The 2014-15 season has come to an end for the Kent State women’s basketball team after an early first round exit in the MAC Tournament versus Eastern Michigan, 70-52.

The Flashes (5-25, 3-15 MAC) had things rolling their way early on in the game. The team made four of their first five shot attempts and did a good job of moving the ball and executing their offense. They finished the half shooting 44 percent from the field on eight assists, and a carried a one-point lead into halftime at 28-27. 

Unfortunately for Kent State, it would be a tale of two halves. The team was outscored 43-28 in the half en route to a 72-50 loss.

“I thought we did a good job controlling the pace in the first half,” coach Danielle O’Banion said. “In the second half, the pace of play got away from us from a defensive standpoint.”

During the second half, Kent State had a hard time getting shots to fall, and an even harder time slowing down their opponents. The Eagles, on the other hand, shot 56 percent from the field, 50 percent from the three-point line and 83 percent from the free-throw line. O’Banion said the Eagles’ offensive efficiency raised their confidence.

“They had a lot of ball-screen action, and unfortunately we weren’t consistent defending it,” O’Banion said. 

Despite the early exit, Kent State still has plenty of positives to look back on from their season. The team’s five wins are the second-best in coach O’Banion’s three seasons at the helm, and will be returning nine of their players from this season, including three of their top four scorers in sophomores Larissa Lurken and Krista White, and freshman Jordan Korinek.

O’Banion said when she reflects back on the season, she is proud of how far her team has come.

“The future is looking bright,” she said. “Some people want to look at the wins and loss column, but the bigger things for us is the fact that our team was competitive every night they wore their uniforms”

Redshirt center CiCi Shannon ended her collegiate with her tenth double-double on the season, posting 10 points and 12 rebounds to lead the team. She also swatted away three shots, which puts her at 137 for her career, third most in school history. 

Senior guards Melanee Stubbs and Mikell Chinn also had their careers come to an end.  Stubbs finished with 10 points and Chinn dished out a team high seven assists.

Heading into the offseason, O’Banion said her team is headed in the right direction and is right on pace to where she wants them to be.

“We knew coming in that this would be a four or five year process to turn this around,” O’Banion said. “I’m proud of how far we’ve come. We are right on our timeline and the sky is the limit for us.”

 

Contact Quentin Smith at [email protected].