Kent State University
Clarion
Women’s Basketball Hosts Clarion Saturday for Holiday Theme Game
12/10/2021 12:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
M.A.C. Center for the Holiday Theme Game. The first 150 students through the doors will receive a free ugly holiday t-shirt.
The Golden Flashes are off to the best start (7-1) since 2008-09 following a 71-66 win over Duquesne on Wednesday. Katie Shumate matched her season-high with 21 points to lead Kent State. Casey Santoro shot 4-of-5 from behind the three-point arc and finished with 19 points to match her career-high. Santoro also grabbed a career-high eight boards and had three assists to share the team lead. Lindsey Thall added 16 points and game-high nine rebounds. The Flashes made 11 triples in the contest, reaching double-figures for the fourth time this season.
Kent State has defeated a pair of Power 5 opponents this season and is ranked No. 14 in the Mid-Major Top 25. In addition to ranking second in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.415) and 11th in three-pointers per game (9.8), the Flashes rank in the top 51 in scoring (75.9), rebound margin (+9.1) and turnovers per game (12.5).
Junior Katie Shumate is averaging a team-high 14.8 points per game on 53.0% shooting from the floor. Senior Lindsey Thall is having the best season of her career with averages of 14.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Sophomore Casey Santoro has been one of the nation's most productive non-starting players and is averaging 14.0 points and a team-high 3.4 assists per game, while ranking third in the MAC with a 2.45 assist-to-turnover ratio. Junior Nila Blackford (10.3 ppg) is grabbing a team-high 8.1 rebounds per contest.
Scouting Clarion
The Golden Eagles (2-5) split their first two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference contests last weekend, beating Millersville, 53-34, and then losing to Shepherd, 70-57. This will be Clarion's second exhibition contest against a Division I opponent, having already lost to St. Bonaventure, 81-49, on Nov. 28. The Golden Eagles led 16-13 at the end of the first period.
Guard Sierra Bermudez is scoring a team-high 18.6 points per game while shooting just under 40% on three-point attempts. The freshman set single-game records for points (44) and three-pointers (12) earlier this season against Penn State Shenango. Guard/forward Jada Smith (12.7 ppg. 9.8 rpg) leads Clarion with a pair of double-doubles. Forward Abby Gatesman (11.0 ppg) and guard Cory Santoro (10.6 ppg) are also double-figure scorers.
Series History
• Kent State is 3-0 all-time vs. Clarion.
• The Golden Flashes posted a 92-38 victory in the last meeting on Dec. 31, 2018, for the fourth-largest margin of victory (54) in program history.
earned a 70-59 victory in the first meeting on Feb. 12, 1979 in Kent.
Broadcast Info
Dave Wilson and Jack Berney will call the action on ESPN3, while Tyler Henry will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will return to action against Florida State following finals week on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
