Kent State University
Akron
Women’s Basketball Returns to M.A.C. Center Saturday for Rivalry Game
2/1/2019 12:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball
One of the Mid-American Conference's top rivalries will be on display Saturday at the M.A.C. Center when the Kent State women's basketball team hosts Akron at 2 p.m. The winner of the contest will earn a half-point for its school in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge standings, which the Zips currently lead 3.0-2.0. Both teams are coming off of a scheduled bye during mid-week action.
The Golden Flashes (10-8, 3-4 MAC) dropped their fourth game in a row last Saturday, 79-63, at Miami. Megan Carter posted her fourth 20-point performance in the past five games with a game-high 21 points. Lindsey Thall just missed her career-high and finished with 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting and Asiah Dingle added eight points. The trio made half of their shots, but the rest of the Flashes went just 4-for-17.
Guard Megan Carter (15.9 ppg) has scored at least 12 points in all but three games this season and is second on the team with 42 assists. Freshman Asiah Dingle (13.2 ppg) has provided a scoring threat at the point guard position. Forward Lindsey Thall (9.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg) leads Kent State with 29Â three-pointers to go with a MAC-best 26 blocks. Center Merissa Barber-Smith is the team's top rebounder at 6.8 per game and has 21 blocked shots. Guard Alexa Golden (7.1 ppg) leads the team in assists (2.6 apg), steals (2.5 spg) and three-point field goal percentage (.377).
Scouting Akron
Akron (12-6, 3-4 MAC) battled back from a 12-point deficit to beat Toledo in overtime, 70-64, in its most recent game. The Zips had lost their previous three games and are 2-4 in true road games this season.
Offensively, Akron averages 66.1 points per game, which ranks ninth in the conference. Three-point field goals (8.4/game) account for 38.1-percent of the Zips' points which is the second-highest in the MAC.
Guard Megan Sefcik is the fifth-leading scorer at 17.5 points per game. The sharpshooter is making nearly four three-pointers per game in league play and her 62 trifectas rank 10th in the country. Forwards Haliegh Reinoehl (9.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Caitlin Vari (7.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg) are both among the top-10 rebounds in the MAC. Guard Shaunay Edmonds adds 9.8 points per game and guard Shayna Harmon (7.0 ppg) averages a team-high 3.4 assists per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 51-16 all-time vs. Akron.
• The schools split the season series last year for the first time since 2012.
• The Golden Flashes have dominated matchups at the M.A.C. Center historically with a 28-5 all-time record.
• However, Akron won four straight at the M.A.C. Center from 2013-16.
• The Flashes' 18-game winning streak from Jan. 8, 2000 through Feb, 23, 2008 is the longest for either school.
• Kent State is 3-1 vs. Akron under third-year head coach Todd Starkey.
TV / Radio
Jacob Pavilack will be on the call on the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel, while Dave Wilson and Henry Palatella bring the action on ESPN3.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will host Western Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 6.
