Kent State University
Bowling Green
Flashes Host Falcons Monday in MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament First Round Matchup
3/10/2019 12:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Fifth-seeded Kent State hosts 12th-seeded Bowling Green for a Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball Tournament first round matchup on Monday at 7 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (18-11, 11-7 MAC) and Falcons will be meeting for the third time in the past 24 days, as each team won on its home floor during the regular season.
Kent State finished the regular season strong with an 8-3 record during February and March, missing out on the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye by just one game. The Flashes own an 11-3 record at the M.A.C. Center this season, while Bowling Green is just 2-13 in games away from home. The Falcons last won on the road back on Dec. 21.
The Flashes held Buffalo to its fewest points of the season in a 62-53 Senior Day victory on Saturday. The Bulls shot 26.0-percent shooting from the field and went just 3-for-24 in the second half. Seniors Merissa Barber-Smith and Alexa Golden led the strong defensive performance. Barber-Smith grabbed five rebounds and swatted two shots, including a huge rejection late in a two-point game. Golden finished with a career-high eight assists and team-high six rebounds, while also drawing multiple offensive fouls on Buffalo. Lindsey Thall blocked five shots and scored 11 points. Asiah Dingle led the way with 16 points and Ali Poole contributed 15 points off the bench.
Guard Megan Carter (16.1 ppg) has scored at least 11 points in all but four games this season. Freshman Asiah Dingle (12.7 ppg) has provided a scoring threat at the point guard position. Forward Lindsey Thall (10.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg) leads Kent State with 56 three- pointers to go with a MAC-best 48 blocks. Merissa Barber-Smith is the team's top rebounder at 7.2 per game and has 31 blocked shots. Guard Alexa Golden (7.6 ppg) leads the team in steals (2.8 spg) and is second in rebounding (5.7 rpg).
Kent State in the MAC Tournament
• Kent State is making its 33rd appearance in the MAC Tournament.
• The Golden Flashes are 33-28 in MAC Tournament games.Â
• Kent State has advanced to the semifinals 17 times, recording an 12-5 record in those games.
• The Flashes have won three MAC Tournament titles: 1999, 2000 and 2002.
• Kent State appeared in the championship game seven straight years from 1996-2002 and has played for the title 12 times overall.
• During that seven-year stretch, the Flashes owned an 18-4 MAC Tournament record.
MAC Tournament History vs. Bowling Green
• Kent State is 2-7 all-time vs. Bowling Green in MAC Tournament play.
• The Golden Flashes won two of the first two postseason meetings between the teams.
• Kent State's most recent victory was a 106-103 double-overtime win in the 1992 semifinals. Ann Forbes set the school record with 43 points in that game.
• The Falcons have won all six postseason meetings since, which includes three championship game victories.
• Lindsay Shearer scored 44 points vs. BG in the 2005 championship game to break Forbes' record.
Scouting Bowling Green
Bowling Green (9-20, 2-16 MAC) fell to MAC East champion Ohio, 76-68, in the regular season finale on Saturday. The game was tied at the end of the third period, but the Falcons shot just 3-for-13 over the final 10 minutes.
The Falcons rank fifth in the MAC with an average of 69.2 points per game and are prolific three-point shooting team. Bowling Green ranks 20th in the country in three-pointers per game (9.0) and 42nd in three-point field goal percentage (.356). The Falcons lead the MAC with 39-percent of their points coming from beyond the arc.
Guard/forward Andrea Cecil is in the midst of a breakout season and is the team's top scorer at 15.7 points per game. Cecil adds 5.7 rebounds per game and is shooting 40.3-percent from the three-point line. Guard Morgan McMillen (13.0 ppg) ranks 29th nationally with 87 three-pointers. Guard Sydney Lambert (11.9 ppg) is averaging 16.7 points and shooting 50-percent from beyond the arc over the past three games. Guard Kadie Hempfling (6.0 ppg) leads the way in rebounding (7.5 rpg), assists (4.2 apg) and steals (1.4 spg).                                                                    Â
Series History
• Kent State is 34-52 all-time vs. Bowling Green.
• Both teams have defended home court each of the past two seasons.
• The Golden Flashes are 20-19 all-time at home against Bowling Green with wins in four of the last five matchups inside the M.A.C. Center.
• Kent State went 17-1 from 1995 until the 2005 MAC Tournament title game, which the Falcons won, 81-75.
• The Flashes are 4-2 vs. Bowling Green under third-year head coach Todd Starkey.
TV / Radio
Jacob Pavilack will be on the call on 640 WHLO and the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel, while Dave Wilson and Henry Palatella bring the action on ESPN+.
Next Up for Kent State
With a win, the Golden Flashes advance to the MAC Tournament quarterfinals on Wed., March 13 against No. 5 seed Buffalo at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
