Kent State University
Penn State
Golden Flashes and Nittany Lions to Meet in Third-Place Game on Sunday
11/28/2021 9:20:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will attempt to bounce back from its first loss of the season when it plays Penn State in a Gulf Coast Showcase third-place contest at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 28.
The Golden Flashes (4-1) defeated No. 19 UCLA, 75-69, in the opening round of the tournament before suffering a 72-64 setback to unbeaten UMass in the semifinals on Saturday. Kent State led by eight at halftime but just 8-of-35 from the field over the final minutes and were outscored 45-29 the rest of the way. Lindsey Thall led all scorers with a season-best 22 points and added nine rebounds. Nila Blackford pulled down a game-high 11 boards.
The Flashes' offensive efficiency has been elite in the early weeks of the season, ranking in the top 35 nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.435), three-pointers per game (10.0), scoring average (78.2) and turnovers per game (12.6). Kent State also the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage (.444).
Senior Lindsey Thall leads the Flashes with averages of 16.4 points and team-best 7.2 rebounds per game. Thall has made a MAC-best 17 three-point field goals and is shooting 53.7% from the floor overall. Sophomore Casey Santoro has been one of the nation's most productive non-starting players and is averaging 13.4 points and a team-high 3.8 assists per game, while leading the MAC with a 2.71 assist-to-turnover ratio. Juniors Katie Shumate (12.2 ppg) and Nila Blackford (9.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg) have also been reliable scorers.
Scouting Penn State
The Nittany Lions (4-2) have gone 1-2 since a 120-51 drubbing of a Delaware State squad that only dressed six players on Nov. 16. Penn State lost to Clemson last Sunday on its way to the Gulf Coast Showcase and then opened the tournament by beating St. John's, 80-75, before a 93-59 setback to No. 13 Iowa State in the semifinals on Saturday. The Nittany Lions rank in the top 25 nationally in scoring (81.8 ppg), assists per game (18.2) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.30).
Dynamic guard Makenna Morris is the catalyst for Penn State on both ends of the floor with team-best averages of 22.3 points, 5.5 assists and 2.2 steals per contest. Morris is shooting 41.5% from behind the three-point line and recorded a triple-double earlier this season against Delaware State. Forward Ali Brigham (14.0 ppg) pulls down 5.8 rebounds per game to lead the team. Guard Niya Beverley adds 9.2 points per game. Guard Kelly Jekot (4.4 ppg) averaged a team-leading 15.9 points per game in 2020-21 before an injury ended her season after just nine contests.
Series History
• Kent State is 0-2 all-time vs. Penn State on the hardwood.
• The Nittany Lions were ranked in the top 20 of the AP Poll for both meetings.
• No. 8 Penn State advanced to the Sweet 16 with an 86-59 victory in the second round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament.
• The 17th-ranked Nittany Lions earned a 96-68 win in the opening round of the Surf 'N Slam Classic on Dec. 28, 2002.
Broadcast Info
Spencer Siegel, Kelsey Wilkinson, Cameron Irwin will call the action on FloHoops, while Dave Wilson will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will travel to St. Bonaventure on Friday, Dec. 3 before returning to the M.A.C. Center for the final four games of 2021.
