Kent State University
Buffalo
Women’s Basketball Hosts Buffalo for Senior Day
2/25/2022 4:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball team will take on Buffalo at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the M.A.C. Center. Mariah Modkins, Annie Pavlansky, Lindsey Thall, Bexley Wallace and Hannah Young will be recognized during a Senior Day presentation prior to the game.
The Golden Flashes (17-9, 9-8 MAC) returned to the win column on Wednesday evening, earning a big road victory over Miami, 61-52. Kent State led by 21 with 2:25 remaining before its host closed on a 13-1 run. In addition to holding the RedHawks to their lowest scoring game of the season, defense limited them to -of-67 (32.8%) shooting from the field. Lindsey Thall led the way with 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots. Mariah Modkins scored 10 points, and Nila Blackford and Katie Shumate added nine points apiece. Blackford grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to lead the Flashes to a 48-31 advantage on the glass.
Kent State has defeated a pair of Power 5 opponents this season. The Flashes rank 29th in the nation in three-pointers per game (8.2) and 30th in three-point field goal percentage (.356).
The All-MAC trio of junior Katie Shumate (12.3 ppg), junior Nila Blackford (11.3 ppg) and senior Lindsey Thall (11.0 ppg) have led Kent State offensively. Blackford grabs a team-best 9.3 rebounds per game and is averaging a double-double (12.0 ppg, 10.1 rpg) in conference action. Sophomore Casey Santoro has been one of the nation's most productive non-starters with averages of 11.0 points and 3.1 assists per game while ranking 49th nationally with a 1.98 assist-to-turnover ratio. Freshman Bridget Dunn (9.8 ppg) is averaging a 11.4 points per game during MAC play. Senior Hannah Young (7.1Â ppg, 5.9Â rpg) has helped the Flashes dominate opponents on the glass.
Scouting Buffalo
The Bulls (19-8, 13-4 MAC) defeated Ohio, 79-65, on Wednesday for their eighth win in the past nine games. Buffalo is the MAC's highest scoring team at 75.4 points per game. The Bulls have scored at least 82 points nine times, including a victory over in-state Power 5 program Syracuse.
Guard Dyaisha Fair is the nation's fourth-leading scorer at 23.7 points per game and was named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2022 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award earlier this week. Guard Georgia Woolley (14.5 ppg) is scoring 17.4 points per game during conference play. Forward Summer Hemphill (16.2 ppg) has returned to All-MAC form and grabs a team-high 9.9 rebounds while blocking 1.4 shots per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 30-22 all-time vs. Buffalo.
• The Golden Flashes won each of the first 19 games in the series, beginning with an 86-77 victory on Jan. 13, 1999.
• However, the Bulls are 19-4 over the past 23 meetings.
• Kent State has reached the 70-point mark just three times during this stretch, averaging 58.1 points per game.
• The Flashes 17-7 in games played at the M.A.C. Center.
• Kent State is 4-10 under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Tyler Henry and Jack Berney will call the action on ESPN3, while Rob Polinsky will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will begin the final week of the regular season with a trip to Bowling Green on Wednesday, March 2.
