Kent State and Ohio are tied for first place in the MAC East.
The Flashes beat Ohio 83-77 in overtime at Kent State Saturday.
As a KSU fan, I can't quite believe I'm writing that. KSU has gone 27-119 over the last five years and has the same starting lineup as the team that went 6-23 last season. The Flashes were picked a distant last in the MAC this season.
Now they and Ohio are tied for the fourth seed at 9-4. Overall KSU is 15-11 and Ohio is 18-7. This is the second time this season Kent has beaten Ohio, so KSU would have the tie breaker for a first-round bye if the teams finished the season even.
Larissa Lurken, who leads the conference in scoring at 23.2 points a game, had 31 for Kent State. But a key player may have been one who didn't score a point. KSU defensive specialist Alexa Golden took two charges in the last 40 seconds of overtime.
Four Ohio players -- three starters and a top reserve -- fouled out. OU's best two players were gone by overtime. Kent State, which is third in the nation in free throw attempts, had 45 Saturday, making 29. KSU had its own four trouble -- Lurken and Jordan Korinek, Kent's second leading scorer, played a total of 11 minutes in the first half.
Ohio was 7 of 32 on three-point shots (22.9 percent).
Game story is on my blog at
http://wbbflashes.com.
Central Michigan (12-2, 20-6) took over sole first place in the West with a 72-61 victory over Toledo at Central. Cassie Breen had 22 for CMU, her third straight game over 20. Jewel Cotton had 17 points and 15 rebounds.
Presley Hudson, Central's star point guard who leads the MAC in minutes played, went out with her fourth personal with eight minutes to go and Toledo leading by two. It obviously didn't hurt the Chipps. Toledo is 8-6 and 17-8.
CMU honored coach Sue Guevara before the game for becoming the winningest coach in CMU women’s basketball history (173-139) with a win on Wednesday.
Ball State knocked Northern Illinois out of a first-place tie in the West by beating the Huskies at Northern, 92-84. Ball State and NIU are now tied for second at 11-3. Overall, Ball State is 18-8, Northern 18-7.
Four BSU players scored in double figures, led by Renee Bennett's third straight double-double. She had 22 points and 13 rebounds. Moriah Monaco also had 22 and Destiny Washington had the Cardinals' second double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Ali Lehman had 27 points and 9 rebounds for NIU. Cassidy Glenn had 22 rebounds.
Buffalo (8-6, 18-7) beat Akron at Buffalo, 81-51. The Bulls are a game behind Ohio and Kent in the East. They made a season-high 13 three-pointers and Stephanie Reed had 17 points and 11 assists. Akron is 2-12 and 9-16.
Western Michigan (7-7, 16-9) beat Eastern Michigan (1-13, 6-20), 70-60 at Western.
Bowling Green (3-11, 7-19) beat Miami (9-18, 3-11) in Miami, 61-59.
Standings look like this with four games to go:
West: Central Michigan (11-2), Ball State and Northern Illinois (10-3), Toledo (8-6), Western Michigan (7-7), Eastern Michigan (1-13).
East: Kent State and Ohio (9-4), Buffalo (8-6), Bowling Green and Miami (3-11), Akron (2-12).
Best games Wednesday look to be Ohio at Buffalo and Northern Illinois at Central Michigan.
Full MAC standings are at
http://www.espn.com/womens-college-baske...onference.