The Kent State women’s basketball team will go into the holiday season on a three game win streak, after topping Duquesne University 73-66 today.

The Flashes remain on the upswing after starting the season 0-2, and continue to benefit from strong 3-point shooting and the inside dominance of sophomore forward Nila Blackford.

Kent State now stands at 3-2 (2-0 Mid-American Conference).

Blackford led Kent State in both points with 18 and rebounds with nine, falling one rebound short of her third consecutive double-double.

Blackford was followed in scoring by both junior forward Lindsay Thall and sophomore guard Katie Shumate who scored 17 points each. Thall was also the team’s second leading rebounder, finishing with seven boards.

Kent State’s rebounding only slightly outpaced Duquesne’s 33-30 and the two teams had almost identical accuracy from the field, but the Flashes separated themselves with accuracy from beyond the 3-point arc.

While Duquesne shot just 5-of-12 from three point range, Kent State hit from deep with accuracy and frequency. The Flashes finished with 12 field goals on 22 attempts (54 percent). 

The effort from deep was led by Thall who went 5-6 and Shumate who was perfect, making all three of her attempts.

The matchup in the M.A.C. Center was the Flashes final non-conference game, barring the addition of another game that has yet to be scheduled.

Kent State’s next game is not until the New Year, with the Flashes set to visit Eastern Michigan University on Jan. 2, 2020.

Owen is sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].