in rebounding at 6.1. Korinek is third in the conference in free-throw percentage at 83.2. She has shot 39 more than anyone else in the conference and made 41 more. Alexa Golden is 10th in free-throw percentage at 80.2. No other Kent State player is in the top 10 in any category.

Full MAC team and individual statistics, including standings.

To follow the game

Action starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Video is on ESPN3. You can follow it online if your subscribe to ESPN on cable or on satellite.

Audio starts at about 6:45 p.m. on Golden Flash iHeart Radio.

Live statistics will be available through the Bowling Green website.

Kent State website, including links to statistics, roster, schedule/results, record book and more.

Bowling Green website, including links.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flashes come as close as any MAC team to Central Michigan but lose on road, 88-84

Moore and KorinekCentral Michigan’s Tinara Moore (2) and Kent State’s Jordan Korinek (35) are two of the best forwards in the MAC and went at each other all game Saturday. Moore had 21 points and 14 rebounds. Korinek had 28 points and seven rebounds. (Photo from Central Michigan website.)

Coach Todd Starkey put it like this in his postgame interviewer on Golden Flash Radio:

“Central Michigan beat us,” he said. “But we helped.”

Central, at 5-0 the only MAC team undefeated in conference play, beat the Flashes, 88-84, Saturday in Mount Pleasant. Overall CMU is 13-3. Kent State is 2-3 in the league and 9-8 overall.

Kent State played with the Chippewas pretty well for most of the afternoon. Central may have the best starting lineup in the conference, including third-leading scorer Presley Hudson (18.8 points a game), leading rebounder Reyna Frost (13.3 a game) and returning all-MAC forward Tinara Moore (16.9 points, 9.3 rebounds a game).

Central had won its last three MAC games by an average of 26 points. Its closest league game was also a four-point victory, 69-65 at 14-2 Ball State.

It was a fourth starter, senior Cassie Breen, though, who led Central Saturday with 26 points, making seven of 12 three-point shots.

Kent State fell behind Central Michigan 23-14 after the first quarter and trailed by as many as 15 in the first half and 17 in the second. But the Flashes kept coming back, closing to within three in the third quarter.

But Kent State committed four turnovers in a row with 2:56 to go after they had closed the game to nine points.

“We kept fighting, we kept coming back,” Starkey said. “But I’m tired of saying that they kept fighting but coming up short against good teams. I want to find a way to do the right things down the stretch and come up with a really good win against good teams.”

Central was the fourth top-50 RPI team Kent State has lost to this season. In every game, the Flashes played at least two good quarters but couldn’t extend the good play for the whole game. The Flashes have beaten only one team with a winning record (Robert Morris, now 12-4) and no team with an RPI of above 160. (RPI is a ranking system based on a team’s record and strength of schedule. KSU’s RPI is 129 of 349 Division I teams.)

Kent State got very good games from Megan Carter, Jordan Korinek and McKenna Stephens. Carter beat her career high by 10 with 27 points. She made 11 of 18 shots and three of four three-pointers, had three assists and two steals. She has averaged 15 points a game since she became eligible after the first semester. (She missed fall with academic problems.)

Korinek, the conference’s third leading scorer, had 28 points on 11 of 16 shooting and six of six free foul shots.. She also had seven rebounds and three assists. Korinek, who is averaging 24.2 points a game in five MAC games, is the only player in the league to score more than 20 points in every conference game. She has made 43 of 47 foul shots in MAC play.

Stephens had 15 points on six of 11 shooting with three three-point baskets. She also had six rebounds, four assists, a blocked shot and a steal. Alexa Golden had seven rebounds, three steals and two assists to go with two-three pointers.

But in the end, Kent State turnovers and CMU’s offensive rebounding and three-point shooting made the difference in the game.

The Flashes committed 18 turnovers, about their season average, and Central scored 23 points off of them. KSU scored 22 points off of 11 Central turnovers.

The Chippewas had 19 second-chance points off of 17 offensive rebounds and made 11 of 29 three-point shots. They lead the MAC in three-point baskets per game.

“It seemed like if we took something away, they found something else,” Starkey said. “They’re a really good team.”

Breen’s 26 points were a season high. She is fifth in the MAC in three-point percentage. Moore had 21 points and 14 rebounds. Hudson had 15 points, Micaela Kelly 12 and Reyna Frost 11. Only one non-starter scored for Central, and she had three points.

