Kent State University
Ohio
MAC East Co-Leaders to Meet Wednesday at M.A.C. Center
3/3/2020 3:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will host Ohio on Wednesday night at the M.A.C. Center in a matchup between Mid-American Conference East Division co-leaders. Tip for the final home women's basketball game of the regular season is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (17-10, 10-6 MAC) won their third game in a row in thrilling fashion Saturday, overcoming an early 19-point deficit to beat Bowling Green in double-overtime, 96-86. After shooting 3-for-21 from the field in the opening quarter, Kent State went 29-for-56 the rest of the game, including 11-for-19 from beyond the three-point line. Katie Shumate scored 11 of her career-high 27 points during the overtime periods. Megan Carter stuffed the stat sheet with 21 points, nine rebounds and career-high seven assists. Lindsey Thall scored 15 points and grabbed a career-high 12 boards. Asiah Dingle also had 15 points and registered six steals.
Five Golden Flashes are scoring in double-figures for the season. Sophomore Asiah Dingle leads the Flashes in scoring (13.6 ppg), assists (3.2 apg) and steals (2.1 spg). Dingle averaged 15.5 points on 58.1-percent shooting during February. Freshman Nila Blackford is the conference's top freshman rebounders at 7.8 per game and adds 12.7 points per game. Freshman Katie Shumate (12.5 ppg) has displayed a versatile skill set and ranks in the top-two on the team in rebounding (6.4 rpg), steals (31) and blocked shots (23). Redshirt senior Megan Carter (12.3 ppg) has scored in double-digits in 14 of her past 19 contests against Division I opponents. Sophomore Lindsey Thall (11.4 ppg) is the MAC's top shot blocker (2.1 bpg) and only NCAA Division I player with 50 three-pointers and 50 blocks this season.
Scouting Ohio
Unanimous preseason MAC favorite Ohio (17-10, 10-6 MAC) has lost three games in a row and looks to avoid its first four-game skid since the 2013-14 season. The Bobcats have had an opportunity to score the tying basket in two of the past three contests and have received just eight points off the bench during the span.
The second-highest scoring team in the Mid-American Conference, Ohio averages 73.2 points per game and owns a league-best scoring margin of 6.5 points. The Bobcats also lead the MAC in turnover margin (+7.6) and steals per game (11.0) while ranking second in three-pointers per contest (8.5). Three different players have drained more than 50 triples this season.
Guards Cece Hooks (18.3 ppg) and Erica Johnson (18.0 ppg) are the MAC's top two scorers during conference play at better than 20 points per contest apiece. The reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Hooks is registering a league-best 3.8 steals per game to go with averages of 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Johnson leads Ohio in rebounding (7.3 rpg) and assists (4.3 apg) while connecting on 65 three-pointers at a 41.1-percent clip. Guard Amani Burke is scoring 13.2 points per game. Gabby Burris, the lone forward in the starting lineup, averages 9.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 52-33 all-time vs. Ohio.
• The Golden Flashes won both meetings during the 2016-17 season, but the Bobcats have won nine of the last 11 overall.
• The Bobcats won both meetings last season by just two points.
• Kent State is 28-11 as the home team in the series.
• However, Ohio has left the M.A.C. Center victorious in six of its last seven visits.
• The Flashes' 19-game winning streak from Jan. 10, 1996 through Jan. 28, 2004 is the longest for either school.
• Kent State is 2-5 vs. Ohio under fourth-year head coach Todd Starkey.
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 ESPN+.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will finish the regular season at Buffalo on Saturday, March 7.
