Kent State University
Central Michigan
Women’s Hoops Travels to First-Place CMU
2/18/2020 3:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State prepares for its toughest challenge of the Mid-American Conference women's basketball season as it hits the road to play at first-place Central Michigan on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (14-9, 7-5 MAC) scored the most points against a conference opponent in 13 months Saturday at the M.A.C. Center in defeating Toledo, 87-68. Kent State shot 33-for-67 from the field and had a 44-24 advantage in paint scoring. The Flashes had a season-low six turnovers while forcing 19 to outscore Toledo 30-4 in points off turnovers. Katie Shumate made all five of her field goal attempts and added a pair of free throws to outscore the Rockets 14-13 in the opening period. Shumate finished with a career-best 24 points. Asiah Dingle poured in a season-best 22 points and recorded six assists. In a rare starting assignment, Hannah Young totaled 12 points and game-high seven boards.
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 (13.2 ppg) leads the Flashes in assists (3.5 apg) and steals (2.0 spg). Freshman Katie Shumate (12.3 ppg) has displayed a versatile skill set and ranks in the top-two on the team in rebounding (6.7 rpg), steals (27) and blocked shots (22). Redshirt senior Megan Carter (11.4 ppg) has scored in double-digits in 10 of her past 15 contests against Division I opponents. Sophomore Lindsey Thall (10.7 ppg) is the MAC's top shot blocker (2.0 bpg) and ranks fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.379).
Scouting Central Michigan
Central Michigan (19-4, 12-0 MAC) has not lost a game this decade and owns a 10-1 record at McGuirk Arena this season. The lone blemish is a double-overtime loss to Green Bay in the season opener. Despite being unbeaten during the conference season, the Chippewas are very familiar to playing in close games. Two MAC wins have required overtime, while four others have been decided by two or fewer possessions.
The Chippewas are among the top 20 teams in the country in scoring (782. ppg), field goal percentage (.459) and three-point shooting (9.9 makes per game). Four players have made more than 40 triples on the season.
Guard Micaela Kelly is the nation's fourth-leading scorer at 22.9 points per game while averaging a MAC-best 4.9 assists per game. Kelly also leads CMU in steals per game (2.0) and three-pointers (58). Forward Kyra Bussell adds 14.1 points and team-high 7.0 rebounds per contest. Guard Molly Davis (14.0 ppg) has been among the top freshmen in the conference and has posted six 20-point performances. Forward Gabrielle Bird provides 9.3 points per game off the bench.
Series History
• Kent State is 31-30 all-time vs. Central Michigan.
• The Chippewas have won eight straight meetings by an average of 18.6 ppg.
• Kent State last defeated CMU, 67-64, on Jan. 22, 2012.
• The Flashes have an 11-18 all-time record in Mount Pleasant.
• Each team owns a nine-game winning streak in the series.
• The teams have split the two overtime games they have played with CMU coming out on top in the most recent occurrence, 87-70, on Feb. 9, 2008 in Kent.
• The Golden Flashes are 0-3 vs. Central Michigan 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, while Adam Jaksa and Eli Thaut will bring the action on ESPN+.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will play three of the next four games at the M.A.C. Center, beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday against Miami. Seniors Sydney Brinlee, Megan Carter and Ali Poole will be honored prior to the game.