Box score

Notes

  • Kent State’s 84 points were the most it has scored this season. Previous high was in their 82-74 win over Detroit. Central’s 88 points was the most KSU has given up this season. Northern Illinois scored 81 in a two-point victory last week.
  • The Flashes made 54 percent of their shots, a season high, including 61 percent in the second half. Their 47 percent three-point percentage (eight of 17) was also a high. Central was 44 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point distance.
  • The teams were the top two in the league statistically in rebounding, and Central won that battle with 38. Kent State had 33. Going into the game, CMU had a plus-10.2 rebounding margin, Kent State plus-5.7.
  • Kent State had baskets at the buzzer in the second, third and fourth quarters. Carter made a layup right before halftime and a three-point shot at the end of the game. She passed to point guard Naddiyah Cross for a layup at the end of the third quarter.
  • Senior forward Zenobia Bess played a season-high 14 minutes and had a season-high four rebounds. She scored four points.
  • Kent State travels to Bowling Green Wednesday for its first MAC East game. Bowling Green is 1-4 in the MAC and 9-7 on the season. The Falcons beat Akron Saturday at Akron, 66-64, coming from 12 points down in the last six minutes. Akron is 0-5 and 6-10.

The view from Central Michigan

Central Michigan coach Sue Guevara devoted much of her postgame comments to unhappiness with her team’s play in the last four minutes. Kent State cut a 15-point lead to the final four-point margin.

“We had gotten the lead,” she said. “Then we started going like the house was on fire. We took really quick shots and passing or shooting before we got the ball. I’m just really glad we were able to pull it out because we almost gave it away.

“If we can just get past the last four minutes and 35 seconds, then I probably wouldn’t be upset. But I know what this team wants to do, so I have to do a better job at making them understand that and making them do it in practice.”

Guevara’s win was her 100th on Central’s home court. She is 188-146 in 11 seasons at Central.

Game story from the CMU website.

Other MAC scores

Buffalo won a big road game, beating Ball State at Ball State, 84-80. The Bulls are 4-1, the second-best record in the league. Buffalo and Central play at Central Jan. 31 and in Buffalo on Feb. 14. Overall Buffalo is 13-3. Ball State is 14-2 and 3-2 in the MAC.

Ohio, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Western Michigan are all 3-2. Kent State and Northern Illinois are 2-3.

Saturday scores:

  • Ohio (3-2, 9-7) 69, Western Michigan (3-2, 10-7) 54 at Western.
  • Eastern Michigan (3-2, 7-9) 74, Miami (1-4, 9-7) 59 at Miami.
  • Toledo (3-2, 12-5) 63, Northern Illinois (2-3, 10-5) at Toledo.
  • Bowling Green (1-4, 9-8) 66, Akron (0-5, 6-10) 64 at Akron.

MAC standings

 

 

 

 

Flashes fall at first-place Central Michigan, 88-84

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.

Box score

DETAILED STORY, INCLUDING QUOTES FROM COACH TODD STARKEY, WILL FOLLOW

Flashes play Saturday at Central Michigan, perhaps the MAC’S best team

Central Michigan was the clear preseason favorite in the Mid-American Conference, The Chippewas got 10 of 12 votes to win the MAC West, 10 of 12 to win the MAC overall, and nine of 12 to win the MAC Tournament.

They’ve done nothing to dispel that since conference play started.

Central is the only team undefeated in conference play at 4-0. The Chipps are second in the league in scoring (82.3 points a game). They’re first in shooting percentage (45.6), first in three-point baskets per game (9.8), first in free-throw percentage (82.9). They’re overwhelmingly first in rebound margin (plus-10.2, five ahead of any other team).

They’re the only team to beat Ball State (14-1), and they did it at Ball State.

They’re Kent State’s challenge on the road Saturday.

The Flashes are 2-2 in the MAC, 9-7 overall. Both wins have come over Eastern Michigan, the second a 76-69 victory Wednesday at the M.A.C. Center.

After that game, coach Todd Starkey mused that he hadn’t yet figured this year’s team out.

“As frustrated as I am with this group at times, our RPI is still better than it was at this point last year. Our conference record is better than it was this point last year,” he said. “But it still feels like we are climbing up a pretty muddy slope right now. You start making some progress, and you slide back down.”

Starkey’s biggest complaint this season has been a lack of consistent intensity. Except for an overpowering defensive effort in a 46-31 win over Robert Morris and a strong effort in a loss to No. 23 Michigan, the Flashes have had at least one bad quarter in every game.

Wednesday it was the second, when KSU went three of 20 from the field and was outscored 19-9.

