Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Coach Wright Postgame

KENT, Ohio -- The Miami University women's basketball team used a spirited effort, but could not quite get over the hump as it fell to Kent State, 59-53, on Wednesday evening in Kent. The RedHawks fall to 9-19 overall and 3-14 in the Mid-American Conference. The Golden Flashes improve to 6-21 overall and 3-14 in the MAC.

Both teams had similar shooting performances from the field as Miami finished the game shooting 34.5 percent (20-for-58), while Kent State shot 34.0 percent (16-for-47). The difference came at the free throw line, where the Golden Flashes finished 25-for-35, compared to the RedHawks at 8-for-10.

The loss spoiled a solid performance from redshirt sophomore forward Megan Galloway. She battled inside all game and finished with a team-high 14 points, which is the most points she has scored at Miami.

After falling behind 4-0 to begin the contest, a three-pointer by freshman guard Kendall McCoy and a jumper by freshman point guard Leah Purvis got the RedHawks on the board and gave them their first lead. Kent State answered with a 7-0 run that put it on top 11-5 with 3:50 to go in the first. Sophomore guard Kayla Brown drained a jumper, while Galloway hit back-to-back layups to tie the score at 11. The Golden Flashes hit a three-pointer in the final minute to take a 15-12 lead at the end of the quarter.

Despite a three-pointer from freshman guard Morgan Horvath, the Miami offense was cold to begin the second quarter. Kent State took advantage to build a 10-point lead at 27-17 with 4:35 remaining in the half. A Purvis three-pointer ended the scoring drought. Each team would score two more points in the period, sending the Flashes into the break with a 29-22 advantage.

Miami shot 30.8 percent (8-for-26) from the field, while Kent State was at 32.1 percent (9-for-28). Galloway led the `Hawks with eight points in the period.

Back-to-back jumpers by Brown and a layup from Purvis closed Miami to within three at 31-28 with 7:28 to go in the third quarter. KSU built the lead back up to eight at 36-28 before the RedHawks went on another run. McCoy scored five points as part of a 9-1 stretch that tied the score at 37. The Golden Flashes scored on an old-fashioned three-point play to retake a 40-37 lead going into the final period.

A pair of free throws from sophomore guard Jazz Smith and a layup by freshman forward Kristen Levering tied the score at 41 with 7:54 remaining in the contest. It was the first time Miami had tied the score since the first quarter. Kent State scored the next four points, but a big three-pointer by McCoy made it 47-46 with 6:46 to go. Galloway answered a Golden Flash jumper with another layup to keep it a one-point contest, but KSU used a steady dose of free throws to go on a 10-4 run and effectively put the game away.

In addition to Galloway's 14 points, McCoy and Richter each had 11, while Purvis finished with eight. Kent State held a 38-35 advantage in rebounding and was led by Jordan Korinek with 23 points.

Miami completes the regular season on Saturday when it hosts Ohio for a 2 p.m. tip. It is Senior Day and Tamira Ford, Hannah McCue and Jessica Rupright will be honored in a pregame ceremony for all their contributions these past four years. The contest will air on ESPN3, while an audio broadcast will be available on Miami College Sports Live.