Kent State University
Akron
Kent State Readies for Wagon Wheel Road Game on Saturday
2/18/2022 4:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball begins a stretch of four games in eight days with a Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge road contest at Akron on Saturday. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the first 100 Kent State students who present their student ID will receive free admission.
The Golden Flashes (16-7, 8-6 MAC) posted a dominant 67-43 win over Northern Illinois on Wednesday and have held opponents to just 58.3 points per game during a 6-0 start to the month of February. The defense prevented the Huskies from making a field goal for nearly a 10-minute stretch of the second half and held their guests to just 25.4% shooting overall. Kent State scored 38 points in the paint for the third time in the past four games and shot 70.0% on two-point attempts. Katie Shumate led the way with 15 points and Nila Blackford added 14 points and nine rebounds.
Kent State has defeated a pair of Power 5 opponents this season. The Flashes rank 25th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.359) and 26th in three-pointers per game (8.5). Kent State is 42nd in rebounding margin (+5.9).
Juniors Nila Blackford (11.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg) and Katie Shumate (12.4 ppg) have been the offensive catalysts for the Flashes during the current win streak, averaging 15.0 points per game each. Blackford has made 60.6% of her field goal attempts, while Shumate is shooting 53.3% from the floor. Senior Lindsey Thall adds averages of 11.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while leading Kent State with 13 blocks and ranking second in three-pointers (37) and assists (2.2 apg). Sophomore Casey Santoro has been one of the nation's most productive non-starters with averages of 11.7 points and 3.2 assists per game while ranking 24th nationally with a 2.31 assist-to-turnover ratio. Freshman Bridget Dunn (9.6 ppg) is averaging a 11.5 points per game during MAC play. Senior Hannah Young (7.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg) has helped the Flashes dominate opponents on the glass.
Scouting Akron
The Zips (12-8, 9-5 MAC) have won three games in a row after defeating Central Michigan, 67-54, on Wednesday evening to improve to 6-2 at home this season. Akron averages 73.0 points per game inside of James A. Rhodes Arena, over six points more than its overall season average (66.6 ppg).
Forward Jordyn Dawson has been one of the top players in the Mid-American Conference this season and ranks in the top-three in scoring (21.4 ppg), rebounding (9.6 rpg) and steals (2.8 spg). She has scored at least 22 points in seven consecutive games. Forward Reagan Bass ranks second in scoring (11.3 ppg) among true freshmen in the MAC and adds 5.4 rebounds per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 56-17 all-time vs. Akron.
• The Golden Flashes' six-game win streak in the series ended on Jan. 5 in a 62-61 setback at the M.A.C. Center, also snapping a streak of six straight games holding the Zips below 60 points.
• This will be the first rival contest played at James A. Rhodes Arena since Feb. 26, 2020.
• Kent State is 25-11 all-time at Akron, which includes wins in the past two visits.
• The Flashes' 18-game winning streak from Jan. 8, 2000, through Feb. 23, 2008 is the longest for either school.
• Kent State is 8-2 under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Michael Reghi and Jacki Windon 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 are scheduled for three contests during the final week of February, beginning Monday against Miami at the M.A.C. Center.
