“It was like watching a replay of last Saturday’s loss against the Bowling Green State Falcons for the University of Akron’s women’s basketball team (15-12) as they lost to the Kent State Golden Flashes (18-8) 67-64. It was a tough loss. The last three years the games have gone down to the wire and the difference today was the little things.”
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It was like watching a replay of last Saturday’s loss against the Bowling Green State Falcons for the University of Akron’s women’s basketball team (15-12) as they lost to the Kent State Golden Flashes (18-8) 67-64.

It was a tough loss. The last three years the games have gone down to the wire and the difference today was the little things. They got the offensive rebounds, made the three point shots, and got the loose balls, Zips head coach Jodi Kest said.

Before the game started, the Golden Flashes Yoshica Spears family traveled from Nome, Texas and were on the court to surprise her.

I was totally shocked. They lied to me about where they would be today and when the cheerleaders moved I saw them, Golden Flashes Yoshica Spears said.

It wasn’t until 18 minutes and 29 in the game that the Zips scored their first basket, a free throw made by point guard Ayla Guzzardo.

The Golden Flashes went on a 9-3 run but then the Zips fought back with back-to-back 3-pointers from Guzzardo and shooting guard Taylor Ruper.

Small forward Jasmine Mushington answered with two 3-pointers.

Even at only 5-foot-3 Guzzardo blocked a shot against the Golden Flashes with only eight minutes and eight seconds remaining in the half.

With the final seconds ticking off the clock, Guzzardo passed the ball to Ruper, who made a 3-pointer with no time left on the clock.

The Golden Flashes did better inside than the Zips did, scoring 14 points to the UA’s 10 points.

The Zips would go into halftime with the lead, 31-28.

The Zips were on fire in the first half from behind the arc, shooting 62.5 percent.

The second half was a different story.

At halftime coach did a good job getting us motivated and reorganized, Golden Flashes Jamilah Humes said.

Defensive pressure was the key for the Golden Flashes as the Zips had a hard time scoring.

It was a back-and-forth second half as KSU took the lead for the rest of the game with 15 minutes and 11 seconds left in regulation.

Down by two with 47 seconds left, Mushington committed a foul and both free throws were made by Humes.

With time running out, Ruper attempted a three to tie the game, but missed, leaving the Golden Flashes winners on their last home game of the season.

Mushington came off the bench and scored 16 points to lead the Zips offensive attack.

Power Forward Jolene Tamboue led the Zips in rebounding with seven.

Of the Zips 67 points, 42 came off the bench and 22 were scored in the paint.

Leading the offensive attack for the Golden Flashes was Humes with 31 points.

Thankfully for the Zips, Kara Murphy did play in the game after suffering from dehydration in Saturday’s loss against BGSU.

The Zips will return to James A. Rhodes Arena this Saturday as they take on the fourth-ranked Mid-American Conference East eastern division Miami RedHawks.

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