KENT, Ohio  – Kent State used a 15-point flurry to begin the second half and then held off a furious Colgate finish in a 76-71 decision on Sunday.
 
It was the season opener for both teams.
 
The game was tied 31-31 at halftime after Colgate ended the second quarter on a 6-2 run. But the Golden Flashes used full-court pressure to spark a 15-0 surge that began the third period.
 
Kent State went in front 46-31 and built its lead to as much as 63-44 early in the fourth quarter.
 
But Colgate, with a career scoring highs of 25 from Paige Kriftcher and 20 from Josie Stockill, fought to the end. The Raiders closed the game on an 18-6 run but it wasn't enough.
 
Colgate is back in action Wednesday at Cornell. It's the nightcap of a doubleheader, with the approximate start time 8:30 p.m.
 
Bottom Line
• Kent State 76, Colgate 71
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate begins the 0-1.
• Kent State starts 1-0.
 
Facts & Figures
• Kriftcher finished 12-of-22 from the field with one made 3-pointer. She added seven rebounds for another career high.
• Stockill was a solid 9-of-15 from the floor and fell one rebound shy of her fourth career double-double.
• She also just missed her career-best in blocks, finishing with six. That lifts her four-year total to 142, which is 28 shy of the Colgate record of 170 held by Leandra Fuller (2002-05).
• The remainder of Colgate's scoring went like this: Ariel Etheridge 9, Kateri Stone 7, Randyll Butler 6, Katie Curtis 2 and Mylah Chandler 2.
• Butler was the rebound leader with 13 to match her career high set a year ago against American. She topped her previous career best with nine assists, and added five steals.
 
More Key Info
• Kent State's 15-0 advantage to start the third quarter led to a 25-11 scoring total in favor of the Golden Flashes for that period.
• Colgate's fourth-quarter comeback attempt saw the Raiders score 29 points.
• Colgate in the game shot 40.8 percent from the field to Kent State's 37.3. The Raiders were 5-of-24 from 3-point distance; Kent finished 7-of-17.
• The big difference was at the free-throw line, where the hosts were 19-of-31 to Colgate's 4-of-4. The Raiders were whistled for 26 fouls to Kent State's 12.
• Colgate finished with a 52-41 rebounding edge, but the Raiders did commit 25 turnovers to Kent State' 20.
• Colgate's largest lead was 8-3, and the first half saw several ties and lead changes. The halftime score was 31-31.
 
Turning Point
• Colgate stayed close in a back-and-forth first half.
• But Kent State scored the first 15 points of the third quarter to take command.
 
From the Sources
• Colgate head coach Nicci Hays Fort (On Kriftcher and Stockill) "They were bright spots. Not only did Paige score but she did a lot of other things for us as well, including seven rebounds.
 
"Josie was a disrupter in the middle with six blocks. It hurt us when she picked up that third foul just six seconds into the third quarter. She really looked for her opportunities on the offensive end and took advantage of them."
 
(On the deficit) "We really dug ourselves a deep hole but then showed a lot of grit to make a run at the end. People stepped up and made some plays. We just have to eliminate our turnovers when we play Cornell on Wednesday night."
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance at the MAC Center was 521.
 
Up Next
• Colgate plays Wednesday at Central New York rival Cornell (1-1).
• The Big Red lost 53-50 Friday at Hartford and won 70-62 Sunday at Bryant.
• Tip time is approximately 8:30 p.m., or after the conclusion of the Cornell-Binghamton men's game.