Kent State University
St. Bonaventure
Women’s Basketball Visits St. Bonaventure Friday Night
12/2/2021 12:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Following an impressive showing at the Gulf Coast Showcase this past weekend, Kent State returns to action Friday night at St. Bonaventure. Tip from the Reilly Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (5-1) posted victories over No. 19 UCLA and Penn State en route to a third-place finish in the post-Thanksgiving tournament for the program's first win against a Power 5 opponent since Nov. 2010 and knocked off a ranked opponent for the first time since Jan. 2000. Lindsey Thall (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Nila Blackford (13 points, 14 rebounds) registered double-doubles to lead Kent State to a dominant 46-23 rebounding advantage. Thall, who scored her 1,000th career point on a free throw late in the third period, earned a spot on the all-tournament with three-game averages of 19.3 points and 8.7 rebounds.
The Flashes' offensive efficiency has been elite in the early weeks of the season, ranking in the top 35 nationally in scoring (78.7), three-pointers per game (9.5), three-point field goal percentage (.416) and turnovers per game (12.5).
Senior Lindsey Thall is having the best season of her career and leads the Flashes with averages of 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Sophomore Casey Santoro has been one of the nation's most productive non-starting players and is averaging 13.7 points and a team-high 3.7 assists per game, while leading the MAC with a 2.75 assist-to-turnover ratio. Juniors Katie Shumate (13.0 ppg) and Nila Blackford (10.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg) have also been reliable scorers.
Scouting St. Bonaventure
The Bonnies drubbed Division II Clarion, 81-49, on Sunday to improve to 5-1. All five of their games against Division I opponents have been decided by nine points or fewer. St. Bonaventure has not allowed more than 59 points in a game and ranks in the top 50 nationally in scoring defense (52.7 ppg), field goal percentage defense (.340) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.219).
Guard Asianae Johnson, an All-A10 Third Team selection a season ago, leads the Bonnies with averages of 15.0 points and 3.5 assists per game. Backcourt mate Tori Harris adds 10.2 points per game. Forward I'yanna Lops (9.2 ppg) has been the top interior performer with team-best averages of 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.
Series History
• Kent State is 7-7 all-time vs. St. Bonaventure, which includes a 2-0 record under head coach Todd Starkey.
• The Golden Flashes posted 81-58 and 76-64 victories during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 non-conference seasons.
• The Bonnies had won the previous five games in the series by an average of nearly 15 points.
• Kent State is 3-4 in trips to Olean.
Broadcast Info
Ryan Bowlin and Erik Stauderman will call the action on ESPN+, while Tyler Henry will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will begin a four-game homestand to bring 2021 to a close, beginning against Duquesne on Wednesday, Dec. 8.