“We’ve played much better than this before in this season,” Starkey said. “I think teams have figured us out a little bit, so we’ve got to find a new rhythm and a new flow of things, and I think maybe some things can break open for us.”

But, he said, “our next four games games are really tough.

After traveling to Central, the Flashes go to 8-7 Bowling Green, then host Ball State, then play at 10-5 Toledo.

In Central, the Flashes play a team with two preseason all-MAC West players (point guard Presley Hudson and forward Tinara Moore) and a third playing near an all-MAC level. That’s Reyna Frost, a 6-foot junior who is third in the nation in rebounding at 13.3 a game. She also averages 14 points a game and scored 25 at Bowling Green Wednesday in a 90-54 win.

Hudson is fourth in the MAC in scoring at 18.4 points a game, first in free-throw shooting (92 percent), first in three-point baskets per game (4.0), third in three-point percentage (44.8) and third in assists (5.6 per game). Moore is sixth in the conference in scoring (16.9), third in rebounding (9.1), third in field-goal percentage (57.2) and first in blocked shots (2.1).

The worst thing you can say about Central is the team doesn’t get a lot of points from its bench. Four starters average in double figures and the fifth averages 9.5. But no one else on the team averages more than 3.7.

Kent State’s depth isn’t any better. Its five starters all average at least 30 minutes a game; top reserve Megan Carter averages 24.8. Next highest is 6-4 junior Merissa Barber-Smith, who missed Wednesday’s game with illness and, Starkey said, is likely to miss more. Next highest is junior Tyra James, who has played less than a minute on the MAC.

Carter (12.3 points a game), Jordan Korinek (19.9), McKenna Stephens (10.3), Ali Poole (8.4) and Alexa Golden (8.3) all have solid averages, and point guard Naddiyah Cross had a career-high 24 points Wednesday. Next highest scorer is James at 2.8.

To follow the game

Action starts at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Video is on ESPN3. You can follow it online if your subscribe to ESPN on cable or on satellite.

Audio starts at about126:45 p.m. on Golden Flash iHeart Radio.

Live statistics will be available through the Central Michigan website.

Kent State website, including links to statistics, roster, schedule/results, record book and more.

Preview from the Central Michigan website, including links. Here are detailed game notes for the media.

MAC statistics. including standings.

Flashes overcome a dreadful second quarter and beat Eastern Michigan, 76-69

Cross and victory bell

Naddiyah Cross, who scored a career-high 24 points Wednesday, rings the victory bell. (Photo from KSU website.)

Outside of the second quarter, Kent State played a very solid basketball game Wednesday in its 76-69 victory over Eastern Michigan.

The second quarter was pretty awful. KSU made just three of 20 shots and were outscored 19-9. The Flashes trailed 34-27 at the half.

“We were just playing passive, playing really soft,” coach Todd Starkey said in his postgame press conference. “We went up passive on shots. We acted like they were blocking every shot, and they didn’t have any blocked shots.

“We just weren’t pushing through contact or wanting contact at all.”

In the second half, the Flashes made 54 percent of their shots and outscored Eastern by seven points in both the third and fourth quarters.

“We got much better ball movement and much better movement off the ball,” Starkey said.

Senior point guard Naddiyah Cross scored a career-high 24 points on eight of 13 shooting and three of six three-pointers. Cross has started 76 games over four years but never been a big scorer. Her 5.8 average this season is two points higher than it has ever been.

“She’s not going to have 24 points every night,” Starkey said. “But if she takes the right type of shots, she’s a very capable scorer. She’s very responsive to coaching. I’m proud of her development. We don’t win this game without her stepping up.”

Senior forward Jordan Korinek played a complete game in a number of ways. She played all 40 minutes — something I don’t remember happening in her four years starting — and had 23 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and a blocked shot. It was a season-high in rebounding and her first double-double of the year. The five assists tied a career-high.

She made 17 of 19 free throws — the most made and attempted by a MAC player this season. The 17 makes are the sixth highest in Division I this season and fifth highest in Kent State history.

Korinek made 15 of 15 free throws in her two games last week and was named MAC East player of the week and the conference student-athlete of the week. (She has a 4.0 average in special education and was a second-team academic All-American last season.)

“That’s a big emphasis,” Korinek said. “We always want to get to the free-throw line more than them. I do a lot of shooting free throws after practice, and we shoot a lot of free throws in practice.

“I try to finish through contact and draw the contact. That was a big emphasis on halftime, so we definitely focused on that and got to the line more.”

