Kent State played stifling defense and got 33 points from last year’s two leading scorers to rout Saint Francis of Pennsylvania 71-45 Sunday.
Saint Francis’ point total was 13 points fewer than any allowed by the Flashes last season. Kent State forced 17 turnovers and held Saint Francis to 49 shots, again fewer than in any game last season. KSU’s defense hounded the Red Flash in the half court, rarely allowing them to run a full offensive play.
Saint Francis beat the Flashes 67-64 in Pennsylvania last season and is picked third in the North East Conference this season.
Kent State is 2-0 to start the season.
“I’m really pleased with the defensive effort from start to finish,” said coach Todd Starkey, who was a little unhappy when his team allowed 73 in Wednesday’s 80-73 win over Northern Kentucky.
Katie Shumate, KSU’s second-leading scorer last season, led the Flashes with 21 points, 19 in the first half.
“She was really attacking getting to the basket,” Starkey said. “She set the tone for us from the start, pushing the pace. Then she knocked down a couple of 3s. She’s really difficult to defend when she has that mindset.”
Shumate had just eight points in Wednesday’s victory.
Nila Blackford, last year’s leading scorer, had 12 points. She also was KSU’s leading rebounding last season but had only four for the second game in a row.
But the rest of the Flashes contributed mightily on the boards. KSU outrebounded Saint Francis 39-26 and had 15 offensive rebounds to the Red Flashes’ six. Kent outscored Saint Francis 10-3 on second-chance points.
All 13 healthy KSU players got in the game, and 12 scored. Eight Flashes played at least 16 minutes. Freshmen Jenna Batsch and Lexy Linton saw their first collegiate action in the fourth quarter.
For the second-straight games, at least eight Flashes played at least 15 minutes. Junior transfer Abby Ogle played seven but made two-of-three baskets and had two steals. Blackford and Lindsey Thall played the most, just 26.
Thall led KSU in rebounding for the second straight game with seven. Hannah Young had six and freshman Bridget Dunn four. Dunn also had eight points, including two 3-pointers and a blocked shot.
Thall also had eight points, two 3-point baskets and three assists. Casey Santoro led KSU with five assists and had seven points. Clare Kelly had three steals.
KSU made 44.6% of its shots, including 55.5% in the second half.