Kent State University
Central Michigan
Four-Game Road Swing Begins Saturday at Central Michigan
2/12/2021 3:24:00โฏPM | Women's Basketball
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The annual February grind of the women's basketball season continues for Kent State on Saturday when it visits preseason Mid-American Conference favorite Central Michigan. Second place in the standings will be on the line during the 2 p.m. contest.
Following 25 days between games, the Golden Flashes (7-4, 6-2 MAC) played four games during an eight-day stretch with two needing an overtime period to determine a winner. After an extensive two-day rest, Kent State will play four road games over the next eight days.
The Flashes were unable to pull out their third dramatic victory in a row on Wednesday, as a putback layup with 2.0 seconds left in overtime followed by a blocked shot allowed Bowling Green to leave the M.A.C. Center with an 80-79 victory and first place in the MAC standings. Nila Blackford led the way with 23 points and 13 rebounds and Lindsey Thall added 18 points and seven boards. The frontcourt duo combined for 13 of the team's season-high 20 offensive rebounds.
Five players are averaging more than 8.0 points per game during conference action. Sophomore Nila Blackford is one of two MAC players averaging a double-double with team-best marks of 16.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Sophomore Katie Shumate (11.8 ppg) leads the MAC in three-point shooting (.514). Junior Lindsey Thall adds 11.6 points per game and is the top shot blocker (1.8 bpg) in the MAC for the third year in a row while averaging a career-best 5.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore Clare Kelly (8.7 ppg) averaged 16.7 points during Kent State's three-game homestand this past week. Junior Mariah Modkins (7.8 ppg) leads the Flashes with 2.8 assists per game. Freshman Casey Santoro (6.9 ppg) is averaging 8.0 points and 3.8 assists over the past five games.
Scouting Central Michigan
The Chippewas (12-6, 10-4 MAC) is one of four teams to have played all 14 conference games to this point of the season. After only two of its first 14 games were decided by fewer than nine points, Central Michigan's past four contests have all featured margins of four points or less. On Wednesday night, the Chippewas put 34 points on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter to overcome a 13-point deficit entering the final 10 minutes and defeat Miami, 81-78.
An offensive juggernaut in recent years, CMU has a MAC-leading .453 field goal percentage and scores the second most points per game (77.0). The Chippewas make 10.0 three-pointers per game, which ranks fifth in the country, and convert from long range at a .371 clip.
Guard Michaela Kelly is the nation's 10th-leading scorer at 23.1 points per game. The 2020 MAC Player of the Year is third in the Chippewas' record book with 1,946 career points. Backcourt mate Molly Davis (19.8 ppg) is sixth in the conference in scoring and 10th nationally with 52 three-point field goals. Guard Maddy Watters (9.6 ppg) has connected on 46.2 percent of her three-point attempts, which ranks 11th in the country. Forward Kyra Bussell (10.8 ppg) has not appeared CMU's last two games, but guard Anika Weekes (5.2 ppg) has stepped up in her absence and had averaged 8.7 points and 10.7 rebounds over the past three contests.
Series History
โข Kent State is 31-31 all-time vs. Central Michigan.
โข The Chippewas have nine eight straight meetings by an average of 17.9 ppg.
โข Kent State last defeated CMU, 67-64, on Jan. 22, 2012.
โข The Flashes have an 11-19 all-time record in Mount Pleasant.
โข Each team owns a nine-game winning streak in the series.
โข The teams have split the two overtime games they have played with CMU coming out on top in the most recent occurrence, 87-70, on Feb. 9, 2008 in Kent.
โข The Golden Flashes are 0-4 vs. Central Michigan under fifth-year head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Rob Polinsky will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network. The game will also be streamed on ESPN3.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes continue a four-game road swing at Western Michigan on Wednesday, February 17.
