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

The women play their last non-conference games this week against two Big Ten teams.

On Tuesday afternoon, they'll play at Iowa. Thursday they play at Minnesota. Both teams are 8-4 and have played schedules difficult enough to push them high in the RPI Rankings. Iowa ranks 61st and Minnesota 13th.

Kent State is 6-4, which is as many wins as it had all last season. The Flashes' RPI is 228 of 349 Division I teams. Highest ranking teams they've played have been Baylor (No. 30 in RPI) and Western Kentucky (136). Highest-ranking team they've beaten in Florida Gulf Coast (185).

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

The Flashes lost at Iowa, 83-48.

They actually jumped off to a 9-0 lead, but Iowa outscored them 17-2 at the end of the first quarter and 20-2 at the beginning of the second.

Kent State shot a season-low 25 percent from the field. Larissa Lurken had 20 points for the eighth time in 11 games, but it took her 27 shots to get there. Jordan Korinek had 11 but was in foul trouble most of the game. Ali Poole had 10. McKenna Stephens had a career-high 10 rebounds.

KSU is 6-5 on the season and plays Thursday at Minnesota (8-4) in its last non-conference game of the season.

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

Kent State plays its last non-conference game tonight at 8-4 Minnesota, which has an RPI of 13, the highest of any team the Flashes play this season.

The four teams Minnesota has lost to include No. 6 South Carolina and No. 7 Florida State and have a combined record of 34-7.

Kent State is 6-5, its best non-conference record in six years. The Flashes lost at Iowa Tuesday 83-48.

After tonight's game, they break for Christmas and will open the MAC season at home at 2 p.m. on New Year's Eve against Central Michigan.

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

The women proved one thing this week: They don't belong in the first division of the Big Ten.

They lost Thursday to Minnesota, 92-62, after losing to Iowa 83-48 on Tuesday. Minnesota and Iowa are both 9-4 and have RPIs in the top 60 in the country.

Kent State finishes its non-conference schedule at 6-6, its best record since 2010.

Backup point guard Megan Carter led KSU with 13 points. McKenna Stephens had 12. Larissa Lurken had 8 points, her second lowest total of the season. Alexa Golden had a career-high 10 rebounds as KSU was even with Minnesota on the boards, 50-50.

The Flashes had 48 rebounds against Iowa Tuesday, its previous high for the season.

Kent State scored the first basket of the game, but the Minnesota scored the next 24 points in a row.

Kent State opens MAC play against 8-3 Central Michigan at 1 p.m. Dec. 31 at the MACC.

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

As non-conference season ends this week, MAC ranks ninth in nation in women's basketball RPI.

Buffalo is 9-0 with four other teams (Ohio, Toledo, Central Michigan, Western Michigan) at 8-3 or better.

All of those teams except Western are in Mid-Major Top 25.

League's overall conference record is 77-48.

Six teams have non-league games Wednesday and Thursday, four of them against Division II opponents.

League play starts Saturday, with Kent State hosting Central Michigan (9-2) at 1 p.m. at the MACC.

Details on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com, including team-by-team look at MAC East. (West coming later today.)

Does the women's team have chance to equal their non-conference .500 record in the MAC?

I think so. They've played and beaten mid-majors that are quite comparable to good MAC teams.

To do it, they'll need a better defense, more balanced scoring and fewer turnovers.

They're last in the conference in field goal defense, and that's more on two-point shots than three-pointers.

Only two players average in double figures, and only one other averages more than six points a game. But seven women, including their top two scorers, have scored 10 or more at least twice.

And despite their improved play, the Flashes are still near the bottom of the MAC in turnovers committed and turnover margin.

"Keys to the conference season" are on the blog at wbbflashes.com, along with an analysis of a possible road to a winning record and an interview with coach Todd Starkey.

The women open their conference schedule Saturday against preseason favorite Central Michigan.

The game is at 1 p.m. in the MACC.

Central is 8-4, with losses to three teams with top 100 RPIs and Purdue (9-5, RPI 154). The Chippewas, whose RPI is 182, haven't won a road game this season. Their best win is at home against Illinois (6-8, RPI 200).

