Stretch of Road Games Begins Thursday at Arkansas on SECN+
11/16/2022 1:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Following a pair of home contests to open the 2022-23 women's basketball season, Kent State closes November with four road games. The stretch begins at Arkansas on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.
The Golden Flashes (1-1) moved up to No. 17 in this week's Mid-Major Top 25 poll after impressive performances during the opening week of action. Kent State led Florida State by 11 late in the third period of Thursday's opener and then scored the first 14 points during a dominant wire-to-wire victory over Northern Kentucky on Sunday. Kent State maintain its double-digit lead for all but 55 seconds the rest of the way and led by as many as 29 points during the third quarter.
A pair of former All-Mid-American Conference selections in guard Katie Shumate and forward Lindsey Thall have led the way in the first two games. Shumate is averaging a team-best 15.5 points per game and is tied for second at 6.0 rebounds per contest, while Thall is averaging 13.5 points per game and has drained a team-high four three-point field goals. Both players have converted at least half of their shots from the field.
Guard Casey Santoro is the third Flash scoring in double-figures with an average of 10.5 points per game.
Guard Corynne Hauser and forward Bridget Dunn lead a bench unit that is scoring 21.5 points per contest. Hauser (9.0 ppg, 3.0 apg) recorded five assists in the opener and recorded her first double-digit scoring effort on Sunday with 11 points against NKU. Dunn is the team's top rebounder (7.5 rpg) and grabbed a career-best nine boards on Sunday.
Scouting Arkansas
The Razorbacks (3-0) are receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll and have won their first three games of the season by an average of 22.3 points. Arkansas was tested for the first time during Monday night's 79-70 win over Tulsa. After building a nine-period lead at the end of the first period, the Razorbacks were outscored in the middle two quarters. Arkansas is second in the nation in free throw attempts per game (36.33) and has converted more free throws (61) than its opponents has attempted (56).
Erynn Barnum, who was named to the preseason watch list for the Katrina McClain Award that recognizes the top power forward in women's college basketball, leads the way at 20.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Barnum scored a career-high 27 points against Tulsa and is the national leader in free throw attempts (34). Guard Makayla Daniels, a member of the preseason All-SEC Second Team, contributes 12.3 points per game and guard Samara Spencer adds 11.0 points per game. Guard Saylor Poffenbarger, a UConn transfer and the No. 30 prospect in the class of 2021, is averaging 5.0 points and 8.3 rebounds over her first three games as a Razorback.
Series History
• Kent State is 1-1 all-time vs. Arkansas, with each team winning on its home court.
• The Razorbacks were victorious in the inaugural meeting, 89-72, on Dec. 21, 1991.
• The Golden Flashes evened the series two season later with am 86-81 win at the M.A.C. Center on Nov. 30, 1993.
Broadcast Info
Brett Dolan and Matt Zimmerman will call the action on SEC Network+.
Next Up For Kent State
The Golden Flashes will play their third Power Five opponent of the season, traveling to Oklahoma State for a 2 p.m. ET matchup on Sunday.
