Game Day Preview: Women's Basketball Entertains Cleveland State Saturday
12/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Radio: AM 640WHLO with Ty Linder on the call.
Live stats: NeuLion Game Viewer
Live video: Kent State K-Zone (subscription required)
Kent State women's basketball (4-1) continues its five-game home stand Saturday with its non-conference contest against regional rival Cleveland State.
During the five-game home series, Kent State will face five teams from four different conferences: Rhode Island (A-10), Cleveland State (Horizon League), Wichita State (Missouri Valley), Temple (A-10) and UNC Wilmington (Colonial).
In A Flash: Cleveland State's twin tandem of Angel and Jessica Roque were prep teammates of Kent State standout Chanel Harris at Fr. Michael Goetz High School in Mississauga, Ontario.
Flash Forward: The Flashes will host Wichita State Tuesday, Dec. 8.
Scouting the Flashes: Kent State used a dominating defensive performance to overcome a poor shooting day as the Flashes topped Rhode Island, 64-46, in the home opener Nov. 29. The Flashes forced 19 turnovers, which turned into 20 points, while limiting the Rams to 32 percent shooting from the floor and 23 percent from three-point distance. Three KSU players finished in double figures, as Yoshica Spears led the team with 14 points and five assists. Jena Stutzman added 12 points, and Chenel Harris had 10 points in 13 minutes off the bench.
Avoiding sloth with diligence, Kent State was greedy with the ball in its win against Rhode Island Nov. 29, as the team committed a program-low seven turnovers. Senior Yoshica Spears was the envy of the town with just one turnover in 36 minutes of play, while the Flashes enjoyed gluttony with a stretch of 14:18 without a miscue. No doubt KSU can be proud it ranks 38th in the nation and tops in the MAC in fewest turnovers per game (15.6). The last time Kent State brought wrath with its lack of extravagance with the ball was eight turnovers against Northern Illinois Feb. 13, 2008.
Although it's still early in the season, the NCAA has released its first set of national statistics. Kent State is in the top 50 in three categories: turnovers per game (38th, 15.6 tpg), turnover margin (38th, +4.8) and assist/turnover ratio (48th, 0.94 a/to). Individually, Rachel Bennett is 14th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (3.0 a/to) and Stephanie Gibson is 34th in the same category (2.56 a/to). Yoshica Spears is 67th in the NCAA with 9.2 rebounds per game.
Scouting the Opponents: Cleveland State is coming off a 75-61 setback Wednesday to Marshall in Cleveland. Angel Roque set a career-high with 16 points in the setback.
Kailey Klein, who is within striking distance of 2,000 career points, leads CSU offensively this season with 14.5 ppg. Jessica Roque is second for the Vikings with 10.5 ppg.
Kate Peterson Abiad is 68-121 in her eighth year at Cleveland State. She guided the Vikings to the 2008 NCAA tournament.
| Kent State/Cleveland State game notes |
