Before Kent State’s Wednesday night game against Eastern Michigan University, Kent State forward Jordan Korinek, was awarded by Kent State athletics for scoring her 1,000-career point, a feat she accomplished on the road last weekend against University at Buffalo.

Korinek added another accolade against the Eagles, as she tied a career-high with 28 points Thursday night in the Flashes (13-11, 7-5 Mid-American Conference) to an 83-65 win over Eastern Michigan (6-17, 1-10 MAC).

“I thought we got off to a much better start than we did (last Saturday) against Buffalo,” Kent State head coach Todd Starkey said after the game. “We still gave up a few things we shouldn’t have early, but the rest of the way I was really pleased with how we defended.”

The Flashes lost 77-62 to the Bulls on Saturday and let them shoot 47 percent from the field.

Korinek spearheaded Kent’s offensive attack in the first half, finishing with 18 points in the first half, two of which she made on a halftime buzzer-beater. When all the dust had settled, Korinek had more than half of the Flashes’ 34 first half points. Korinek’s offensive outburst was extremely important to the Flashes first half success, as no other member of the team was in double figures, with McKenna Stephens second in scoring with five points.

The Eagles found themselves down 34-26 at halftime, and as a team were 11-30 (36 percent) from the field, with no scorers in double-figures.

“One of our goals this game was to get back to our defensive identity because we had been slacking,” Korinek said after the game. “We came out talking better on defense and that really helped us not dig ourselves in a hole like we did against Buffalo. So, we were a little slow in the first half, but I think we came out even harder in the second half.”

The Flashes went on a 7-2 run to start the second half and finished with 25 points in the third quarter to help increase their lead to 59-28. Guard Larissa Lurken came alive in the third, scoring 9 of her 22 points in the third quarter. Lurken also finished with eight rebounds and eight assists to go along with no turnovers.

“I was really pleased with Larissa’s play,” Starkey said after the game. “She really let the game come to her, she was two points and two rebounds away from a triple-double. Eight assists no turnovers … didn’t force things, which I thought was really good.”

Lurken was joined in double figures by Stephens, who finished with 18 points and made three three-pointers.

The Flashes will be back in action this Saturday when they take on archrival the University of Akron at the James A. Rhodes Arena on Saturday. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. tip-off.

Henry Palattella is the sports editor, contact him at [email protected].