Kent State University
Eastern Michigan
Women’s Hoops Set For “We Back Pat Game” on Wednesday
1/17/2023 4:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball team will be back in action at the M.A.C. Center on Wednesday for a Mid-American Conference matchup against Eastern Michigan. The contest has been designated as the "We Back Pat" game and will tip at 7 p.m.
No. 13 in the Mid-Major Top 25, the Golden Flashes (10-5, 2-2 MAC) will try to get back in the win column following two losses last week. After playing even with preseason MAC favorite Toledo through 20 minutes on Saturday, Kent State was outscored by 14 during the third period before falling, 77-68. Freshman Corynne Hauser was the top scorer for the second game in a row and finished with 18 points. Graduate student Lindsey Thall was limited to 12.5 minutes of action due to foul trouble but was able to provide 12 points while helping Kent State outscore the Rockets by nine during that time. Sophomore Jenna Batsch scored a season-high 10 points.
Kent State's defense has been among the best in the MAC this season. The Flashes rank second in goal percentage defense (.378) and fourth in scoring defense (61.3 ppg). Kent State is 10-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 70 points.
Forward Lindsey Thall is the top scorer at 11.2 points per game and has also totaled team-best marks of 25 three-pointers and 14 blocked shots. Thall is Kent State's all-time leader with 243 triples, which ranks 21st among active NCAA Division I players, and ranks 11th among active players in career blocks (186). Guard Katie Shumate is close behind at 10.3 points per game and pulls down a team-high 5.8 rebounds per contest. Guard Corynne Hauser (9.5 ppg) is averaging a team-best 13.0 points per game during conference play.
Guards Clare Kelly (6.6 ppg) and Dionna Gray (4.9 ppg) and forward Bridget Dunn (4.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg) lead a strong bench unit that is scoring 26.2 points per contest.
Scouting Eastern Michigan
Following a dramatic victory over Miami to start league play, the Eagles (9-6, 1-3 MAC) have been outscored by an average 17.3 points per contest over the past three. Eastern Michigan leads the MAC with a plus-4.2 rebounding margin and is second in blocked shots (5.4 per game).
Guard Lachelle Austin and forward Ce'Nara Skanes are tied for the scoring lead at 12.5 points per game each. Austin, who has nearly doubled her scoring average from last season, leads the Eagles in assists (2.8 per game) and steals (1.9 per game), while Skanes the top team's top rebounder (8.0 per game). Guard Olivia Smith is averaging 9.7 points per game and has made a team-high 28 three-pointers. Center Tayra Eke (7.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg) ranks second in the MAC with 1.9 blocked shots per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 43-28 all-time vs. Eastern Michigan.
• The Golden Flashes have won nine of the past 10 matchups.
• Kent State is 24-8 all-time in games at the M.A.C. Center.
• The Flashes' 19-game winning streak from 1992-03 is the longest for either team.
• Kent State is 9-1 under head coach Todd Starkey.
• The Flashes had an 11-game losing streak prior to Starkey's arrival in 2016.
About "We Back Pat" and The Pat Summit Foundation
Kent State will join the 14 members of the Southeastern Conference and many women's basketball programs across the country by participating in "We Back Pat" Week, a week-long initiative focused on bringing awareness and recognition to the Pat Summitt Foundation, a fund of East Tennessee Foundation, and its fight against Alzheimer's disease.
During Saturday's game slated, various efforts will be made to increase awareness of The Pat Summitt Foundation, which launched Nov. 27, 2011, by Pat Summitt after her diagnosis of early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type at the age of 59.
The Pat Summitt Foundation, a fund of East Tennessee Foundation, was established by Pat and Tyler Summitt in Nov. 2011. Its mission is to award grants to nonprofit organizations that advance research for treatment and a cure, provide care and support for patients and caregivers, and educate the public about Alzheimer's disease. To learn more please visit www.patsummitt.org.
Broadcast Info
Dave Wilson and Lori Bodnar will call the action on ESPN+, while Tyler Henry will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will play four of the next five games on the road, beginning Saturday, Jan. 21 at Bowling Green.
