It’s been 17 years since Kent State beat Ohio University as badly as it did on Saturday.
Back then, Kent State was in the midst of the best years in program history. The Flashes finished first or second in the MAC or Eastern Division for 12 straight years. The score then was 93-74 in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
On Saturday, the score was 60-44. The victory was:
- The fifth in a row for Kent State.
- The second win in a row to start the MAC season.
- The fewest points KSU had allowed a Division I team this year.
Kent State’s record is 10-3 and 2-0 in the MAC. The Flashes are tied for first place with Ball State and Akron.
Ohio is 2-11 and 0-2 in the league. The Bobcats are off to their worst start since 1975-76, Ohio’s first year of varsity basketball. That year they also started 2-11 and finished 3-12.
Ohio had been in the top echelon of the MAC for the last 10 years before all-MAC guards Cece Hooks and Erica Johnson, along with three-year starter Gabby Burris, graduated last spring. The Bobcats have only one player who started more than six games last season.
Kent State’s defense powered its Saturday victory. Ohio’s 44 points were the fewest it has scored this season.
The Flashes held OU to 29% shooting — lowest by a Division I opponent — and just 1-of-21 on 3-point shots.
“We needed to answer what we thought was a poor defensive effort against Buffalo,” coach Todd Starkey said. “Today, I thought we did a really good job of staying connected to contain dribble penetration but also did a good job of closing on shooters and contesting.
“The girls did a really good job of taking in the scouting report and knowing personnel, so we know who to really contest up on and who we needed to play off of a little bit.
“Probably 30% of the 3s they took were good looks for them. The rest, we did a good job of contesting.”
OU sophomore guard Yaya Felder came into Saturday ranked second in the MAC with a 19.8 point-per-game average. She picked up three first-half fourls and scored six points.
For Kent, only 6-3 sophomore Bridget Dunn scored in double figures with 14, her best total of the season. Dunn also had nine rebounds in just 17 minutes.
“Bridget’s playing very efficient basketball,” Starkey said. “She’s taking advantage of the touches that she’s getting and rebounding the ball really well.”
Though she’s averaging fewer minutes than last season, Dunn’s rebounding is up about a one-and-a-half per game. After leading rebounder Nila Blackford transferred in the off-season, KSU coaches emphasized that Dunn needed to step up.
“She’s really made the adjustment well,” Starkey said.
Senior guard Clare Kelly hit three 3-point shots for the second game in a row and finished with nine points. Her 29 minutes were more than any of KSU’s starters.
“We just have talent in our cup,” Starkey said. “In Bridget and Clare, you’ve got two players coming off the bench who are talented enough to start on a lot of teams.”
Senior Katie Shumate also had nine points and led the Flashes in rebounding with 11.
“She’s really put a great deal of effort into the glass and had a few huge rebounds for us down the stretch,” Starkey said. “I’m really pleased with how hard she’s playing right now and her level of consistency.”
Running the numbers
- Starkey talks about the important of transition offense and defense almost every game. On Saturday, KSU had 20 fast-break points to Ohio’s five.
- The Flashes outrebounded Ohio 43-32.
- Kent made 48% of its shots through the first three quarters but hit only 3-of-16 in the fourth. Its overall shooting percentage was 39.7.
- KSU had 14 assists, led by three from Kelly, Lindsey Thall and Abby Ogle. It was the seventh-straight game the Flashes have had at least 13 assists.
Next: Wednesday at Miami
KSU travels to Miami for a 7 p.m. game Wednesday. Miami (5-10 and 0-2 in the MAC) lost to Akron (10-2, 2-0) on Saturday.
Other MAC scores
- Northern Illinois (9-4, 1-1 MAC) 67, Toledo (10-3, 1-1) 66 at Northern. NIU came from 17 points behind in the fourth quarter.
- Bowling Green (12-2, 1-1) 79, Eastern Michigan (9-4, 1-1) 63 at BG.
- Ball State ((12-3, 2-0) 76, Western Michigan (5-8, 0-2) 70 at Western.
- Buffalo (6-5, 1-1) 70, Central Michigan (3-10, 1-1) 63 at Buffalo.