Kent State University
Buffalo
Women’s Hoops to Battle Bulls on MLK Day
1/16/2022 6:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will play its second game in three days on Monday afternoon when it visits a Buffalo team coming off an 11-day layoff. The Mid-American Conference matchup, which was originally scheduled for Jan. 8, will tip at 5 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (10-5, 2-4 MAC) sit at No. 18 in the Mid-Major Top 25 and have played stellar defense to start MAC play, limiting opponents to only 60.8 points per contest and 38.3% shooting. The defense was at its best over the final 22 minutes of Saturday's 83-58 victory over Eastern Michigan, holding the Eagles to 6-of-25 shooting during a 49-20 run that blew the game open. Kent State's offense also found its rhythm, shooting a season-best 51.9% from the field (27-of-52) and posting its highest-scoring game against a Division I opponent. Bridget Dunn finished with a career-high 19 points to lead all scorers, while Nila Blackford and Casey Santoro added 15 points each.
Kent State has defeated a pair of Power 5 opponents this season. The Flashes rank 17th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.374) and three-pointers per game (9.0), Kent State is 21st in rebounding margin (+8.9) and has yet to be outrebounded.
Senior Lindsey Thall is having the best season of her career with averages of 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Sophomore Casey Santoro has been one of the nation's most productive non-starters with averages of 12.9 points and 3.8 assists per game while ranking 38th nationally with a 2.28 assist-to-turnover ratio. Junior Katie Shumate adds 12.5 points per game. Junior Nila Blackford (9.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and senior Hannah Young (7.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg) have helped the Flashes dominate opponents on the glass. Freshman Bridget Dunn (9.6 ppg) is averaging a team-high 13.7 points per game during MAC play.
Scouting Buffalo
The Bulls (9-4, 3-0 MAC) have not played since an 82-66 win at Bowling Green on Jan. 5. Buffalo is the second-highest scoring team in the MAC (78.2 ppg) and averaged 87.3 points in its first three conference contests. The Bulls have scored at least 88 points five times, including a victory over in-state Power 5 program Syracuse.
Guard Dyaisha Fair is the nation's fourth-leading scorer at 23.6 points per game. The dynamic guard had a career-high 40 points on 14-of-22 shootings in Buffalo's most recent contest. Forward Summer Hemphill (16.2 ppg) has returned to All-MAC form and grabs a team-high 8.6 rebounds while blocking 1.5 shots per game. Guards Georgia Woolley (9.5 ppg), Jazmine Young (8.1 ppg) and Cheyenne McEvans (7.8 ppg) are additional scoring options on the perimeter.
Series History
• Kent State is 30-21 all-time vs. Buffalo.
• The Golden Flashes won each of the first 19 games in the series, beginning with an 86-77 victory on Jan. 13, 1999.
• However, the Bulls are 18-4 over the past 22 meetings.
• Kent State has reached the 70-point mark just three times during this stretch, averaging 57.9 points per game.
• The Flashes have lost nine straight matchups in Buffalo and are 11-10 all-time.
• Kent State is 4-9 under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Paul Peck and Matt Mattia 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' next scheduled contest is Jan. 26 at Northern Illinois.
