In Cleveland, Katie Shumate shone brightly with 18 points and nine rebounds, propelling Kent State to a triumphant 78-60 victory over Buffalo on Saturday. This win clinched the MAC Tournament championship for them, marking their first entry into the NCAA Tournament since 2002.
The Golden Flashes are set to make their sixth appearance in the prestigious NCAA Tournament.
The game saw a dramatic turn after halftime. Initially trailing 34-30, the Golden Flashes unleashed their power in the third quarter. They outpaced the Bulls 29-13, securing a 59-47 lead as they headed into the final quarter.
A pivotal moment came early in the third quarter when Dionna Gray landed a 3-pointer, pushing Kent State ahead at 38-37. They maintained this lead for the rest of the match. Despite Buffalo narrowing the gap to 46-45 with around 4 1/2 minutes left in the third, Shumate’s exceptional play, including a three-point play and a 3-pointer, spearheaded a 13-2 run by Kent State to close the period.
Buffalo attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter, with Hattie Ogden’s 3-pointer bringing them within eight points at 66-58 with about 4 1/2 minutes to go. However, Kent State tightened their defense, conceding only two more points. Shumate, alongside her teammates Jenna Batsch and Gray, played crucial roles in sealing the victory.
The second half was particularly impressive for Kent State, as they racked up 48 points.
Gray and Batsch contributed significantly with 14 points each, while Mikala Morris added 11 points for Kent State, which ended the season with a 21-10 record. Bridget Dunn grabbed 12 rebounds, and Shumate rounded off her performance with three assists and three blocked shots.
On Buffalo’s side, Chellia Watson led with 21 points, followed by Rana Elhusseini with 11 points and Alexis Davis with 10 points, concluding their season at 19-13.
The tournament saw Buffalo, the No. 4 seed, stunning top-seeded Toledo 77-74 in overtime during the semifinals. Meanwhile, No. 3 seed Kent State overcame No. 2 seed Ball State with a 67-50 victory in their semifinal match.
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