Four Central starters, including two preseason all-MAC West players, average in double figures. The fifth leads the league in rebounding.

It's a big test for the Flashes, who are 6-6 with an RPI of 194.

Detailed preview, including interview with coach Todd Starkey, is on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com.

Lost to CMU 91-78 today. We were tied 43-43 after a 10-0 run. CMU called a timeout and they then went on a run of their own never really being threatened after that. They went on to shoot 63.6% in the second half which is tough to beat. Lurken had 29, Korinek 19, Stephens 10 and Carter 10( she is playing much better and is pushing Cross for minutes). That's pretty good scoring for us. However this was one game where being better coached wasn't enough. There was definitely more talent on the other team. They had a big Tiara Moore who scored 20 to match Korinek, a wing Cassie Green with 15 and a point guard Presley Hudson who scored 36. She is only a sophomore and one of the best players in the league. Her outside shot is almost unstoppable. A jab step to get open and then a three from 3 feet or more behind the arc. She happened to be pretty hot (8/11 from three). She played 40 minutes had a bunch of steals and assists on top of the scoring. Coach was begging Kent to cover her but it was almost impossible. I'd have to see her a few more times but she might be the best in quite awhile.

I'll have to say someone at CMU sure knows how to recruit. They just keep the talent rolling in.

I'd agree -- and coach Starkey said as much to me after the game -- that Central just had more talent.

They also played perhaps their best game of the season (19 over their average). Presley had career highs in points, three-pointers and steals. She had been averaging 14, though she scored 29 earlier this season.

After scoring 29, Lurken still leads the MAC in scoring. But she struggled some shooting -- 8 of 23 and 3 of 10 on three-pointers.

KSU, especially Lurken, drives a lot to try to get the other team in foul trouble. It worked Saturday. Five players had two fouls at halftime, and all four starters ended with four. Even though they're not very deep, they played through it.

KSU outscored Central 24-12 from the middle of the second quarter to the middle of the third. That was about as well as they can play.

They play at Wednesday at Ball State, which knocked off 9-2 Toledo at Toledo Saturday. Ball State is 7-4 and was having a very average season.

Full story, including quotes from both coaches, on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com.

went to my first game in years. couple thoughts:

1) definite upgrade in talent and coaching on our end.
2) our defense was below average
3) Larkin very talented but she could see floor better and set teammates up as she looked to be dead set on getting shots off
4) on the recruiting trail we need some long athletic bigs like chips had. korinek had trouble getting shots off they were so long

but absolutely heading in good direction after last 4 years!!

Believe it or not, the talent is the same. Only new players are Poole, who did nothing Saturday, and Carter, who played three games last year.

Key is that Starkey is getting so much more out of Lurken, and he has team so much more aggressive on going to the basket. Base defense, I think, is better -- certainly better than the matchup zone last season.

Defense didn't look good Saturday, but how do you defend against 27-foot shots? Matchups weren't great; that big, athletic front line of Central's was hard for KSU to handle.

Lurken is seeing herself as the go-to player (and she's proven she can be), but she forces some things. She had eight turnovers against CMU and leads the team in turnovers. Though part of that is because she handles the ball so much, she forces some things.

The freshman center they have coming in next season is an all-state shot putter -- 6-3, 210 from Michigan. Not the long and limber type, I think, but she's supposed to be one of the better post players in Michigan. They have a 5-10 player from California coming in who averages 20 points and 13 rebounds a game -- maybe sort of an Amy Sherry type. Other recruits are a shooting guard and point guard. They still have a couple of scholarships to give, but finding blue chip players late is hard.

(12-31-2016 11:30 PM)cschierh Wrote:  Believe it or not, the talent is the same. Only new players are Poole, who did nothing Saturday, and Carter, who played three games last year.

Key is that Starkey is getting so much more out of Lurken, and he has team so much more aggressive on going to the basket. Base defense, I think, is better -- certainly better than the matchup zone last season.

Defense didn't look good Saturday, but how do you defend against 27-foot shots? Matchups weren't great; that big, athletic front line of Central's was hard for KSU to handle.

Lurken is seeing herself as the go-to player (and she's proven she can be), but she forces some things. She had eight turnovers against CMU and leads the team in turnovers. Though part of that is because she handles the ball so much, she forces some things.

The freshman center they have coming in next season is an all-state shot putter -- 6-3, 210 from Michigan. Not the long and limber type, I think, but she's supposed to be one of the better post players in Michigan. They have a 5-10 player from California coming in who averages 20 points and 13 rebounds a game -- maybe sort of an Amy Sherry type. Other recruits are a shooting guard and point guard. They still have a couple of scholarships to give, but finding blue chip players late is hard.

Lurken would be even better (i.e. Less turnovers) if she could play 32-34 minutes per game. She isn't a point guard and playing 38-40 is tough. Another reason we need Poole to step up. I agree that the improvement to date is all coaching. The talent is no better than last year. He's just getting more out of it.

The women play Wednesday at Ball State (8-5).

Cardinals are coming off big win at 9-3 Toledo Saturday in which they held Rockets to season lows in points (45) and shooting percentage (25).

Ball State has one of tallest players in MAC in 6-5 center Renee Bennett, who averages 16.5 points. Guard Carmen Grande leads the league in assists, and forward Moriah Monaco is in top 15 in scoring and rebounding. Cardinals were picked second in MAC West but had underperformed before Saturday.

KSU's Larissa Lurken continues to lead the nation in number of foul shots (9.7 per game). She's second in made free throws and eighth in country in scoring (22.3).

I thought KSU might have chance at this game after Ball State lost to at home to 2-10 Lipscomb before Christmas. Now I'm not so sure. It would be a very good win.

Ball State is coached by former KSU assistant Brady Sallee. He was hired at the same time as Kent State hired Danny O'Banion and has gone 74-57 with four winning seasons. KSU won 21 games total in the same four seasons.

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

The women lost at Ball State, 71-47.

It was three points at halftime (KSU played a great second quarter).

Then Kent State made 4 of 33 shots (12 percent) in the second half.

Ball State is second in the conference in field goal defense, but the second half was too reminiscent of the last few seasons.

Larissa Lurken had 18 points, five steals and two blocks. Jordan Korinek had 12 but got in foul trouble and scored only three after the first quarter.

KSU is 6-8, 0-2 in the MAC. Ball State, picked in a tie for second in the MAC West, is 9-5, 2-0.

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

OUCH

Bounced back at EMU winning 86-67. I was a bit nervous after losing the last 4. Especially the bad loss at BSU. Today we at least proved we could beat a mediocre team on the road fairly easily.

Mediocre may be generous. EMU may be almost the worst in the MAC this season or competing to be. Wasn't that long ago they were good, too. (And had the hot coach as well.)

(01-07-2017 02:46 PM)axeme Wrote:  Mediocre may be generous. EMU may be almost the worst in the MAC this season or competing to be. Wasn't that long ago they were good, too. (And had the hot coach as well.)

I was being nice.

No matter who the opponent, it was a good win:

1. It was a road win in the MAC.

2. they beat a team they should have beaten, and beat them easily. 19 points is the largest margin of a MAC win since 2009, and that goes through two winning seasons.

3. Three double-doubles (Lurken, Korinek and Stephens). I don't know if I've ever seen that before.

4. Fewest turnovers, most rebounds, best three-point shooting of the season.

5. Broke a four-game losing streak (all against good teams).

Won't clinch the MAC championship or even a .500 season. But without it, there would have been no chance at a .500 season.

Lots more on the game on the blog at http://wbbflashes.com.

--

Big reason that Eastern is down is that its top two players transferred after coach Tory Verdi left New coach Fred Castro was a top assistant at Washington. Eagles will be good again soon.

My candidate for worst in the MAC is Bowling Green, which has fallen far since Curt Miller left.

After writing that, I just see that BG beat Akron at Akron, 62-58

Northern Illinois, which plays at Kent Wednesday, beat 11-3 Ohio 88-80 in Dekalb. Northern is 10-4 and the second highest scoring team in the country.