Box Score

After dominating the North Dakota State University Bison for most of its season-opening game, the Kent State women’s basketball team dropped a heartbreaking loss Friday afternoon

The Flashes made quick work of the Bison in the early going, taking an 11-9 lead just four minutes into the game after a Melanie Stubbs jumper. Kent State would lead for the next 31 minutes, nearly 78 percent of the game, but only the team leading at the end of the game mattered.

At one point late in the first half, Kent State led 30-19 and took a 38-34 lead into halftime. The Flashes led 59-50 with just six minutes left in the game. However, North Dakota State stayed competitive.

Up by seven at the 7:57 media timeout, the Flashes turned the ball over six times and missed their lost five shots, all while North Dakota State went on a 24-9 run to dim the Flashes’ hopes of winning.

The Flashes relinquished the lead with five minutes left after a NDSU layup put the Bison up 60-59, and NDSU cruised to a 74-68 victory.

Kent State senior CiCi Shannon recorded a double-double, scoring 17 points and snatching 10 rebounds. Six Flashes turned the ball over at least three times, while Montia Johnson led the team with six turnovers.

Kent State’s defense was solid most of the game, holding North Dakota State to 38 percent shooting. Despite a solid defensive stand, though, turnovers doomed the Flashes, as NDSU turned 27 Kent State turnovers into 33 points. NDSU, on the other hand, only recorded 11 turnovers.

Bison guard Brooke Lamar led both teams in scoring with 25 points. She was also 12 of 14 from the free-throw line.

Kent State will host Youngstown State on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Flashes’ home opener at the M.A.C. Center.

Contact Ben Orner at [email protected].