The Kent State women’s basketball team defeated Western Michigan 70-57 Wednesday night at the M.A.C. Center behind junior forward Jenna Batsch’s career-high 25 points. 

After starting the game, shooting 3-of-11 from the field, the Flashes (14-6, 8-2) finished the first quarter on an 11-5 scoring run, leading 18-13 after the first quarter. 

During the second quarter, sophomore guard Corynne Hauser led all players, scoring eight points as KSU took a 33-23 point lead into halftime. 

At the break, Kent State had a 23-12 rebound advantage and outscored the Broncos 20-10 in the paint. 

KSU had its highest-scoring quarter of the game (21), shooting 56% from the field, leading 54-39.

With four minutes remaining in the game, Hauser exited the game after suffering an injury to her knee. 

During the final minutes, the Flashes shot 3-of-3 from the field and 5-of-8 from the free throw to close out the game. 

The Flashes had three players score in double figures: Batsch (25), Hauser (13) and freshman forward Janae Tyler (10). 

As a team, Kent State shot 49% from the field and 7-of-23 from behind the arc, and the Broncos shot 35% from the field and 10-of-27 from three-point range. 

KSU limited the Mid-American Conference’s second-leading scorer, Kaitlyn Zarycki (18.5 average), to eight points on 3-of-12 shooting and eight turnovers. 

KSU outscored WMU (9-11, 4-6 MAC) 40-18 inside the paint and held a 40-26 rebounding advantage. 

Kent State will next be in action Saturday, taking on Old Dominion in the M.A.C. Center at 1 p.m. 

The Monarchs (16-6, 8-4 SBC) have won four of five games and defeated Buffalo 59-48 on Nov. 11. The Golden Flashes defeated the Bulls 73-64 on Jan. 3.

Jacob Shondel is sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].