Three Flashes record double-doubles in first conference win

Senior forward McKenna Stephens of the Kent State women’s basketball team shoots the ball during a game against Robert Morris University game at the M.A.C. Center on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016.

Henry Palattella

The Kent State women’s basketball team came into its Saturday matinee against Eastern Michigan University searching for answers. The Flashes were on a four-game losing streak, with two of their losses coming to MAC conference foes.

Kent State broke that streak in a big way Saturday, as junior Jordan Korinek, senior McKenna Stephens, and junior Larissa Lurken all recorded double-doubles for the Flashes (7-8, 1-2 Mid-American Conference) in their 86-67 drubbing of Eastern Michigan (5-10, 0-3 MAC).

Lurken led all scorers with 28 points on 9-18 (50 percent) shooting from the floor and 6-8 (75 percent) shooting from three. She also grabbed 10 rebounds to complete the double-double.

Korinek had her best game of the year Saturday, recording 21 points and 13 rebounds for her first double-double of the year. Stephens rounded out the Flashes double-doubles with 15 points and 11 rebounds of her own.

The Flashes dominated the Eagles right out of the gate, which led to them holding a 25-17 lead over the Eagles after the first quarter. That lead grew to 48-29  at halftime.

The Eagles fought back in the third quarter, going on a 16-4 run at the start of the quarter that cut the Flashes lead to 54-45.

Kent State managed to extend its lead to 61-50 at the end of the quarter, and then never looked back.

Junior Sasha Dailey and senior Phillis Webb led Eastern Michigan in scoring with 18 points each, while senior Sheyna Deans added 13 points on a day, in which the Eagles went 26-64 (40.6 percent ) from the field.

Kent State’s victory over Eastern Michigan was its first against the Eagles in its last 11 meetings, with the Flashes’ last victory coming in January 2009 by an 84-52 final margin.

The Flashes return home this Tuesday when they take on MAC West Rival Northern Illinois University (9-4, 2-0). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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