Kent State University
Duquesne
Flashes to Host Duquesne in Monday Afternoon Women’s Basketball Contest
12/20/2020 9:42:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Following a break for finals week, the Kent State women's basketball team is set to return to action on Monday, December 21 when it hosts Duquesne in the final scheduled non-conference game at 1 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (2-2) concluded a stretch of three games in five days with a 61-57 win at Toledo last Sunday for a 2-0 start to Mid-American Conference play. Just two days after needing a school-record 16 three-point field goals to beat Ohio in the home opener, Kent State shot just 4-of-20 from behind the arc. Relentless effort on the offensive glass resulted in 13 second-chance points and a dominant 48-28 overall rebounding advantage. Nila Blackford led all players with 21 points and 15 rebounds, which matched her career-high. It was the first 20-point, 15-rebound game by a Flash since Anna Kowalska had 27 points and 16 rebounds against Robert Morris on November 15, 2007. Mariah Modkins scored 10 points and tied her career-high with three steals. Lindsey Thall added seven rebounds and a career-best six assists.
Kent State features a balanced offense once again this season. Four players are averaging at least 9.0 points per game, six have posted double-figure scoring nights and three more have scored at least six points in a contest. Sophomore Nila Blackford leads the way with 13.8 points and averages a MAC-best 9.5 rebounds per game. Junior Mariah Modkins (10.5 ppg) is having a breakout season and leads the Flashes in three-pointers (7), three-point field goal percentage (.500), assists (15) and steals (6). Junior Lindsey Thall adds 9.5 points per game and is the top shot blocker (1.5 bpg) in the MAC for the third year in a row while averaging a career-best 5.8 rebounds per game. Sophomore Katie Shumate is right behind at 9.0 points per game. Freshman Casey Santoro (6.8 ppg) and sophomore Clare Kelly (5.8 ppg) combined for 40 points during the Flashes' first two league contests.
Scouting Duquesne
The Dukes (2-2) have averaged nearly 22 wins over the past seven seasons under the leadership of head coach Dan Burt. Despite playing without All-Atlantic 10 point guard Libby Bazelak, Duquesne has split its first four games. Following a 35-point loss at No. 20 Ohio State in the opener, the Dukes beat Saint Francis (Pa.) at the buzzer and then earned an A10 win against St. Bonaventure. Duquesne dropped a 77-74 contest at Toledo on Friday.
Guard Amanda Kalin (17.5 ppg) scored a career-high 32 points against the Rockets and has averaged 22.7 points per game since a tough opener against the Buckeyes. Preseason All-A10 second team center Laia Sole adds 10.0 points per game and a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game. As a team, the Dukes rank 35th in the country with 5.2 blocked shots per contest. Center Precious Johnson (7.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg) leads the defense with 10 rejections.
Series History
• Kent State is 3-5 all-time vs. Duquesne.
• The Golden Flashes' 77-75 season-opening victory in 2019 snapped a four-game skid in the series.
• The Dukes are 2-1 in visits to the M.A.C. Center, most recently earning a 77-72 win two seasons ago.
• Kent State is 1-1 vs. Duquesne under fifth-year head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Dave Wilson and Jack Berney will call the action on ESPN+, while Clint Scroggs has the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up For Kent State
The Golden Flashes will return to Mid-American Conference play with a trip to Eastern Michigan on Saturday, January 2.
