Women to take on Seahawks tomorrow

The Kent State women’s basketball team has not been what anybody would call consistent during its games this season.

But so far, it’s worked for the Flashes.

Kent State (4-1) has relied on big plays toward the end of games to pull out wins. Sunday against Seattle, the Flashes never held a lead in the second half and were down by as many as 18 points before coming back to tie the game and win 89-77 in overtime.

“I think you learn some lessons from it,” Kent State coach Bob Lindsay said. “I think you learn that things can be going against you (and) teams could be making shots on you. (However), if you really settle down and play some good defense and . play harder than the other team, then usually good things will happen. That’s what happened (against Seattle).”

The Flashes also avoided defeat against New Mexico State and Delaware State in the same fashion earlier this season, beating the Aggies 84-82 and the Hornets 66-56.

Lindsay said he hopes for a little more consistency tomorrow when Kent State travels to Wilmington, N.C., to play the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks.

UNC-Wilmington lost to South Carolina on a last minute 3-point shot Saturday, ending a four-game winning streak. The Seahawks are led by sophomore guard/forward Brittany Blackwell, who was the 2007-08 Colonial Athletic Association rookie of the year. This season, Blackwell has averaged 17 points and seven rebounds a game.

Countering her will be the Mid-American Conference leader in blocks, Anna Kowalska. The Flashes’ senior center has posted career-high numbers in the young season so far. Kowalska is averaging nearly 19 points and nine rebounds a game.

Sophomore center Ellie Shields said the Flashes will have to play better defense and talk more on the court against the Seahawks.

“Communication is one of the biggest things,” she said. “You can’t play good defense without communicating to each other.”

Tomorrow’s game will be the third of a six-game road trip for the Flashes. Saturday, Kent State will come closer to home to play Cleveland State.

“It’s tough (to win on the road), but the positive side of that is you learn how to play on the road,” Lindsay said. “You learn what it takes to win on the road. That’s why we play those games.

“UNC-Wilmington will be a tough game down there. Cleveland State went to the NCAA tournament last year, and they have almost the whole team back from last season, so that’ll be a tough game, too.”

Contact sports reporter Josh Johnston at [email protected].