The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

As the Flashes prepare to open their MAC season at CMU Saturday, I update my "keys to the season" on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com.

The summary:

• Better defense. While the Flashes are scoring much more than previous years, they're also last in the conference in defense at 71 points a game.
• Offensive diversity. Running the offense through leading scorer Jordan Korinek isn't going to be enough. She needs help, especially from redshirt freshman Tyra James.
• More bench scoring. There's been very little.
• Better three-point shooting. KSU is last in the conference at 25 percent.
• Better rebounding. KSU's margin is -3.3, again last in the conference.

The team's 3-7 non-conference record is as good as it's been in five years. But in those years KSU's best record was 7-23.

The team has more talent. It's more fun to watch. It's quicker, plays faster and scores better. It's 24th in the country with 11.1 steals per game.

But it's close to the bottom of the MAC in six of 14 categories. How much it can improve those will decide whether the Flashes can reach 10 victories.

At Central Michigan, KSU faces a 6-5 team whose leading scorer and leading rebounder are freshmen.

5-foot-6 Presley Hudson is sixth in the conference in scoring at 16.5 points per game and tied for second in three-pointers per game (2.8) with teammate Cassie Breen. 6-foot Reyna Frost is third in the MAC with 8.3 rebounds per game.

As a team, Central is fourth in the conference in scoring (73.3) and second in three-pointers per game (7.7).

KSU (3-7) leads the MAC in steals per game at 11.1 but is last in points allowed (70.9) and field goal defense (43.6 percent).

Jordan Korinek leads the Flashes and is seventh in the conference in scoring (16.0 and rebounding (7.5).

Full preview on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com.

Central Michigan oustcored KSU 9-2 over the last five minutes of the second quarter and 12-3 in the first five minutes of the second-half and beat the Flashes 81-61.

It was the MAC opener for both teams. KSU is now 3-8 and Central 7-5.

Kent State slowed Central's guards, who had been averaging almost seven three-pointers a game. But CMU went to freshman forward Reyna, who scored 27 points, more than twice her previous career high.

Jordan Korinek, KSU's leading scorer, had her worst shooting game of the season at 3 for 11. She scored 10 points and had eight rebounds.

Redshirt freshman Tyra James had her best game since early in the season and had 16 points, four assists and four rebounds.

Full story is on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com.

(01-02-2016 03:47 PM)cschierh Wrote:  Central Michigan oustcored KSU 9-2 over the last five minutes of the second quarter and 12-3 in the first five minutes of the second-half and beat the Flashes 81-61.

It was the MAC opener for both teams. KSU is now 3-8 and Central 7-5.

Kent State slowed Central's guards, who had been averaging almost seven three-pointers a game. But CMU went to freshman forward Reyna, who scored 27 points, more than twice her previous career high.

Jordan Korinek, KSU's leading scorer, had her worst shooting game of the season at 3 for 11. She scored 10 points and had eight rebounds.

Redshirt freshman Tyra James had her best game since early in the season and had 16 points, four assists and four rebounds.

Full story is on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com.

It seems that CMU can win with 10 freshman and sophs. I was a bit taken aback by coaches comment after the game. It's what happens with a game plan. You stop their guards and make someone else beat you. Really. That other person scores 27 and you never adjust. I am no longer predicting 10 wins. At least Tyra played well.

How does a competent AD allow this to happen. This program is a disgrace to the University.

(01-03-2016 11:41 AM)GFlash68 Wrote:  How does a competent AD allow this to happen. This program is a disgrace to the University.

I liked Joel over the first year or two, but we need some new blood

I really wanted this coach to succeed, but there isn't much evidence that she can make the program even marginally competitive. The only question is how much longer they'll give her to turn things around. This season and next?

(01-03-2016 07:06 PM)Kentville Wrote:  I really wanted this coach to succeed, but there isn't much evidence that she can make the program even marginally competitive. The only question is how much longer they'll give her to turn things around. This season and next?

Knowing Joel, probably next

The women play at 5-7 Toledo Wednesday.

The Rockets have played by far the toughest schedule in the MAC; RealTimeRPI puts their schedule strength at 30th in the country. They've lost to Arizona, Notre Dame, St. Bonaventure and Dayton and beaten Virginia Commonwealth.

Toledo lost its first six, then won five in a row before losing its conference opener 75-69 at No. 70 Ball State Saturday.

KSU (3-8) lost to Central Michigan 81-61 on Saturday.

The Rockets are ninth in the conference in scoring at 65.0 per game (KSU averages 65.5). They're next to last in field goal defense (42.3 percent); Kent is last at 43.8.

KSU's leading scorer is forward Jordan Korinek at 15.5 points a game, eighth in the conference. Tyra James' 14 points at Central Michigan moved her average back into double figures in scoring at 10.3.

Full preview is on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com

The women battled back from a disastrous second quarter but lost at Toledo, 73-67.

Kent is now 3-9, 0-2 in the MAC. Toledo is 6-7 and 1-1.

After a quarter, KSU led the Rockets, who had the fifth highest RPI in the conference because of a murderous non-conference schedule, 19-15.

But like other teams have this semester, Toledo went inside against Kent's match-up zone and outscored KSU 28-14 in the second quarter. Leading scorer Jordan Korinek and point guard Naddiyah Cross missed almost the entire quarter because of foul trouble.

