Kent State University
Buffalo
Women’s Basketball to Celebrate Senior Day on Saturday
3/8/2019 12:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State hosts Buffalo for Senior Day and the Mid-American Conference regular season finale on Saturday at 2 p.m. Seniors Merissa Barber-Smith and Alexa Golden will be honored prior to the game.
The Golden Flashes (17-11, 10-7 MAC) scored the first 11 points during the overtime period en route to a 65-55 victory and season sweep of rival Akron on Wednesday night. Kent State had four score in double-figures, as Megan Carter finished with a game-high 19 points. Lindsey Thall had 13 points, which included a huge putback in the final minute of regulation and a dagger three-pointer late in overtime. Merissa Barber-Smith had a monster night with a career-high 18 rebounds to go with nine points and three blocks. Alexa Golden played all 45 minutes and finished with eight rebounds and four steals.
Guard Megan Carter (16.3 ppg) has scored at least 12 points in all but four games this season. Freshman Asiah Dingle (12.6 ppg) has provided a scoring threat at the point guard position. Forward Lindsey Thall (10.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg) leads Kent State with 55 three-pointers and her 43 blocked shots rank second in the MAC. Center Merissa Barber-Smith is the team's top rebounder at 7.3 per game and has 28 blocked shots. Guard Alexa Golden (7.7 ppg) leads the team in steals (2.8 spg) and is second in rebounding (5.6 rpg).
Scouting Buffalo
Buffalo (20-8, 12-5 MAC) enters No. 19 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll and No. 37 in the most recent NCAA RPI rankings. The Bulls topped Bowling Green, 75-61, on Wednesday to clinch a first round bye to next week's MAC Tournament and the program's fourth 20-win season in a row. Buffalo's average margin of victory is 23.0 points during the current three-game winning streak.
The Bulls score 76.4 points per game, which ranks third in the MAC, and allows 67.1 points per game. Buffalo is efficient at the free throw line and ranks in the top-20 nationally in free throws made (456) and free throw percentage (.766). The Bulls play aggressive on defense and are second in the conference in steals per game (10.2) and turnover margin (+4.2).
Guard Cierra Dillard is the nation's second-leading scorer at 25.5 points per game and one of 10 candidates for the 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, which recognizes the top shooting guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. Dillard is the national leader with 199 free throws made and has drilled a team-high 88 three-pointers. She leads the conference in assists per game (5.8) and is second in steals per game (2.9). Forward Summer Hemphill (14.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg) has posted 12 double-doubles while blocking a team-best 26 shots. Guard Theresa Onwuka adds 9.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 27-17 all-time vs. Buffalo.
• The Golden Flashes won each of the first 19 games in the series, beginning with an 86-77 victory on Jan. 13, 1999.
• However, the Bulls are 14-1 over the past 15 meetings.
• Kent State snapped a 10-game losing streak in the series with an 80-71 victory inside of the M.A.C. Center in the 2017 regular season finale, clinching the MAC East Division title.
• The Flashes are 15-6 in games played at the M.A.C. Center.
• Kent State is 1-5 vs. Buffalo 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
The Golden Flashes will host a MAC Tournament first round game on Monday, March 11. Updated information regarding opponent and game time will be available on KentStateSports.com and Twitter as it becomes available.
