Kent State University
Buffalo
Flashes, Bulls Set for MAC Tournament Quarterfinal Rubber Match
3/12/2019 5:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Fifth-seeded Kent State seeks its second victory against fourth-seeded Buffalo in less than a week when the teams meet in a MAC Tournament quarterfinal contest on Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The Golden Flashes look avenge a loss to the Bulls in last year's in tournament quarterfinal with tip-off expected around 2:30 p.m.
The Flashes (19-11) and Bulls will be meeting for the third time in just over a month. Each team won on its home floor during the regular season, with Kent State holding Buffalo to its lowest-scoring game of the season in Saturday's 62-53 Senior Day victory at the M.A.C. Center.
Kent State owns a 9-3 record since the calendar flipped to February and is 5-0 in Wednesday games during this stretch. The Flashes did not play any neutral site games this season, while the Bulls went 2-0 at the South Point Shootout in Las Vegas back in late November.
Guard Megan Carter (15.9 ppg) has scored at least 11 points in all but four games this season. Freshman Asiah Dingle (13.1 ppg) has provided a scoring threat at the point guard position. Forward Lindsey Thall (10.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg) leads Kent State with 59 three- pointers to go with a MAC-best 51 blocks. Merissa Barber-Smith is the team's top rebounder at 7.6 per game and has 34 blocked shots. Guard Alexa Golden (7.7 ppg) leads the team in steals (2.7 spg) and is second in rebounding (5.5 rpg).
Kent State in the MAC Tournament
• Kent State is making its 33rd appearance in the MAC Tournament.
• The Golden Flashes are 34-28 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. Buffalo
• Kent State is 2-2 all-time vs. Buffalo in MAC Tournament play, with all four being quarterfinal matchups.
• The Golden Flashes won the first two postseason meetings between the teams, knocking the Bulls out of the tournament in both 1999 (84-48) and 2000 (71-68).
• Buffalo earned its first victory, 66-54, in 2009.
• Last season, the Bulls broke the game open in the third period and went on to a 72-50 victory.
TV / Radio
Dave Wilson will be on the call on Fox Sports 1350 and the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel, while Dave Bacon and Jacki Windon bring the action on ESPN+.
Next Up for Kent State
With a win, the Golden Flashes advance to the MAC Tournament semifinals on Fri., March 15 against the winner of the quarterfinal between No. 1 seed Central Michigan and No. 9 seed Eastern Michigan.
