The Kent State women’s basketball team entered the game Wednesday night looking to jump back into the win column after dropping its previous two games; however, that would be a tall order for the Flashes, as the top team in the conference, Ohio University, came to the M.A.C. Center.

The Flashes wasted no time getting the ball to their leading scorer, sophomore guard Larissa Lurken, as she drained a three-pointer nine seconds into the game. The team had their offensive rhythm going for them early, as redshirt senior center CiCi Shannon also dominated the game right out of the gate. That duo combined to score 16 of the team’s 24 points in the first half.

Though they were effective scorers, the team still took a seven-point deficit into halftime, 31-24.

When play resumed, Ohio came out and made two three-pointers on their opening possessions of the half. Kent State then committed a turnover on their ensuing possession, and the Bobcats turned it into an easy fast break lay-up to stretch their lead to 13. That would turn out to be more than enough for the Bobcats, as they went on to win the game 69-56.

“I think OU did a good job being OU tonight,” Coach Danielle O’Banion said.  “They did a good job from the three-point line. We had a lot of opportunities tonight that we didn’t seize.”

Despite the point differential, the Flashes made Ohio work for everything they got.

Defensively, the Flashes contained the Bobcats to shooting 36 percent from the field and forced them into 21 turnovers.  

On the other hand, Kent State didn’t have much success shooting the ball either, as they finished the game on 32 percent shooting.

Coming into the game, the Flashes averaged the most turnovers per game in the Mid-American Conference with 19. The team would go on to surpass that number Wednesday night, as they turned the ball over 26 times which lead to 21 points for their opposition.

“There were some miscues on our part, and they did a good job taking advantage of them like a good team should,” O’Banion said.

Despite their loss, the team’s bench outscored Ohio’s bench 27-18, which was largely due to the play of senior forward Montia Johnson. Johnson was a starter for the Flashes last season and has received limited minutes this season. She finished the game with 13 points, six rebounds and a block, in 11 minutes of playing time. O’Banion said she realizes Johnson can have these kind of performances every night.

“Montia is a worker,” O’Banion said. “She was very effective because she went and got the ball, and it’s nice to have her back out there.”  

Even being double-teamed all night, Shannon scored 11 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season.Lurken poured in 10 points, and sophomore guard Krista White, finally back from an ankle injury, chipped in with eight points before fouling out.

Up next for the Flashes is senior night on March 7. They will be sending away three seniors: Shannon, Johnson and senior guard Mikell Chinn. The team will host Buffalo, and tip-off is set for 2 p.m.

Contact Quentin Smith at [email protected].