Korinek on playing 40 minutes: “I don’t know (if it’s happened before). But I’m feeling it right now.

The Flashes had only 13 turnovers for the game. That’s 4 1/2 below their average and eight below the average Eastern forces per game. In the first game between the two teams Dec. 30, Eastern scored 25 points off 21 Kent State turnovers. Last night it was 14 points off 12 turnovers.

It was a point of emphasis in preparation.

“It was only said about 15 times before the game,” Korinek said.

“We knew that was going to be a key,” Starkey said. “I thought we did a much better job of taking care of the ball, of making safe passes.”

Notes

  • Kent State is now 2-2 and tied for second in the MAC East with Ohio. The Flashes are 9-7 overall. Eastern is 2-2 and 6-9 overall. The KSU win breaks Kent’s two-game losing streak and Eastern’s two-game winning streak.
  • McKenna Stephens had 17 points for the Flashes on five of 10 shooting and five of six foul shots. She had six rebounds. Ali Poole and Alexa Golden each had five rebounds. Poole had two three-point baskets; she has nine in her last three games.
  • Megan Carter, who averaged 16 points in her first three conference games, didn’t score in 17 minutes, which was about 12 below her average playing time.
  • No non-starter scored for Kent State.
  • Merissa Barber-Smith, the 6-4 junior who has been the first post player off the bench, didn’t play because of illness. Starkey said she likely would miss several more games but said he couldn’t elaborate. (The coach takes medical privacy rules as seriously as any coach I know of.)
  • Senior Zenobia Bess was the first post substitute Wednesday but picked up two quick fouls and played only two minutes. Freshman Monique Smith played four minutes; Starkey said she’ll need to step up while Barber-Smith is out.
  • Kent State outrebounded Eastern Michigan 41-29, though Starkey complained about the team’s not blocking out late in the game when Eastern got several offensive rebounds. Kent State had 14 offensive rebounds. EMU had only 17 defensive rebounds.
  • Courtney Lewis led Eastern with 19 points. Emoni Jackson had 11 and Danielle Minott 10. Jackson, Minott, Sasha Daily and Corrione Cardwell — all starters — fouled out.

KSU next travels to first-place Central Michigan for a Saturday afternoon game. Central (4-0, 12-3 overall) beat Bowling Green Wednesday, 90-54.

The view from Eastern

Coach Fred Castro, on Eastern Michigan radio: “They were the better team; they were the tougher team.  We just needed to be disciplined and solid and not send them to the free throw line.”

“We started out the way we should have. We talked about what they were going to do at halftime, and sure enough they did it. We knew Jordan was going to end up with the ball. We didn’t execute the way we needed to.”

“We didn’t try to turn them over in the first half. We don’t have to turn these guys over to beat them. We had to ramp up the pressure later because we were down.”

“They absolutely killed us on the offensive glass.

Box score

Other MAC scores

  • Western Michigan (3-1, 10-6 overall) 88, Northern Illinois (2-2, 10-5) 83 at Western.
  • Toledo (2-2, 11-5) 75, Ohio (2-2, 8-7) 57 at Toledo.
  • Central Michigan (4-0, 12-3) 90, Bowling Green (0-4, 8-7) 54 at Central.
  • Buffalo (12-3, 3-1) 72, Miami (1-3, 9-6) 67 at Buffalo.
  • Ball State (3-1, 14-1) 74, Akron (0-4, 6-9) 61 at Akron.

MAC standings

Flashes rally to beat Eastern Michigan, 76-69, behind Cross’s 24 and Korinek’s 23

Kent State came back from a seven-point halftime deficit to outscore Eastern Michigan by seven in both the third and fourth quarters to beat the Eagles, 76-69, Wednesday at the M.A.C. Center.

KSU made just three of 20 shots in the second quarter and trailed 34-27 at the half. But the Flashes made 55 percent of their shots in the second half and limited their turnovers against a high-pressure Eastern Michigan team.

Kent had just 12 turnovers. The Flashes had 21 when they beat EMU Dec. 30 at Eastern.

Kent State made 29 of 33 free throws, led by Jordan Korinek’s 17 of 19. Korinek was 15 out of 15 in two games last week. She had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the game and tied a career high with five assists. She played all 40 minutes.

Naddiyah Cross had a career-high 24 points on 8 of 13 shooting with three three-pointers.. McKenna Stephens had 17 points.

Box score

DETAILED STORY WITH QUOTES FROM CROSS, KORINEK AND COACH TODD STARKEY WILL FOLLOW.