Kent State University
Northern Illinois
Women’s Basketball Begins Road Trip Wednesday in DeKalb
1/14/2020 8:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State team will look for back-to-back wins on Wednesday when it takes on Northern Illinois in the fourth consecutive matchup with a West Division to begin Mid-American Conference play. Tip inside of the Convocation Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
The Golden Flashes (8-6, 1-2 MAC) built a 16-point halftime lead to take down Western Michigan, 75-63, for their first conference win on Saturday. Katie Shumate shot 4-for-4 from behind the three-point line and scored 17 of her career-high 20 points during the contest's opening 20 minutes. After the Broncos were able to cut it to a two-point game with just under four minutes to play in the third period, Shumate drove baseline and converted a reverse layup for an old-fashioned three-point play. Asiah Dingle was aggressive from the opening tip and scored nine of her 17 points in the first seven minutes of the contest. Dingle finished with four assists and drew eight fouls on the Broncos, which aided Kent State in going 24-of-30 at the foul line. Shumate also grabbed eight rebounds to help the Flashes gain a 45-41 advantage on the glass.
Five Golden Flashes are scoring in double-figures for the season. Freshman Nila Blackford is posting team-leading averages of 13.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Redshirt senior Megan Carter (12.7 ppg) has scored in double-digits in each of her past eight contests against Division I opponents. Sophomore Asiah Dingle (12.1 ppg) leads the Flashes in assists (3.8 apg) and steals (1.9 spg). Freshman Katie Shumate (11.9 ppg) has displayed a versatile skill set and ranks in the top-two on the team in rebounding (6.2 rpg), steals (21) and blocked shots (15). Sophomore Lindsey Thall (11.6 ppg) is second in the MAC in blocked shots (1.7 bpg) and fourth three-point field goal percentage (.400).
Scouting Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois (4-10, 0-3 MAC) has lost five in a row and was last victorious on December 19. Since then, the Huskies are averaging 58.4 points and 21.6 turnovers per game. NIU entered the season with high expectations and was picked to finish second in the West Division but is averaging a conference-worst 63.1 points per contest, which is 10 points fewer than last season.
Guard/forward Courtney Woods (16.3 ppg) has scored more than twice as many points as any of her teammates. The former All-MAC First Team and top three-point marksman in NIU history has shot just 3-for-26 from long range during the team's five-game skid. Guard Chelby Koker is the Huskie's second-leading scorer at 8.0 points per game. Forward Ally May (4.6 ppg) averages a team-best 6.0 rebounds per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 21-17 all-time vs. Northern Illinois.
• The Golden Flashes' 87-78 victory at the M.A.C. Center last season snapped a four-game losing streak in the series.
• Kent State is 6-11 overall in trips to DeKalb and have lost five in a row inside of the Convocation Center.
• The Flashes' last road victory against the Huskies came on Jan. 30, 2020 (80-71).
• Kent State is 1-4 vs. Northern Illinois under fourth-year head coach Todd Starkey.
TV / Radio
Dave Wilson will be on the call on 640 WHLO and the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel and will also be streamed on ESPN+.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will remain on the road and visit Miami on Saturday at 2 p.m.
