Kent State women’s basketball got off to a slow start against Eastern Michigan Wednesday night; the Flashes were held to just nine points in the first quarter.

After an early deficit of 34-22, the Flashes struggled to come back dropping their second game in a row, 74-69. Megan Carter led the Flashes with 15 points, while Nila Blackford led Kent State with seven rebounds, followed by Lindsey Thall with six. Katie Shumate was the second highest with 14 points and three rebounds. Asiah Dingle and Thall scored 11 points each.

“We kind of struggled a little bit to find a rhythm. Obviously we told the team after the game, it just comes back to hard work, getting in the gym and trying to get ourselves out of this little funk that we’re in. But, I’m proud of our fight in the second half,” coach Todd Starkey said.

The Flashes went on a run in the fourth quarter scoring eight points after putting up 20 points in both the third and fourth quarter. 

“I think we just ha[ve] more of a sense of urgency at the end of the games than we do at the beginning. You know, we start thinking, ‘Oh, this is real, we’re down, we gotta score some points.’ So I think it’s just the urgency of the game just changed, just how much time was left made us play a different way,” Shumate said of the Flashes late run.

Kent State had 24 turnovers, while forcing Eastern Michigan to turn over the ball 19 times.  

Carter said Eastern Michigan was able to use Kent State’s mistakes to the Eagles’ advantage.

“We try not to let it put a damper in our play, but I think it got to us a little bit today and that was the immaturity that I’m talking about. You have to have a level head and keep moving on. We just let our mistakes snowball today and they capitalized on it,” Carter said. 

Blackford ended the game going 6-8 for free throws, while Dingle and Carter both made seven. The Flashes struggled with 3-pointers the rest of the game going just 6-17.

The Eagles defense held the Flashes to just two 3-pointers in the first half as Kent State went 2-9. Coming off the bench, Hannah Young received the ball from Mariah Modkins to score the Flashes first 3-pointer of the night and then with 30 seconds left in the second quarter, Modkins scored the second 3-pointer. 

Kent State struggled to hold off Eastern Michigan’s offense as three Eagles scored eight points in the first half. Areanna Combs went 4-5 in free throws, while the Eagles bench scored 19. Combs and Jenna Annecchiarico both led Eastern Michigan with 15 points each and a combined 14 rebounds. 

“I thought we were actually okay defensively in the first half but, gave up some, I think three, wide open corner threes on broken defensive plays by us. So, [we have] to get better. Every game is tough in the league, so nobody’s going to have any sympathy for us,” Starkey said. 

The Flashes next game is Saturday at 1 p.m. against Western Michigan at the M.A.C. Center. 

Contact Amanda Levine at [email protected]