Kent State University
Northern Illinois
Kent State Back in Action Wednesday at NIU
1/25/2022 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball travels to Northern Illinois for a 12 p.m. ET contest on Wednesday for its first game since Jan. 17.
The Golden Flashes (10-6, 2-5 MAC) have played stellar defense to start MAC play, limiting opponents to only 61.4 points per contest and 38.8% shooting. Kent State held Buffalo 12 points below its season average entering last Monday's contest but was unable to make a field goal in the final 4:11 of a 65-62 road setback, as the Bulls ended with a 12-3 run. Bridget Dunn led the way with 13 points, while Nila Blackford, Casey Santoro and Lindsey Thall added 11 points apiece.
Kent State has defeated a pair of Power 5 opponents this season. The Flashes rank 14th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.370) and 17th in three-pointers per game (8.9), Kent State is 18th 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 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Sophomore Casey Santoro has been one of the nation's most productive non-starters with averages of 12.8 points and 3.6 assists per game while ranking 30th nationally with a 2.28 assist-to-turnover ratio. Junior Katie Shumate adds 12.2 points per game. Freshman Bridget Dunn (9.8 ppg) is averaging a team-high 13.6 points per game during MAC play. Junior Nila Blackford (9.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and senior Hannah Young (7.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg) have helped the Flashes dominate opponents on the glass.
Scouting Northern Illinois
The Huskies (6-9, 3-4 MAC) will play their third game in five days, having defeated Eastern Michigan on Saturday and Akron on Monday. Northern Illinois scores 70.1 points per game but allows 74.5 points per contest, which ranks among the bottom 25 nationally.
Guard Chelby Koker scores a team-high 18.1 points per game and adds 4.5 assists per game, which ranks fourth in the MAC. Forward A'Jah Davis (15.6 ppg) leads the conference in rebounding (11.9 rpg) and field goal percentage (.516). Guard Janae Poisson (12.5 ppg) ranks fifth nationally with 3.20 three-pointers per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 24-17 all-time vs. Northern Illinois.
• The Golden Flashes are 9-11 overall in trips to DeKalb and have won three in a row inside of the Convocation after a rare Saturday-Sunday weekend sweep last season.
• Kent State is 4-4 under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Dave Bernhard and Patricia Babcock-McGraw will call the action on ESPN+, while Tyler Henry will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will return to the M.A.C. Center to host Central Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 2 for the Unity Game.
