Kent State University
Buffalo
Women’s Basketball Closes Regular Season Saturday at Buffalo
3/6/2020 2:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball team takes a four-game winning streak on the road Saturday as it concludes the regular season at Buffalo. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.
After clinching at least a share of the Mid-American Conference East Division championship a first-round tournament bye by defeating Ohio on Wednesday, the Golden Flashes (18-10, 11-6 MAC) know they will play as the No. 3 seed next week.Â
The Flashes let an 11-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter slip away but found a way to score the final five points to beat the Bobcats, 81-77, on Wednesday at the M.A.C. Center. Asiah Dingle made two free throws to put Kent State ahead with 8.0 seconds to play, and then added two more following an Ohio offensive foul and technical with 5.9 on the clock. Katie Shumate led the Flashes with 20 points and eight rebounds and Megan Carter added 14. Lindsey Thall swatted five shots as Kent State recorded a season-high 10 blocks.
Five Golden Flashes are scoring in double-figures for the season. Sophomore Asiah Dingle leads the Flashes in scoring (13.4 ppg), assists (3.2 apg) and steals (2.0 spg). Dingle has averaged 14.8 points on 58.0-percent shooting since the beginning of February. Freshman Katie Shumate (12.8 ppg) has displayed a versatile skill set and ranks in the top-two on the team in rebounding (6.5 rpg), steals (31) and blocked shots (23). Freshman Nila Blackford is the conference's top freshman rebounders at 7.8 per game and adds 12.6 points per game. Redshirt senior Megan Carter (12.3 ppg) has scored in double-digits in 15 of her past 20 contests against Division I opponents. Sophomore Lindsey Thall (11.2 ppg) is the MAC's top shot blocker (2.2 bpg) and only NCAA Division I player with 50 three-pointers and 50 blocks this season.
Scouting Buffalo
Buffalo (17-11, 8-9 MAC) has bounced back from a six-game skid with victories in its past four games. Three of those wins came on the road, and the Bulls return to Alumni Arena, where they are 8-5 on the season. Buffalo seeks a Senior Day victory in order to secure first-round MAC Tournament home game on Monday. The Bulls lead the MAC in rebounding (42.5 rpg) and rebound margin (+4.0).
Freshman guard Dyaisha Fair is the nation's sixth-leading scorer at 21.1 points per game and has hit the 20-point mark 18 times. Fair also leads UB in assists (3.7 apg) and steals (2.6 spg) while adding 5.7 rebounds per game. Guard Theresa Onwuka is having a breakout senior season with averages of 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Forward Adebola Adeyeye (5.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg) have averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds over the past two games, while forward Keowa Walters (5.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg) is averaging 9.0 points and 5.8 rebounds during the current winning streak.
Series History
• Kent State is 28-19 all-time vs. Buffalo.
• The Golden Flashes won each of the first 19 games in the series, beginning with an 86-77 victory on Jan. 13, 1999.
• However, the Bulls are 16-2 over the past 18 meetings.
• The Flashes are 11-9 in games played at Buffalo.
• Kent State is 2-7 vs. Buffalo 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 Josh Whetzel and Will Regan will bring the action on ESPN3.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will play a MAC Tournament quarterfinals contest on Wednesday, March 11 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The opponent and game time are still to be determined.
