Kent State University
Toledo
Golden Flashes Host Rockets Monday Afternoon as Homestand Continues
2/7/2021 12:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will attempt to complete a season sweep of Toledo when the teams meet in a Mid-American Conference women's basketball game at 2 p.m. on Monday.
The Golden Flashes (6-3, 5-1 MAC) remain atop the conference standings following a 71-69 win against Miami on Saturday. Lindsey Thall's putback layup with 1.8 on the clock was the decisive basket. Thall, who finished with 17 points and four blocks, is averaging 14.0 points and 3.3 blocks in Kent State's four home games this season. Frontcourt partner Nila Blackford led the Flashes with 23 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. Kent State entered the contest with the second-lowest free throw percentage in the conference but converted 17 of 18 shots from the charity stripe for a season-best 94.4 percent.
Four players are averaging more than 8.0 points per game and eight have posted double-figure scoring nights. Sophomore Nila Blackford is one of two MAC players averaging a double-double with team-best marks of 15.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Blackford (21 points, 15 rebounds) posted the Flashes' first 20-point, 15-rebound game since 2007 earlier this season at Toledo. Sophomore Katie Shumate (10.9 ppg) scored a season-high 23 points on Wednesday and leads the MAC in three-point shooting (.519). Junior Lindsey Thall adds 10.7 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 4.9 rebounds per game. Junior Mariah Modkins (8.7 ppg) is having a breakout season and leads the Flashes in assists (25) while ranking second in steals (9). Freshman Casey Santoro (6.9 ppg) recorded a career-best seven assists on Saturday and sophomore Clare Kelly (6.4 ppg) made all five of her shots against the RedHawks and finished with 12 points.
Scouting Toledo
The Rockets (8-7, 4-7 MAC) have not played since losing to rival Bowling Green, 76-59, on January 30 and have lost three in a row. Toledo has not won a road game since an 82-79 win at Northern Illinois in its conference opener on December 10.
The dynamic sophomore backcourt of Quinesha Lockett and Sophia Wiard lead the way for the Rockets. Lockett is scoring 18.1 points per game to pace Toledo while adding 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest. Wiard owns the MAC's best assist-to-turnover ratio (2.16) and averages 13.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. Guard Soleil Barnes (9.0 ppg in 3 games) scored 19 points in her season debut against Buffalo on January 23. Freshman Sammi Mikonowicz adds 8.7 points and team-high 7.4 rebounds per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 34-42 all-time vs. Toledo, including a 61-57 victory on December 13.
• The Golden Flashes are 17-13 all-time at home against the Rockets.
• Kent State is 6-2 vs. Toledo under fifth-year head coach Todd Starkey.
• Toledo had won nine straight matchups prior to Starkey's arrival.
Broadcast Info
Dave Wilson will bring the action on BoxCast, while Clint Scroggs has the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will host concludes a stretch of three games in five days on Wednesday, February when Bowling Green visits the M.A.C. Center.
