Flashes Take on Creighton Friday in Colorado
11/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
• The Kent State University women's basketball team (0-3) continues its three-game Western road trip at the Rocky Mountain Invitational this weekend in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Golden Flashes will take on Creighton University (2-1) in Friday night's opening round of the four-team tournament on the campus of Colorado State University.
• Host Colorado State (0-4) will take on Navy (2-4) in Friday's other opening round game. The Rocky Mountain Invitational championship and consolation games will be played Saturday. The Golden Flashes have never before faced Creighton, Colorado State or Navy.
• Creighton has already claimed a pair of double digit victories this this season, while its only loss came at the hands of No. 7 Rutgers.
• Last season, Colorado State knocked off Idaho to advance to the championship game of the Rocky Mountain Invitational before falling to Western California.
• Of the 10 Kent State players that have seen action this season, seven (Stephanie Gibson, Chenel Harris, Alisa Brinkman, Anna Kowalska, Nicole Pribich, Kate Verhoff, Ellie Shields) have recently played in the first Division I game of their careers. In addition, Rachel Bennett sat out the entire 2006-07 season, giving the Flashes just two returning players from last year.
• Junior center Anna Kowalska has combined for 46 points in her last two games.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio & Live Stats:
WHLO AM-640 (Ty Linder, play-by-play). Online radio simulcast available for both games on the Kent State website at www.kentstatesports.com. Live stats will be available on the Colorado State web site at www.csurams.com.
TOURNAMENT PLAY
The Golden Flashes competed in four regular season tournaments in 2006, finishing 2-6 in tournament play with a victory over Southern (Nov. 18) at the Fifth Third Classic hosted by Marshall and a win over Alcorn State (Dec. 9) at the Gene Hackerman Invitational hosted by Rice. KSU last won a regular season tournament championship in 1996 at the Lady Panther Invitational in Pittsburgh. The Flashes knocked off Siena and Coppin State to close out non-conference play on their way to a 20-10 season.
KSU will also take part in the Radford Invitational Dec. 28 & 29. The Flashes will battle UNC-Wilmington in the opening round of their two-day Virginia trip.
A RARE LOSING STREAK
Prior to Tuesday's loss at New Mexico State (72-55), Kent State had not suffered three consecutive setbacks in the same season since Feb. 27, 2003. Despite a 4-7 start to the 2006-07 season, Kent State never dropped more than two straight games during non-conference play. The Flashes have not dropped four straight since starting the 2001-02 season 0-4.
GUARDING THE THREE
Limiting opponents' three-point field goals has been a key to Kent State's success in the last two seasons. The Golden Flashes finished 7-1 last year when holding opponents to under five three-pointers in a game. This season, KSU's three opponents have all connected on at least seven three-point goals.
UP NEXT
Following the championship/consoaltion round on Saturday, the Golden Flashes return home and take a week off from competition before hosting Vermont Saturday, Dec. 1 at the M.A.C.C. The Catamounts defeated KSU 91-73 last season in Burlington.
UNMATCHED EXCELLENCE
KSU closed out the 2006-07 year by clinching its 17th straight season of 15 or more victories and its 16th consecutive season of 10 or more league wins. Both feats had never before been accomplished by a MAC team.
LINDSAY APPROACHING 350
KSU head coach Bob Lindsay closed out the 2006-07 regular season with his 344th career victory vs. Buffalo. His 344 wins are the most career victories in MAC history and he is on pace to become the 50th active NCAA Division I coach with 350 wins. In 2006, Lindsay became the first MAC women's head coach to record 200 conference wins with an 85-57 victory over Toldeo at the M.A.C. Center.
SCOUTING CREIGHTON
The Bluejays return 10 letterwinners and all five starters from a team that finished sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference (13-19, 8-10 MVC) last season and advanced to their league championship game. Creighton has won 14 of its last 26 games dating back to last December.
This season, the Bluejays bring a balanced attack with 10 players averaging at least 15 minutes per game and six players scoring at least seven points per game. Last season's MVC Newcomer of the Year Megan Neuvirth is pulling down a team best 5.7 rebounds per game, while scoring 7.7 points per contest.
Freshman Kelsey Woodard has made her presence felt on the veteran squad, coming off the bench to lead the Bluejays in scoring at 8.0 ppg. Seven players are shooting 75 percent or better from the line, led by Woodard, who is 7-for-7 from the charity stripe. Senior guard Ally Thrall leads the Jays in assists (4.0 apg) and steals (2.0 spg).
In their most recent outing, the Bluejays pummeled Memphis 90-57 Monday night (Nov. 19) in Omaha. Creighton forced 29 turnovers, outshot and outrebounded the Tigers. Woodard led both sides with 14 points and was one of eight Bluejays with eight or more points. Creighton is 2-0 at home and is yet to play at a neutral site this season.
KOWALSKA FINISHING STRONG
Junior center Anna Kowalska has been turning her offensive game up a notch in the second half this season. Kowalska has scored 17 second-half points in each of her last two games and is averaging 14.0 points in the second half this season.
OFFENSIVE BOARD BATTLE
Kent State's 14.4 offensive rebounds per game ranked first among all 12 MAC teams last season. After a slow start vs. St. Bonaventure, KSU has pulled down 42 offensive boards in its last two games, bringing its season average up to 15.3 orpg. Anna Kowalska has accounted for one third of the team's offensive rebounds. On the other side of the floor however, the Flashes have allowed opponents to bring down 16.0 offensive rebounds per contest.
VERHOFF RETURNS
After sitting out the entire 2006-07 season due to NCAA transfer rules, redshirt sophomore guard Kate Verhoff's debut was further delayed by a preseason hand injury that kept her out of the season's first two games. Tuesday at New Mexico State, Verhoff came off the bench to score five points in 25 minutes of action with one rebound and one steal.
CONFERENCE CALL The Golden Flashes are 4-1 vs. opponents from the Missouri Valley Conference, but have not faced a team from the Valley since 1996. KSU is 3-0 against Indiana State and its only setback to an MVC team came in 1982, a one-point loss (69-68) to Southern Illinois at the Illini Classic. Although Kent State has never faced Navy, the Flashes are 10-2 vs. teams from the Patriot League. KSU is 1-3 against Mountain West opponents.
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