Kent State University
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Western Michigan
Women’s Basketball Looks to Start New Win Streak Wednesday at WMU
2/16/2021 12:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball team will look to snap a two-game losing streak and win on the road for the first time since January 2 when it visits Western Michigan for a Mid-American Conference contest at 1 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.
The Golden Flashes (7-5, 6-3 MAC) battled back from a 21-point deficit and pulled even with 6:10 to play on Saturday but missed the final 10 field goal attempts and preseason conference favorite Central Michigan came away with an 84-71 victory. Katie Shumate led Kent State with 17 points, while Clare Kelly drained four three-pointers and finished with 14 points. Nila Blackford collected her eighth double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Five players are averaging more than 8.0 points per game during conference action. Sophomore Nila Blackford is one of four MAC players averaging a double-double with team-best marks of 15.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Sophomore Katie Shumate (12.3 ppg) is averaging 16.0 points per game during February and leads the MAC in three-point shooting (.500). Junior Lindsey Thall adds 11.0 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 5.5 rebounds per game. Sophomore Clare Kelly (9.2 ppg) averaged a team-best 17.3 points during Kent State's three games last week. Junior Mariah Modkins (7.6 ppg) leads the Flashes with 2.8 assists per game. Freshman Casey Santoro adds 6.8 points per game off the bench.
Scouting Western Michigan
The Broncos (3-13, 2-12 MAC) have played much better at home than on the road, posting a 3-5 record with four losses coming by seven points or fewer and scoring 67.4 points per game compared to 58.4 in road contests. Overall, Western Michigan is last in the MAC in scoring (62.9 ppg), free throw percentage (.620), assists per game (10.2) and turnovers per game (18.9).
Guard Sydney Shafer is the team's top scorer at 14.3 points per game. Forward Reilly Jacobson is right behind at 14.1 points per game and adds 6.5 rebounds per game. Forward Taylor Williams (12.6 ppg, 10.0 rpg) averages a double-double. In the Broncos' 74-66 victory over Akron, Williams tied the WMU single-game rebounding record with 21 and had a career-high 30 points. All three are averaging more than 15.0 points in home games.
Series History
• Kent State is 34-26 all-time vs. Western Michigan.
• The Golden Flashes have a 14-15 all-time record in Kalamazoo, including wins in five of the past six visits.
• Kent State has held the Broncos below 70 points in 16 of the past 18 meetings.
• The Flashes are is 4-1 vs. Western Michigan under fifth-year head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Dave Wilson will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network. The game will also be streamed on ESPN+.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes conclude a four-game road swing with games at Northern Illinois on Saturday and Sunday.
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