AKRON, Ohio (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge propelled the Kent State women’s basketball team to a decisive 80-61 victory over rival Akron on Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The Golden Flashes, who improved to 13-13 overall and evened their Mid-American Conference record, broke open a tight game with a 26-point second period while holding the Zips to just nine. The 19-point swing turned a 19-19 tie after the first quarter into a 45-28 halftime lead for the visitors, a margin Akron never seriously threatened in the second half.

Kent State’s defense was the catalyst, forcing 18 Akron turnovers and converting them into 33 points. The Golden Flashes also recorded 13 steals and six blocks, controlling the interior with a 38-16 advantage in points in the paint.

Mya Babbitt led all scorers with 20 points for Kent State, adding two steals. Her backcourt pressure was part of a relentless defensive effort that disrupted Akron’s offensive flow. Forward Emory Klatt posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in just 21 minutes of action, providing critical energy off the bench.

Akron, which fell to 7-20, was led by Keiryn McGuff and Izzy Callaway, who each scored 14 points. Callaway also dished out four assists. Ni’Rah Clark added nine points, five rebounds and two blocks for the Zips, but the team struggled with efficiency, shooting just 37.5% from the field and posting an offensive rating of 85.4 points per 100 possessions.

Kent State, by contrast, operated effectively on offense, shooting 44.8% from the field and 45.5% from three-point range. They also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 23 of 30 attempts. The Golden Flashes’ offensive rating of 109.2 underscored their effective use of possessions.

The most critical stretch of the game began late in the first quarter and extended through the second. With the score tied at 19, Kent State closed the first period on a 7-0 run, capped by an Emory Klatt layup with 39 seconds remaining. The Golden Flashes then opened the second quarter with stifling defense, holding Akron without a field goal for the first five and a half minutes. During that span, Kent State extended its run to 18-2, building a 37-21 lead after a Journey Hildebrand three-pointer with 6:29 left in the half. Akron committed seven turnovers in the quarter, which Kent State consistently turned into transition opportunities.

The Zips showed brief resistance in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 14 points on several occasions, but could not sustain a run. Each time, Kent State answered, often inside, to maintain control. The Golden Flashes’ lead never dipped below 17 points in the final quarter.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Kent State, which also defeated Akron 91-79 on Jan. 17. The game drew an attendance of 1,093 to Rhodes Arena.

Kent State will look to build momentum when it travels to face Massachusetts on Wednesday. Akron seeks to regroup on the road at Ball State, also on Wednesday.