Kent State University
Ohio State
Women’s Basketball Tips Season Wednesday at No. 19 Ohio State
12/1/2020 11:47:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball team is scheduled to tip an unprecedented 2020-21 campaign Wednesday with a trip to Columbus to battle 19th-ranked Ohio State at the Covelli Center. Fans can watch the noon game on BTN+.
The Golden Flashes return four starters from last season's Mid-American Conference East Division co-championship team. One of the hottest teams in the conference down the stretch, Kent State won seven of its final nine games and was the highest remaining seed in the MAC Tournament when it was canceled. Guard Katie Shumate (All-MAC honorable mention, All-Freshman Team) and forwards Nila Blackford (All-Freshman Team) and Lindsey Thall (All-Defensive Team) were all honored by the conference's postseason award selections. The versatile Shumate, who was third on team in scoring (12.3 ppg) and second in rebounding (6.4 rpg), steals (1.2 spg) and blocks (0.9), was the Flashes' first freshman to garner All-MAC honors since 2008. Blackford ranked fifth in the conference at 8.0 rebounds per game and was Kent State's second-leading scorer at 12.4 points per game. Thall (11.7 ppg) drained a team-best 64 three-pointers and was the top shot blocker in the MAC (2.1 bpg) for the second year in a row.
Junior Mariah Modkins (3.0 ppg) started the final 13 games at point guard and helped the Flashes post a 9-4 record. Hannah Young (4.8 ppg) and Clare Kelly (3.0 ppg) will have an opportunity to play increased minutes alongside Modkins in the backcourt.
Kent State has one of the tallest frontcourt units in program history with the addition of 6-foot-4 centers Linsey Marchese and Lexi Jackson. Marchese, a two-year letterwinner at Indiana who sat out last season, averaged 11.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game during the Flashes' three-game trip to Vancouver in August 2019. The Flashes could also receive a waiver from the NCAA to grant immediate eligibility to six-foot-three Bexley Wallace, a former top-100 recruit who transferred from Penn State.
Scouting No. 19 Ohio State
The Buckeyes (1-0) opened the season Sunday with an 82-47 wire-to-wire victory over Duquesne. Jacy Sheldon finished with a game-high 20 points and backcourt mate Braxtin Miller added 16. Dorka Juhasz logged a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. A First Team All-Big Ten performer who averaged 13.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game last season, the 6-foot-4 forward was named to the Naismith Trophy Watch List. Miller led the Big Ten and was 16th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.48) last year. Sheldon, Aaliyah Patty and Madison Greene are also returning starters. Forward Tanaya Beacham, a graduate transfer from Toledo, led Ohio State's bench unit in the opener with four points and eight rebounds.
KSU in Season Openers
• Kent State is 23-22 all-time in season openers after beating Duquesne, 77-75, on a Megan Carter floater in the lane with 0.2 seconds remaining a year ago.
• Head coach Todd Starkey is 3-1 in openers and is the only KSU head coach to be victorious in their debut at the school with a 77-52 win against Bradley start begin the 2016-17 season.
• The Flashes are 0-2 all-time in openers vs. current members of the Big Ten Conference. Most recently, KSU lost at Nebraska, 91-66, to start the 1994-95 season.
Series History
• Kent State is 0-7 all-time vs. Ohio State.
• The Buckeyes won the first-ever meeting, 69-64, on March 3, 1978 in Bowling Green.
• The first six matchups were played from 1978-81.
• Last season, Ohio State spoiled the Golden Flashes' home opener and left the M.A.C. Center with a 75-65 victory on November 21.
• Kent State is 5-37 all-time vs. schools currently in the Big Ten.
Broadcast Info
Dave Wilson will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network. The game will also be streamed on BTN+.
Next Up For Kent State
The Golden Flashes will open the home schedule against Ohio on Saturday, Dec. 5 for the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
