Box Score (PDF)

KENT, Ohio – The Colonels trimmed a 21-point halftime deficit to six in the opening minutes of the third quarter, but the Golden Flashes held on for the win as Kent State University topped the EKU women's basketball team, 80-67, Monday at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation (M.A.C.) Center.
 
Senior point guard Mariah Massengill netted a career-high 15 points for the Colonels. Senior Shavontae Naylor led EKU with 21 points, as senior Alexus Cooper also finished with 15 points. Senior Jalen O'Bannon added 10 points in the loss.  
 
A jumper from Massengill gave the Colonels a 2-0 lead to open the game. Sophomore forward Abby Wright got hit with two fouls in the first 61 seconds, as EKU was whistled for four fouls in less than two minutes to start the game. From there, KSU used a 12-0 run to take the lead for good, but that did not deter the Colonels.
 
The Golden Flashes put together another 12-0 in the second period, building a 24-point lead. Senior Amadi Brooks netted a deep ball to narrow the KSU lead before intermission.
 
Facing a 21-point margin at the break, the Colonels got rolling behind back-to-back buckets from Naylor along with a jumper from Massengill.
 
EKU outscored the Golden Flashes 19-8 over the next seven and a half minutes to trim the KSU lead to six. However, a Kent State bucket and two fouls, including a technical foul, in the closing seconds helped the Golden Flashes close the third on a 6-0 run.
 
In the final frame, a jumper from Brooks got the Colonels on the board. Later in the period, Naylor connected three straight baskets that sparked a 12-4 EKU run to trim the KSU lead back to nine. However, late fouls hindered the Colonels' comeback bid.
 
The Golden Flashes finished 21-of-30 from the line, while EKU was 7-for-9. Kent State was charged with 14 fouls to EKU's 24 in the game.
 
The Colonels host Western Carolina University Nov. 22 at McBrayer Arena. Tuesday's tip is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip.