Scotton scores career-best 21 but Rockets women fall at Kent

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KENT, Ohio - Ellie Shields scored a career-high 31 points and led Kent State to an 87-61 victory over the University of Toledo women last night in the MAC Center. With the loss, the Rockets fall to 10-9 overall and 3-4 in the Mid-American Conference.

"We didn't show up ready to play," Rockets coach Mark Ehlen said. "Kent State competed tonight and we didn't. It is really that simple. Kent battled hard and beat us in every aspect of the game."

Shields, who came into the game averaging just 5.4 points per game, knocked down 9-of-14 shots from the field and 13-of-15 from the free throw line. She was joined in double figures by Asheley Harkins with 21, Rachel Bennett with 16 and Chenel Harris with 13.

Kent State (6-13, 3-4 MAC) shot an impressive 54.5 percent (30-of-55) from the floor, including 40 percent (6-of-15) from 3-point range, and 72.4 percent (21-of-29) from the line to defeat the Rockets for a fifth-consecutive time.

Senior Tamesha Scotton led Toledo with a career-best 21 points. Classmate Ta'Yani Clark had 10.

The Rockets were limited to 33.3 percent (24-of-72) shooting from the field, 26.1 percent (6-of-23) from 3-point range, and 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from the line. The Rockets were also hindered by a season-high 22 turnovers, which the Golden Flashes converted into 32 points.

Kent led wire to wire and jumped out to a 14-4 lead. The Flashes sank six of their first eight shots from the field while the Rockets misfired on seven of their first eight.

Toledo started to heat up and consecutive offensive put-backs by sophomore Allie Clifton trimmed the deficit to 18-12 at 11:46.

Just when it looked like UT was getting back in the contest, Kent's Shields took over.

The 6-3 freshman scored 17 points in the first 12-plus minutes to push the Flashes' advantage to 30-14.