In the waning seconds of Kent State’s Wednesday night matchup against Miami University (OH), the Flashes’ bench looked as relaxed as it had all season.
Senior forward Chelsi Watson sat on the ground, her back propped up against her teammate’s leg. Junior guard Naddiyah Cross and sophomore forward Merissa Barber-Smith exchanged handshakes and high-fives with the coaches.
And right in the middle of all the gleeful madness — just like they had been for much of the season — was senior guard Larissa Lurken, junior forward Jordan Korinek and senior forward McKenna Stephens.
The final horn sounded a couple moments later, and suddenly the Kent State women’s basketball team officially earned the title of Mid-American Conference East Champions.