Katie Shumate had 16 points and nine rebounds, just missing her seventh double-double of the season. She also had three assists and a blocked shot. (Photo by David Dermer for Kent State Athletics.)
A Kent State comeback fell just short in a 75-71 loss to Ball State Wednesday, but the teams may well meet again next week in the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
With one game to go in the regular season, the Flashes (13-4 MAC, 18-9 overall) are locked into third place and the No. 3 seed in the tournament. They play at first-place Toledo (15-1, 24-4) on Saturday. If they beat the Rockets, it could throw Toledo into a tie with Ball State for first place and leave the top seed to a tie-breaker.
If Toledo wins, it has the top seed, and No. 2 Ball State and No. 3 Kent State could meet in next Friday’s tournament semifinals. Both teams, of course, would have to win their first-round game. Right now, KSU’s opponent would be Ohio (8-9, 11-17), but that could change based on Saturday’s results.
Ball State (15-2, 26-4) travels to fourth-place Buffalo.
Kent State fell behind by 12 points on Wednesday when Ball State scored the first eight points of the second half. But the Flashes came back to within a basket in the final minute.
“It could have gotten away from us,” coach Todd Starkey said. “But this team fought all the way to the end against a really good Ball State team. They’re 26-4 for a reason. The margin for error in a game like this is pretty minimal.”
“This is great preparation for us for going to Toledo this weekend and for the conference tournament, where things really get real and matter the most.”
Ball State led by nine points with 4:54 to go. Kent State’s rally was sparked by reserve forward Tatiana Thomas, who scored all seven of her points in the last half of the fourth quarter.
Thomas had a chance to pull KSU to within one with 3:22 to go when she was called for an offensive foul in what Starkey called a “pivotal play.” Her shot had gone in, and had the call gone the other way, she would have had a chance for a 3-point play.
Thomas pulled Kent State to 73-71 when she put back an offensive rebound with 11 seconds left, but the Flashes were forced to foul and Ball State made both free throws.
Kent State had 15 offensive rebounds but only 17 second-chance points.
“We really need to convert at a higher rate,” Starkey said.
Kent State took 12 more shots than BSU. For the game, KSU shot 37.5%; Ball State 46.7%.
Kent State’s top scorers — guard Katie Shumate and forward Jenna Batsch — went 10-for-37 shooting. Both players had been making more than 42% of their shots.
There was a great deal of bumping and pushing against both.
“Their game plan was to play us physical,” Starkey said. “It worked to their benefit.”
Shumate said the game and Saturday’s game at Toledo were “great practice” for the tournament.
“We’ve got to be able to play through contact, be strong and try to force our will on people — be the aggressor,” Shumate said.
It was Shumate’s last game in the M.A.C. Center.
“She has literally left parts of her body out there on the court over the last five years,” Starkey said. “She’s had multiple surgeries, and hours upon hours in the training room getting her body back put back together.
“The level of toughness that she has had is second to none.”