Kent State University
Central Michigan
Kent State Visits CMU on Wednesday
2/8/2022 3:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will seek to even its Mid-American Conference record with its third win in five days Wednesday evening when it battles Central Michigan inside McGuirk Arena at 7 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (13-7, 5-6 MAC) completed a season sweep of Eastern Michigan with a 70-61 victory Saturday in Ypsilanti and then took care of Miami, 83-61, Monday evening at the M.A.C. Center in a makeup contest that was originally scheduled for Jan. 5. Kent State has played stellar defense since the calendar changed to 2022, limiting opponents to only 60.1 points per contest and 38.5% shooting. It was the offense, however, that led the way on Monday, as the Flashes scored at least 20 points in all four quarters and used a dominant 21-11 fourth to pull away. Nila Blackford scored a game-high 22 points and totaled nine rebounds. Lindsey Thall added 11 points and connected on career three-point field goal No. 200 during the first quarter.
Kent State has defeated a pair of Power 5 opponents this season. The Flashes rank 23rd in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.360) and 24th in three-pointers per game (8.5). Kent State is 37th in rebounding margin (+6.8).
Senior Lindsey Thall is having the best season of her career with averages of 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Junior Katie Shumate adds 12.1 points per game. Sophomore Casey Santoro has been one of the nation's most productive non-starters with averages of 11.7 points and 3.3 assists per game while ranking 37th nationally with a 2.17 assist-to-turnover ratio. Freshman Bridget Dunn (9.7 ppg) is averaging a 12.2 points per game during MAC play. Junior Nila Blackford (11.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg) and senior Hannah Young (7.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg) have helped the Flashes dominate opponents on the glass.
Scouting Central Michigan
The Chippewas (4-17, 2-10 MAC) have lost nine of their last 10 games following an 82-74 loss to second-place Buffalo on Saturday. Central Michigan took a 64-62 lead in the opening minute of the fourth quarter before going scoreless for more than six minutes and falling behind by 10. The Chippewas are last in the MAC in scoring (58.5 ppg) and field goal percentage (.356) and have failed to score 50 points six times.
Guard Molly Davis ranks fourth in the conference at 19.4 points per game and adds 4.8 assists per game, which ranks second. Forward Jahari Smith (12.2 ppg) is second in the MAC in rebounding (10.7 rpg) and makes just over 60% of her attempts from the field. Guard Tiana Timpe (8.4 ppg) has made a team-high 45 three-pointers and is averaging 10.3 points per MAC contest.
Series History
• Kent State is 32-32 all-time vs. Central Michigan.
• The Golden Flashes have an 11-20 all-time record on the road, including eight straight losses.
• Kent State last won in in Mount Pleasant, 71-53, on Jan. 23, 2007.
• The teams have split the two overtime games they have played with CMU coming out on top in the most recent occurrence, 87-70, on Feb. 9, 2008 in Kent.
• The Flashes are 1-5 under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Adam Jaksa and Caleb Frank 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 host the annual Play4Kay game on Saturday, Feb. 12 against Ball State. Tip at the M.A.C. Center is scheduled for 1 p.m.
