Kent State University
Ball State
Women’s Basketball Visits Ball State Saturday for #MACtion Opener
1/3/2020 10:10:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Kent State women's basketball will hit the road to start the new decade when it plays at Ball State in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams on Saturday, January 4. Tip-off from Worthen Arena is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (7-4) posted season-best totals in points, rebounds (53) and assists (25) during Monday's 92-36 victory over Hiram in the non-conference play finale. Clare Kelly drained five three-pointers and totaled a career-high 20 points to lead Kent State in victory. Hannah Young posted career-best totals of 14 points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench. Point guards Mariah Modkins and Asiah Dingle combined for 17 assists and only two turnovers. Modkins had nine dimes in 21 minutes of action off the bench and Dingle recorded eight assists to go with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting.
Kent State's defense has been much-improved over the past three contests, limiting opponents to 51.7 points per game on 33.9-percent shooting from the field. Georgia Southern and Hiram had their lowest-scoring games of the season, while Troy had its second-lowest scoring game. The Flashes forced an average of 21.7 turnovers per game during the stretch.
All five starters are scoring in double-figures for the season. Freshman Nila Blackford is posting team-leading averages of 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Redshirt senior Megan Carter scored 17.0 points per game over the first four contests in December prior to taking just two shots against Hiram. Sophomore Lindsey Thall (12.4 ppg) is third in the MAC in blocked shots (1.4 bpg) and fifth in three-point field goals (2.6 per game). Sophomore Asiah Dingle (12.2 ppg) leads the Flashes in assists (4.0 apg) and steals (2.0 spg). Freshman Katie Shumate (11.5 ppg) has displayed a versatile skill set and ranks in the top-two on the team in rebounding (6.4 rpg), steals (19) and blocked shots (12).
Scouting Ball State
Ball State (8-4) put 52 points on the board in the second half Monday against Urbana to extend its win streak to four. The Cardinals won all three of their games at the Lobo Invitational two weeks ago and have not lost since December 7, an overtime setback to a Western Kentucky squad that is ranked 33rd in the RPI.
Forward Oshlynn Brown ranks second in the MAC at 9.8 rebounds per game and adds a team-best 12.4 points per game. Brown leads the Cardinals with seven double-doubles on the season. Forward Thelma Dis Agustdottir (10.5 ppg) has made a team-best 23 three-pointers with better than 60-percent of her field goal attempts coming from behind the arc. Guard Jasmin Samz adds 10.2 points per game and has scored in double-figures in eight straight games. Guards Anna Clephane (8.5 ppg) and Sydney Freeman (8.5 ppg, 3.7 apg) are also key contributors.
Series History
• Kent State is 37-21 all-time vs. Ball State.
• The Cardinals have won three in a row and are 9-2 over the past 11 meetings.
• The Golden Flashes are 11-17 all-time in trips to Muncie, which includes a streak of 12 consecutive losses.
• Kent State's last road victory in the series came on Feb. 19, 1997 (78-66).
• The Flashes are 0-3 vs. Ball State under third-year head coach Todd Starkey.
KSU in MAC Openers
• Kent State is 18-20 all-time in MAC openers, including a 6-12 mark on the road.
• The Golden Flashes are 1-0 vs. Ball State in MAC openers with a 95-68 victory in Kent on Jan. 8, 1992.
• Head coach Todd Starkey owns a 2-1 record in conference openers. Starkey lost his first MAC contest, 91-78, to eventual regular season champion Central Michigan on Dec. 31, 2016 nut has led the Flashes to victories over Eastern Michigan in each of the two conference lid-lifters.
TV / Radio
Dave Wilson will be on the call on 640 WHLO and the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel, while Joel Godett and Meghan McKeown will bring the action on ESPN+.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will return to the M.A.C. Center next week for a pair of MAC West crossover contests against Eastern Michigan (Jan. 8) and Western Michigan (Jan. 11).
