Kent State University
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Western Michigan
Home Sweet Home: Women’s Basketball Hosts Western Michigan in Saturday Doubleheader
1/5/2018 4:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
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After playing 12 of its first 14 games away from the M.A.C. Center, the Kent State women's basketball kicks off a mini two-game homestand on Saturday against Western Michigan with a 4:30 p.m. scheduled tip. The contest is part of a doubleheader with the men's basketball team and the first of three slated for the Mid-American Conference season.
After winning the conference opener for the first time since 2010-11, the Golden Flashes (8-6, 1-1 MAC) allowed a lead to slip away in the final quarter Wednesday night at Northern Illinois. Kent State held its largest lead of the game, 69-61, with 8:05 remaining before shooting just 2-for-6 while committing seven turnovers the rest of the way. The Flashes had the ball with the shot clock turned off and a chance to take the lead but missed a contested layup and then turned the ball over. Kent State shot a season-best 18-of-20 from the free throw line and held a double-digit rebounding advantage (38-26) for the third consecutive game.
Kent State is No. 22 in the country in free throws made (226) and has converted 12 more shots from the charity stripe than their opponents have even attempted. The Flashes' defense has been a key to success, as they lead the MAC in defensive rebounding percentage (.721), are second in rebounding margin ( 6.6) and third in scoring defense (62.7 ppg).
Despite being the lowest-scoring team (62.7 ppg) in the MAC on the season, Kent State has showed improvement during the first two conference games. The Flashes are tied for fourth in scoring (73.0 ppg), while ranking second and third, respectively, in field goal percentage (.436) and three-point field goal percentage (.379). Redshirt sophomore Megan Carter has provided an offensive boost with her return to the lineup. Carter is averaging 16.5 ppg and has set a new career scoring high in both games.
Senior Jordan Korinek leads the Flashes in scoring (19.5 ppg) and is averaging 24.0 ppg in league games. Korinek, who also leads Kent State in blocked shots (13) while pulling down 5.6 rpg, shoots better than 50 percent from the floor and her 79 made free throws rank 13th nationally. Graduate student McKenna Stephens (10.1 ppg) averages a team-best 6.1 rpg. Junior Alexa Golden (8.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg) leads the Flashes in steals (23), offensive rebounds (32), three-point shooting (.375) and free throw shooting (.803). Senior Naddiyah Cross is averaging a career-best in every major statistical category, including a team-best 4.9 apg.
Scouting Western Michigan
Western Michigan (8-6, 1-1 MAC) had its four-game winning streak snapped Wednesday in a 71-49 loss at Buffalo and is just 2-4 in true road games this season. The Broncos average 69.3 ppg and are tied with the Flashes for third in the conference in scoring defense (62.7 ppg). Defending the three-point line has been a strength with opponents shooting just 26.9 percent from long range, which ranks 26th nationally.
The Broncos' offense has struggled to start conference play. Western Michigan is averaging just 55.0 ppg and ranks last in the MAC in both field goal percentage (.333) and three-point field goal percentage (.154).
Sixth-year head coach Shane Clipfell uses a deep rotation with 10 players who have appeared in at least 10 games and average at least 10 minutes per game. A total of 16 Broncos have played in the first two conference games.
All-MAC forward Breanna Mobley is the team's top scorer (15.5 ppg) and rebounder (8.6 rpg) and ranks 20th in the country with 4.0 offensive rebounds per game. Center Marley Hill adds 10.1 rpg and 5.7 rpg, while guard Deja Wimby averages 8.3 ppg and 4.9 apg.
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