Kent State University
Ohio
Women’s Basketball Begins Big Week at MAC East Rival Ohio
1/15/2019 5:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will take on Ohio inside of the Convocation Center in Athens in a matchup between two of the top Mid-American Conference women's basketball teams on Wednesday night with tip scheduled for 7 p.m.
One of only two remaining unbeaten teams in conference play, the Golden Flashes (10-4) have won seven in a row and seek the first 4-0 start to league play since 2010-11.
Kent State used an outstanding defensive effort to pull out a 58-47 victory over Toledo on Saturday for the third win inside of Savage Arena in the past 12 months. The Flashes held the Rockets to a season-low 47 points on 18-for-58 (31.0 percent) from the field, as Lindsey Thall matched her career-high blocked four shots. A 13-0 run to start the fourth quarter allowed Kent State to pull away. Megan Carter led all scorers with 22 points, including 13 in the final quarter. Asiah Dingle added 13 points
Guard Megan Carter (15.0 ppg) scored at least 12 points in all but three games this season and has a team-high 36 assists. Freshman Asiah Dingle (13.8 ppg) has provided a scoring threat at the point guard position. Forward Lindsey Thall (10.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg) leads Kent State with 26 three-pointers to go with a MAC-best 24 blocks. Center Merissa Barber-Smith is the team's top rebounder at 6.7 per game and has 18 blocked shots. Guards Ali Poole (9.6 ppg) and Alexa Golden (6.4 ppg) have both made better than 40-percent of shots from beyond the three-point line.
Scouting Ohio
Ohio (13-1, 2-1 MAC) was one of three remaining undefeated teams in the country prior to an 88-70 setback to Central Michigan last Wednesday. The Bobcats entered last week ranked No. 3 in both the espnW Mid-Major Poll and the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll.
Featuring one of the top offenses in the country, Ohio ranks fifth in the country in scoring (83.6 ppg), 10th in three-pointers per game (10.1), 15th in three-point field goal percentage (.380), 15th in scoring margin (+18.6) and 20th in field goal percentage (.465). The Bobcats play an aggressive defense that ranks fourth in the country in turnover margin (+8.14), 15 in steals per game (11.9) and 16 in turnovers force per game (22.0).
Five different Bobcats average more than 12 points per game. Guard CeCe Hooks, the 2018 MAC Freshman of the Year, paces Ohio at 16.6 points per game and is one of three players in the country averaging at least four rebounds, four assists and four steals per game. Forward Gabby Burris (15.0 ppg) is the team's top rebounder at 5.6 rebounds per game. Guards Amani Burke (12.9 ppg) and Dominique Doseck (12.7 ppg) both average more than two three-pointers per game and are shooting better than 40-percent from long distance. Forward Erica Johnson (12.8 ppg) is one of the top freshmen in the conference and averages a team-best 4.5 assists per game off the bench.
Series History
• Kent State is 52-30 all-time vs. Ohio.
• The Golden Flashes won both meetings during the 2016-17 season, but the Bobcats have won six of the last eight overall.
• Kent State is 18-20 in trips to Athens.
• The Flashes' 19-game winning streak from Jan. 10, 1996 through Jan, 28, 2004 is the longest for either school.
• The Golden Flashes are 2-2 vs. Ohio 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 Marty Bannister and Jim Scoby on the call.Â
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes return to the M.A.C. Center on Saturday, Jan. 19 to host preseason conference favorite Central Michigan in the final home game of the month.
