Kent State University
Ohio
Women’s Hoops Visits MAC East Leader Ohio for Saturday Tilt
2/7/2020 3:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will start the second half of the Mid-American Conference schedule with a trip to East Division leader Ohio on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The contest begins a stretch that features three of four games on the road.
The Golden Flashes (12-8, 5-4 MAC) turned in one of their best defensive performances of the season Wednesday night to defeat Bowling Green, 61-47. Kent State rejected a season-best nine shots while holding the high-scoring Falcons 27 points beneath their season average. Lindsey Thall had a game-high 19 points and four blocked shots. Asiah Dingle scored 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting in 20 minutes of action. Nila Blackford grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds.
Five Golden Flashes are scoring in double-figures for the season. Freshman Nila Blackford is posting team-leading averages of 13.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Sophomore Asiah Dingle (12.8 ppg) leads the Flashes in assists (3.4 apg) and steals (1.9 spg). Redshirt senior Megan Carter (12.3 ppg) has scored in double-digits in 10 of her past 12 contests against Division I opponents. 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 (24) and blocked shots (20). Sophomore Lindsey Thall (11.3 ppg) is the MAC's top shot blocker (1.9 bpg) and ranks fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.385).
Scouting Ohio
Unanimous preseason MAC favorite Ohio (14-7, 7-3 MAC) has won five of the last six games with the lone loss coming in overtime to first-place Central Michigan. The Bobcats are 8-1 at home this season with only setback also being to the Chippewas by two points.
The second-highest scoring team in the Mid-American Conference, Ohio averages 73.2 points per game and owns a league-best 6.9 point scoring margin. The Bobcats also lead the MAC in turnover margin (+7.6) and steals per game (11.1) while ranking second in three-pointers per contest (8.3). Three different players have drained more than 40 triples this season.
Guards Cece Hooks (18.0 ppg) and Erica Johnson (17.2 ppg) are the MAC's top two scorers during conference play at better than 21 points per contest apiece. The reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Hooks is registering a league-best 3.7 steals per game to go with averages of 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Johnson leads Ohio in rebounding (7.4 rpg) and assists (3.8 apg) while connecting on 46 three-pointers at a 42.6-percent clip. Guard Amani Burke is scoring 13.5 points per game. Gabby Burris, the lone forward in the starting lineup, averages 10.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Guard Katie Barker (7.5 ppg) has made a team-best 50 triples.
Series History
• Kent State is 52-32 all-time vs. Ohio.
• The Golden Flashes won both meetings during the 2016-17 season, but the Bobcats have won eight of the last 10 overall.
• The Bobcats won both meetings last season by just two points.
• Kent State is 18-21 in trips to Athens.
• The Flashes' 19-game winning streak from Jan. 10, 1996 through Jan. 28, 2004 is the longest for either school.
• Kent State is 2-4 vs. Ohio 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 Marty Bannister and Toni Roesch will bring the action on ESPN3.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will make the short trip to rival Akron for a 7 p.m. matchup on Wednesday, February 12.
