Kent State University
Toledo
Kent State Visits Toledo for First MAC Road Test on Saturday
1/11/2019 2:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State women's basketball will take a six-game winning streak into Savage Arena, a place where it won twice last season, for a 2 p.m. tip against Toledo on Saturday.
The Golden Flashes (9-4) are one of only two remaining unbeaten teams in Mid-American Conference play and seeks the first 3-0 start to league play since 2010-11.
Kent State put an end to Northern Illinois' five-game winning with an 87-78 victory inside of the M.A.C. Center on Wednesday. The Flashes put 28 points on the board in the fourth quarter to win back-to-back games when trailing at the start of the fourth quarter for the first time in program history. Junior Ali Poole scored 10 of her career-high 28 points in the period to lead the comeback effort. Asiah Dingle and Lindsey Thall added 17 points each to continue their outstanding freshman season. Kent State went 10-for-23 on three-point attempts to hit double-figure triples for the third game in a row and fifth time overall this season. Senior Alexa Golden buried the three-pointer that put the Flashes ahead for good and posted team-high totals of five assists and four steals.
Guard Megan Carter (14.5 ppg) scored at least 12 points in all but three games this season and has a team-high 35 assists. Freshman Asiah Dingle (13.8 ppg) has provided a scoring threat at the point guard position. Forward Lindsey Thall (10.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg) leads Kent State with 25 three-pointers to go with a MAC-best 20 blocks. Center Merissa Barber-Smith is the team's top rebounder at 6.9 per game and is right behind with 18 blocked shots. Guards Ali Poole (9.8 ppg) and Alexa Golden (6.5 ppg) have both made at least 40-percent of shots from beyond the three-point line.
Scouting Toledo
Toledo (9-4, 1-1) fell at Miami, 65-64, on Wednesday to snap a streak of four consecutive wins. The Rockets are currently ranked No. 10 in the espnW Mid-Major Poll and No. 21 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll.
Opponents are only scoring 59.4 points per game, which is tied for second in the MAC. The Rockets have held eight teams to 60 or fewer points and no team has scored more than 73. Defending national champion Notre Dame put just 72 points on the board during a visit to Savage Arena on Dec. 8. Only UConn has held the Fighting Irish to fewer points this season.
The All-MAC duo of center Kaayla McIntyre and guard Mikaela Boyd lead the Rockets. McIntyre ranks in the top 10 in the conference in scoring (15.5 ppg), rebounding (6.9 rpg), blocked shots (1.4 bpg) and field goal percentage (.580). Boyd averages 9.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Guard Mariella Santucci contributes 10.2 points and 4.5 assists per game. Guard Nakiah Black (8.0 ppg) has averaged 14.8 points per game since being inserted into the starting lineup four games ago.
Series History
• Kent State is 31-41 all-time vs. Toledo.
• The Golden Flashes beat the Rockets twice on their home floor a season ago but are just 2-8 in the past 10 matchups overall.
• This was the first time Kent State defeated Toledo in consecutive meetings since the 2007 and 2008 seasons, and the first time since 2000 that the Flashes beat the Rockets twice in the same season.
• The Golden Flashes are 3-1 vs. Toledo under third-year head coach Todd Starkey.
TV / Radio
Dave Wilson will have the call on the Golden Flashes iHeart Radio channel. The game will be streamed on ESPN3 with Mason Lowry and Rhett Boyd on the call.Â
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will play their first MAC East Division foe on Wednesday, Jan. 16 when they visit Ohio.
