Kent State University
Eastern Michigan
Flashes Return Home Saturday for “We Back Pat” Game
1/14/2022 12:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball team will be back in action at the M.A.C. Center on Saturday for a Mid-American Conference matchup against Eastern Michigan. The contest has been designated as the "We Back Pat" game and will tip at 1 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (9-5, 1-4 MAC) sit at No. 18 in the Mid-Major Top 25 and have played stellar defense to start Mid-American Conference play, limiting opponents to only 61.4 points per contest and 38.6% shooting. Kent State led for most of the first 30 minutes Wednesday evening at Ohio, but an 8-0 in the final 30 seconds propelled the Bobcats to a 70-64 victory. Katie Shumate led the Flashes with 18 points and Bridget Dunn had career-high totals of 15 points and eight rebounds. Hannah Young scored 10 points and 10 grabbed 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season.
Kent State has defeated a pair of Power 5 opponents this season. In addition to ranking 11th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.369) and 17th in three-pointers per game (8.9), the Flashes are 17th in rebounding margin (+9.5). Kent State outrebounded its first 13 opponents before a 43-43 tie on the boards Wednesday night.
Senior Lindsey Thall is having the best season of her career with averages of 13.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Junior Katie Shumate adds 13.0 points per game. Sophomore Casey Santoro has been one of the nation's most productive non-starters with averages of 12.8 points and 3.8 assists per game while ranking 37th nationally with a 2.30 assist-to-turnover ratio. Junior Nila Blackford (9.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg) and senior Hannah Young (8.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg) have helped the Flashes dominate opponents on the glass. Freshman Bridget Dunn (8.9 ppg) is averaging a team-high 12.6 points per game during MAC play.
Scouting Eastern Michigan
The Eagles (4-6, 1-2 MAC) dropped an 83-73 contest to Ball State on Wednesday. Eastern Michigan ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage (.446) and three-point field goal percentage (.361).
Guard Areanna Combs is among the most versatile players in the MAC with averages of 17.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Guard Danielle Rainey (14.6 ppg), a transfer from Florida, ranks second in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.451) and third in three-point field goals per game (3.2). Forward Ce'Nara Skanes adds 12.5 points per game and a team-high 8.4 rebounds per contest.
Series History
• Kent State is 41-28 all-time vs. Eastern Michigan.
• The Golden Flashes have won seven of the past eight matchups.
• Kent State is 23-8 all-time in games at the M.A.C. Center, but the Eagles earned a 74-69 victory in their most recent visit to Kent on Jan. 8, 2020.
• The Flashes' 19-game winning streak from 1992-03 is the longest for either team.
• Kent State is 7-1 under head coach Todd Starkey.
• The Flashes had an 11-game losing streak prior to Starkey's arrival in 2016.
About "We Back Pat" and The Pat Summit Foundation
Kent State will join the 14 members of the Southeastern Conference and many women's basketball programs across the country by participating in "We Back Pat" Week, a week-long initiative focused on bringing awareness and recognition to the Pat Summitt Foundation, a fund of East Tennessee Foundation, and its fight against Alzheimer's disease.
During Saturday's game slated, various efforts will be made to increase awareness of The Pat Summitt Foundation, which launched Nov. 27, 2011, by Pat Summitt after her diagnosis of early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type at the age of 59.
The Pat Summitt Foundation, a fund of East Tennessee Foundation, was established by Pat and Tyler Summitt in Nov. 2011. Its mission is to award grants to nonprofit organizations that advance research for treatment and a cure, provide care and support for patients and caregivers, and educate the public about Alzheimer's disease. To learn more please visit www.patsummitt.org.
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 have a quick turnaround and are scheduled to play at Buffalo at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 17.
