Kent State University
Quinnipiac
Flashes Start Christmas City Classic with Marquee Mid-Major Matchup
11/25/2022 9:21:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Two of the premier mid-major women's basketball programs will meet on the hardwood Saturday as Kent State and Quinnipiac play at 2:30 p.m. in the opening round of the Christmas City Classic, hosted by Lehigh University. Both teams are ranked in this week's Mid-Major Top 25 poll, with Quinnipiac at No. 12 and Kent State at No. 17.
The Golden Flashes (2-2) improved to 3-2 against Power-Five opponents over the past 12 months with a 59-56 win at Oklahoma State this past Sunday. Freshman Corynne Hauser converted the go-ahead layup with 4.7 seconds to play. Senior Katie Shumate then picked up a loose ball that was knocked free by graduate student Hannah Young and added two free throws for the final score. Shumate scored nine of her game-high 23 points in the final period and led the way with eight rebounds. Sophomore Bridget Dunn, graduate student Lindsey Thall and Young grabbed six boards apiece to help Kent State to a 43-41 rebounding advantage.
Katie Shumate is tied for fourth in the Mid-American Conference at 16.5 points per game while shooting 52.0% from the floor. She became the 24th player in Flashes history to score 1,000 points at Arkansas last Thursday and then drained her 100th career three-point field at Oklahoma State. The two-time All-MAC guard also leads Kent State with five steals and four blocks. Lindsey Thall adds 10.8 points per game and a team-best seven three-pointers. The Flashes' all-time leader with 225 triples, Thall ranks 15th among active NCAA Division I players, while ranking 10th in career blocks (176).
Guard Corynne Hauser and forward Bridget Dunn lead a strong bench unit that is scoring 21.5 points per contest. Hauser (8.5 ppg, 2.8 apg) had five assists in the opener and did not commit a turnover in a career-high 26 minutes against the Cowgirls on Sunday. Dunn is the team's top rebounder (6.8 rpg) and has grabbed at least six boards in all four contests.
Scouting Quinnipiac
The Bobcats (2-2) were voted as the preseason favorite in the MAAC and return their top four scorers from last year's team that advanced to the second round of the Postseason WNIT. None of Quinnipiac's first four games this season have featured a single-digit margin in the fourth period. Both losses came on the road, to No. 10 NC State and No. 12 Indiana.
Guard Mackenzie DeWees, who was selected to the preseason watch list for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award, has not played yet this season. Forward Cur'Tiera Haywood is the Bobcats' top scorer at 11.8 points per game. Forward/center Mikala Morris, the 2021 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, averages 10.3 points and a team-high 6.0 rebounds per contest. Forward Jackie Grisdale adds 9.3 points per game. Forward Mary Baskerville (8.0 ppg), a transfer from Providence, ranks ninth among active Division I players with 187 career blocked shots.
Series History
• This will be the first ever meeting on the hardwood between Kent State and Quinnipiac.
• The Golden Flashes are 7-4 all-time against current members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
• Most recently, Kent State defeated Niagara, 69-46, on Dec. 4, 2013.
Broadcast Info
Tyler Henry will have the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will play host Lehigh or Southern Illinois on Sunday, Nov. 27 at either 12 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.
