Women’s team has earned a 131-15 home record in the last eleven years

After an exhausting practice yesterday afternoon, members of the women’s basketball team join together to congratulate each other on a great practice in the M.A.C. Center.

Credit: Andrew popik

Something happens when the Flashes step onto the hardwood of the M.A.C. Center.

They play complete basketball.

Not just good basketball, but great.

Offense. Defense. Shooting. Rebounding.

Nothing about the M.A.C. Center is different from any other court the Flashes will play on this season.

The hoop is still 10 feet tall. The court is still 94 feet from baseline to baseline. The 3-point line still arcs exactly 19 feet, nine inches from the rim.

But something changes in the attitude, demeanor and most notably, the play of the women’s basketball team.

Whether it’s the white uniforms or the blue and gold seats, the Flashes rarely lose at home.

This isn’t a new discovery for coach Bob Lindsay and his team. It has been the trend for more than a decade. In the last 11 years, the Flashes boast a 131-15 record when playing in front of the home crowd. The record included a 43-game winning streak, covering five seasons.

Kent State (10-7, 3-3 Mid-American Conference) will look to improve on their home record tonight, when it battles Bowling Green (12-5, 5-1 MAC) at 7. The Falcons are currently perched atop the MAC West division, while the Flashes are tied for second in the East behind Marshall.

When it’s time to pack the bags and hit the bus, the Flashes have left their good fortunes in Kent. Through 11 games played on the road this season, Kent State is sporting a sub-.500 record at 5-6 and remain winless in the MAC (0-3).

The latest collapse came Saturday against Ball State. The Flashes looked well on their way to victory as they led by 17 early in the second half. But too many fouls, missed shots and few rebounds turned a big lead into a 75-70 loss.

The 70 points Kent State scored on Saturday were a welcomed surprise for a team that has struggled from the floor on the road.

The biggest decrease has come from behind the arc. No team in the conference has shot the 3 better than Kent State this season. This comes in large part from the 47 percent the Flashes have hit in front of the blue and gold.

The Flashes hope for a first-round game at home, but a MAC championship will have to come through the Gund Arena in early March.

Contact women’s basketball reporter Joe Murphy at [email protected].