Kent State hits boards to win 70-55 over YSU

Junior guard Jamilah Humes shoots the ball during the Flashes game at Beeghly Center last night. Kent State won 70-55 over Youngstown State. Humes led the team with 14 points. Jessica M. Kanalas | Daily Kent Stater

Credit: DKS Editors

Overcoming struggles from behind the arc, the Kent State women’s basketball team out-rebounded Youngstown State for a 70-55 win last night in Youngstown.

“We compensated for the poor shooting with the rebounding,” Kent State coach Bob Lindsay said. “We have a lot of stuff to work on, and there’s no question about that.”

The Flashes (2-0) were led by senior forward Yoshica Spears, who had a career night scoring 12 points and grabbing 13 rebounds (eight offensive, five defensive) for the first double-double of her career. Her previous career high in rebounds was eight, which she matched last Friday at Robert Morris.

Lindsay said Spears, who for most of last season was a role player off the bench, is starting this season because of her work ethic.

“She gives an effort out there, and she makes hustle plays,” Lindsay said. “She goes and gets the ball off the boards, and she’ll score here and there. She gives us a lift the way she plays.”

Junior guard Jamilah Humes’ 14 points, six rebounds and three assists also paced the Flashes.

Both teams started the first half struggling on both ends. Kent State, noted for its 3-point shooting ability, started the game 0-for-6 from behind the arc until junior forward Chenel Harris sunk a 3 with 9:47 left in the first half.

The Penguins started strong with a 10-2 lead as the Flashes went on a scoreless streak of more than five minutes early in the first half.

The Flashes began to chip away at the Penguins’ lead soon after, going on a 12-3 run. Kent State took the lead at 7:03 when a basket by Spears put the Flashes up for good.

“I think we picked it up on defense and once we got it going,” Spears said. “It took us a little long to click, but once we started to click, we did pretty well.”

The Flashes out-rebounded the Penguins 27-14 in the second half, which led to 38 points in the paint compared to Youngstown State’s eight. Junior center Ellie Shields, who grabbed 11 rebounds, led the way inside.

Spears said the team’s style of play requires that they excel inside, particularly when the team may not be shooting well – like last night when the team finished 4-of-17 from behind the arc.

“I think because we’re a 3-point dominant shooting team, it’s important for us to crash the boards,” Spears said. “I told them if you are going to shoot, I’ll go get it. I just tried to do what I do, and I kept my promise.”

Contact sports reporter Lance Lysowski at [email protected].