Kent State University
Bowling Green
Women’s Basketball Begins Key Stretch Monday Against BG
2/20/2022 8:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will attempt to begin a new winning streak when it hosts Bowling Green for a key Mid-American Conference women's basketball contest Monday at 7 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (16-8, 8-7 MAC) won six straight games to start the month of February, but saw that streak come to an end with a 73-64 loss at Akron on Saturday. Kent State held the Zips to just nine points in the third quarter to get within 44-43 entering the final 10 minutes, but the hosts started the fourth with a 10-1 run. Casey Santoro scored a team-high 17 points and Katie Shumate added 15. Nila Blackford finished with 10 points and team-high seven 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 (.358) and 35th in three-pointers per game (8.3).
Junior Katie Shumate (12.4 ppg) is averaging 15.0 points per game and shooting 43.5% from behind the three-point arc during February. Sophomore Casey Santoro has been one of the nation's most productive non-starters with averages of 11.9 points and 3.2 assists per game while ranking 35th nationally with a 2.14 assist-to-turnover ratio. Junior Nila Blackford (11.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg) is averaging 12.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in MAC play. Senior Lindsey Thall adds averages of 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while leading Kent State with 14 blocked shots. Senior Hannah Young (7.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg) has helped the Flashes rank 48th nationally in rebounding margin (+5.8).
Scouting Bowling Green
The Falcons (12-12, 7-8 MAC) have lost two in a row to fall back below .500 in MAC play. Bowling Green is scoring 73.1 points per game and makes 8.0 three-pointers per contest. The Falcons' 37.7% accuracy from behind the three-point arc ranks seventh nationally.
Six players average more than eight points per game. Forward Kadie Hempfling leads the way at 11.1 points per game. Guards Elissa Brett (10.8 ppg), Amy Velasco (10.6 ppg) and Morgan Sharps (10.2 ppg) are also double-digit scorers on the season. Sharps has made a team-high 57 three-pointers and ranks fourth in the country in three-point field goal percentage (.467). Guard Nyla Hampton (8.2 ppg) is third in the conference with 2.7 steals per game, and forward/center Zoe Miller adds 8.1 points per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 37-54 all-time vs. Bowling Green.
• The Golden Flashes have won five of the past eight meetings
• Kent State is 21-20 all-time at home against the Falcons, falling 80-79 in overtime, in a first-place showdown last season.
• The Flashes are 7-4 vs. Bowling Green under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Dave Wilson and Jack Berney 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 will play at Miami on Wednesday and return to the M.A.C. Center for Senior Day against Buffalo on Saturday.