KSU trailed by 14 with four minutes to play but went on a 9-0 run and came within 71-67.

Larissa Lurken led the Flashes with 13 points. Tyra James had her second good game in a row with 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and no turnovers. Korinek had 11 points but only four after the first quarter.

Kent hosts Buffalo in its first home conference game at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Full story and MAC scores are on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com. Every team in the conference is 1-1 except Ohio (2-0) and Kent.

The Flashes play Buffalo at 2 p.m. Saturday at the MACC in their conference home opener.

In the league's preseason poll, the Bulls and Flashes were tied at fifth in the MAC East.

But Buffalo is 9-4 (1-1 in the MAC) with their losses coming to teams having a combined 46-8 record. The Bulls have beaten only two teams with winning records, and both of those are 7-6.

Kent State is 3-9, 0-2 in the conference, and is coming off its best road game of the season, a 73-67 loss at Toledo.

Buffalo leads the MAC in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense but is last in the league in scoring offense and shooting percentage.

Full preview is on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com.

Buffalo, the worst three-point shooting team in the MAC, made 11 of 22 against Kent State Saturday and beat the Flashes 77-66.

Kent State is now 3-10 on the season, 0-3 in the MAC. Buffalo is 10-4, 2-1 in the league.

The Bulls had averaged 26 percent on three-pointers and just 5.4 a game. Guard Joanna Smith -- a 30 percent three-point shooter -- made 7 of 10. Kent State tried pretty much everything to stop her, including a box-and-one (a zone defense with one player chasing Smith).

Kent led 24-13 after a great first quarter but played just as badly in the second, being outscored 17-5. The Flashes made only 1 of 10 shots.

Turnovers were even but Buffalo scored 35 points off of Kent State's 19 while the Flashes scored 17 off of Buffalo's 20.

Larissa Lurken had 17 points -- 13 in the first quarter -- and eight rebounds. Jordan Korinek, who had first-half foul trouble for the fourth straight game, had 19. Tyra James played her third straight good conference game after struggling in December. She had 13 points, six assists and six rebounds.

Full story is on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com.

Very disappointing game. We had a 21-5 lead after 7 minutes and then ended up being down 30-29 at halftime. We were outscored 72-45 after the first seven minutes. This was by a team that supposedly had a poor offense. We just don't play very good half court defense. In the second half the coaches were begging the players to cover Smith outside the arc and they always were too late. I don't know if it's lack of foot speed or scheme but it just isn't working.

Kent State travels to Western Michigan for a Wednesday game and will stay in Michigan to play at Eastern Saturday. (School is not in session, so players won't miss classes.)

Kent State is 3-10, 0-3 in the MAC. Western is 9-6, 1-2, and Eastern 10-2, 2-1.

Preview is on the blog last http://wbbflashes.com, with lots from coach Danny O'Banion at this week's coaches' luncheon.

She talks about leading scorer Jordan Korinek's foul problems, why Tyra James is more effective coming off the bench and how point guard Naddiyah Cross is likely to get more rest.

Losing 43-25 at half time. The good news is they will stay in Michigan until Saturday's game and they have a bowling outing planned. Hey it worked for the Cavaliers it might be our last hope.

The women lost 73-52 at Western Michigan.

For the third straight game, the Flashes had a terrible second quarter, being outscored 26-11. In the previous two, the second quarter was 28-14 and 17-5. Coach Danny O'Banion said the team had to develop a "sense of urgency" through the entire game.

KSU is 3-11, 0-4 in the MAC. They're the only winless team in the conference. Western is 10-6 and 2-2.

Kent State went 0 for 13 in three-point shooting against the Broncos, who came into the game with the best distance defense in the league.

Jordan Korinek had 15 points and eight rebounds. Larissa Lurken scored 14 and had five steals.

As always, a full story is on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com.

I haven't been a religious follower of the womens program under the current regime but honest question. It appears that Korinek (from STVM) is the best player and I read articles all the time on high school players and NE Ohio appears to be a girls hotbed as a large # of college commits in the area so my ? is "Are we doing enough in NE Ohio?"

I would think in rebuilding effort start locally and then pick from outside ohio based on needs or relationships you may have in AAU programs.

During the women's best years we were built largly with Ohio girls and girls from Wisconsin and whatever connection Lindsay had up there.

That would be a good start but I bet Akron owns the area right now. Even under Lindsay we didn't do well in NE Ohio. We need players wherever they come from. Heck Buffalo beat the hell out of us with 2 Australians, 2 Austrians and someone from Mississippi. I'm hearing the current coach isn't too different than Lindsay with the players. Lindsay overcame that by winning. The current coach can't offer wins.

McKenna Stephens is from Uniontown. Both she and Korinek chose KSU over an offer from Akron. Ali Poole, their one signee for next year, is from Carrolton. T

yra James is from Dayton and chose KSU over BG. Paige Salisbury is a walk-on but playing 12 minutes a game. She's from Brunswick. Point guard Naddiyah Cross is from Centreville and Zenobia Bess (transfer from Southern Illinois who can't play until next year) is from Gahanna.

Did Stephens have an offer from Akron out of high school or when she decided to transfer from Michigan St. softball.