Kent State University
Toledo
Flashes to Host Toledo Saturday for Annual Play4Kay Game
2/14/2020 1:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball will host its annual Play4Kay game Saturday against Toledo. The game helps to raise awareness and funding for women's cancer research and honor female cancer survivors. Tip inside of the M.A.C. Center will be at approximately 3:30 p.m. and follows the men's basketball game against Ohio. Admission is free for all cancer survivors.
About Play4Kay
The vision for Play4Kay came directly from Coach Kay Yow. Through Play4Kay, she saw a vision to bring communities together and honor survivors in the fight against ALL cancers affecting women. It was basically a simple idea — take a game in your schedule and use it to fundraise for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. As Play4Kay evolved, the mechanisms for fundraising have expanded and so have the initiatives. Schools nationwide are finding ways to "Play4Kay" on and off the basketball court.
Flash Facts
The Golden Flashes (13-9, 6-5 MAC) held their third straight opponent at least 10 points under its season average during Wednesday's 60-55 Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge victory at Akron. Kent State closed the game with a 9-2 run to secure their fourth straight victory in the rivalry. Lindsey Thall buried a deep three-pointer for a 54-53 lead with 1:47 to play. A terrific defensive possession forced an off-balanced three-point attempt at tying the game in the final 20 seconds. Megan Carter boarded the miss and sank a pair of free throws for the final margin. Asiah Dingle led Kent State with 15 points and four steals. Nila Blackford had 10 points and game-high nine rebounds. Thall added eight boards and five blocks.
Five Golden Flashes are scoring in double-figures for the season. Freshman Nila Blackford is posting team-leading averages of 13.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Sophomore Asiah Dingle (12.8 ppg) leads the Flashes in assists (3.4 apg) and steals (2.1 spg). Redshirt senior Megan Carter (11.7 ppg) has scored in double-digits in 10 of her past 14 contests against Division I opponents. Freshman Katie Shumate (11.7 ppg) has displayed a versatile skill set and ranks in the top-two on the team in rebounding (6.7 rpg), steals (26) and blocked shots (20). Sophomore Lindsey Thall (10.6 ppg) is the MAC's top shot blocker (2.0 bpg) and ranks fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.376).
Scouting Toledo
Toledo (11-11, 6-5 MAC) lost at home against Ball State, 60-58, on Wednesday and is 4-5 in true road games this season. The Rockets ranks third in the MAC in field goal percentage (.419) but just ninth in scoring (67.5 ppg).
Preseason All-MAC West guard Nakiah Black leads the Rockets at 12.8 points per contest and 46 three-pointers. Guard Mariella Santucci (10.9 ppg) is averaging 20.0 points over the past four games, including a career-high 31 at Miami on February 5. Santucci is tied for the conference lead in assists per game (4.7) and leads all MAC point guards with 6.2 rebounds per game. Forward Tanaya Beacham and guard Quinesha Lockett add 8.8 and 8.4 points per game, respectively.
Series History
• Kent State is 32-42 all-time vs. Toledo.
• The Golden Flashes' three-game win streak in the series came to an end with a 69-60 loss on February 1.
• Kent State is 16-13 all-time at home against the Rockets.
• The Flashes are 4-2 vs. Toledo under fourth-year head coach Todd Starkey.
• The Rockets had won nine straight matchups prior to Starkey's arrival.
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 ESPN3.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will travel to first-place Central Michigan on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest.
