Kent State University
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Western Michigan
Women’s Basketball to Host WMU as Part of Saturday Doubleheader
1/10/2020 12:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball team will get an afternoon hoops doubleheader at the M.A.C. Center on Saturday started against Western Michigan at 1 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (7-6, 0-2 MAC) have lost their first two Mid-American Conference contests since the 2016-17 season, when they went on to win the East Division title. Kent State ran out of time in Wednesday's 74-69 loss to Eastern Michigan. Trailing by 12 with two minutes remaining, the Flashes scored eight straight points and got within 72-69 on a corner three-pointer by Katie Shumate with 2.9 seconds left. Five players scored in double-figures for the fourth time this season. Megan Carter led the way 13 points and Shumate was right behind with 14. Asiah Dingle and Lindsey Thall added 11 points each, while Nila Blackford had 10 points and a team-best seven boards.
All five starters are scoring in double-figures for the season. Freshman Nila Blackford is posting team-leading averages of 13.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Redshirt senior Megan Carter (12.7 ppg) has scored in double-digits in each of the past eight contests against Division I opponents. Sophomore Lindsey Thall (12.2 ppg) is second in the MAC in blocked shots (1.7 bpg) and fourth three-point field goal percentage (.413). Sophomore Asiah Dingle (11.7 ppg) leads the Flashes in assists (3.8 apg) and steals (2.0 spg). Freshman Katie Shumate (11.3 ppg) has displayed a versatile skill set and ranks in the top-two on the team in rebounding (6.1 rpg), steals (19) and blocked shots (14).
Scouting Western Michigan
Western Michigan (9-4, 2-0 MAC) has won three games in a row and seven of its last eight overall. The Broncos rallied to win at Akron on Wednesday, 56-51, behind a 15-0 run in which the Zips were held scoreless for more than seven minutes of action.
The Broncos rank fifth in the MAC with an average of 71.3 points per game and relies heavily on production from guard Jordan Walker (16.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg), forward Breanna Mobley (13.6 ppg, 10.5 rpg) and forward Leighah-Amori Wool (12.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg). The trio accounts for just under 60-percent of the team's scoring and rebounding overall and 70-percent of its points over the first two conference games. Both Walker and Mobley were sidelined last season and have been terrific in their returns to action. Walker is the sixth-leading scorer in the MAC and has gone for at least 20 points in five games. Mobley is the MAC's top rebounder and ranks third in the nation in double-doubles (10) and seventh in offensive rebounds (4.8 per game).
Series History
• Kent State is 33-26 all-time vs. Western Michigan.
• The Golden Flashes have an 18-10 all-time record vs. the Broncos at home.
• WMU's four-game win streak at the M.A.C. came to an end last season.
• Kent State swept the season series a year ago and won both games by four points.
• The Flashes are is 3-1 vs. Western Michigan under third-year head coach Todd Starkey.
TV / Radio
Dan Griffin will be on the call on 640 WHLO and the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel, while Dave Wilson and Ben Pagani will bring the action on ESPN+.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will hit the road next week with games at Northern Illinois (Jan 15) and Miami (Jan. 18).
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