Kent State freshman guard Ali Poole made the most of her first start of her collegiate career Wednesday, scoring 19 points to help lead the Flashes (4-4) to a 79-69 road victory over Wright State University (4-3).

Poole got the Flashes going with her hot start, as 14 of her 19 points came in the first half. She also rewrote her season-script in regards to three-point shooting. She finished a perfect five-of-five from beyond the arc. Poole came into the game shooting only 19 percent from behind the arc.

Senior guard Larissa Lurken had another great game for the Flashes, as she dropped in 23 points and added six rebounds in the win. Meanwhile, junior forward Jordan Korinek finished the game with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field.

The Flashes jumped out to an early lead off of an early three-pointer from Poole, but the lead was surrendered after Wright State’s junior forward Lexi Smith scored four straight points to give the Raiders their first lead. It proved to be their only lead, as Korinek scored on a layup two possessions later to give the Flashes the lead for good.

The Flashes held a modest 20-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, but then outscored the Raiders 22-9 in the second quarter to go into halftime up 42-22.

The Flashes dominated the third quarter as well, going into the fourth quarter up 66-44, but the Raiders went on an 11-0 run early in the second quarter and made it 69-61 with 2:30 left. Wright State forced the Kent State lead down to 74-69 with 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but the Flashes were able to knock down late free-throws and hold off the late run.

Junior guard Chelsea Welch led the Raiders with 21 points, while sophomore guard Symone Simmons and Smith each chipped in with 18 and 11 points, respectively.

The Flashes will be back in action Saturday afternoon when they take on Youngstown State University in the first game of a doubleheader with the men’s basketball team. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the M.A.C. Center.

Henry Palattella is a sports reporter, contact him at [email protected].