Kent State University
Bowling Green
Kent State Returns to Hardwood Saturday at BG
1/20/2023 3:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
A challenging stretch in which Kent State is scheduled to play four of its next five games on the road begins on Saturday at Bowling Green. The contest will tip at 1 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (11-5, 3-2 MAC) are No. 21 in the Mid-Major Top 25 and got back in the win column on Wednesday, posting a 79-66 wire-to-wire victory over Eastern Michigan inside of the M.A.C. Center. Freshman Corynne Hauser set the tone by making her first three shots for an early 9-4 lead. Kent State shot 71.4% during the opening period and finished with its best shooting performance (51.9%) against a Division I opponent this season. Hauser led the scoring effort with 17 points and recorded a career-high six assists. Senior Clare Kelly (14), senior Katie Shumate (11) and graduate student Hannah Young (10) also scored in double-figures.
Kent State's defense has been among the best in the MAC this season. The Flashes rank second in goal percentage defense (.385) and third in scoring defense (61.6 ppg). Kent State is 11-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 70 points.
Forward Lindsey Thall is the top scorer at 10.9 points per game and has also totaled team-best marks of 26 three-pointers and 15 blocked shots. Thall is Kent State's all-time leader with 244 triples, which ranks 22nd among active NCAA Division I players, and ranks 10th among active players in career blocks (187). Guard Katie Shumate is close behind at 10.4 points per game and pulls down a team-high 5.7 rebounds per contest. Guard Corynne Hauser (9.9 ppg) is averaging a team-best 13.8 points per game during conference play.
Guards Clare Kelly (7.1 ppg) and Dionna Gray (4.5 ppg) and forward Bridget Dunn (4.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg) lead a strong bench unit that is scoring 26.1 points per contest.
Scouting Bowling Green
The Falcons (15-2, 4-1 MAC) sit at No. 9 in the Mid-Major Top 25 and have won four in a row since dropping the conference opener at Ball State. Bowling Green is undefeated (7-0) at home and is averaging 87.7 points on 50.2% inside of the Stroh Center. The Falcons lead the nation in turnover margin (+9.88) and own top-30 rankings in scoring (83.2 ppg), field goal percentage (.466), three-point field goal percentage (.359), assists per game (17.5), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.48) and steals per game (11.6).
The dynamic scoring attack features four players averaging double-digits on the season. Guard Elissa Brett (12.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) leads Bowling Green in scoring and rebounding. Forward Allison Day and guard Nyla Hampton are right behind at 12.3 points per game each. Day, whose 56.2% field goal percentage leads the MAC, is averaging 20.2 points during conference play and Hampton ranks second in the league with 3.2 steals per contest. Guard Morgan Sharps (10.4 ppg) has made a team-high 41 three-pointers.
Series History
• Kent State is 37-56 all-time vs. Bowling Green.
• The Golden Flashes are 13-29 at Bowling Green, including a 3-9 record inside of the Stroh Center.
• Kent State is 7-6 vs. Bowling Green under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Brad Woznicki, Samantha Moyer and Jenna DiBlasi 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 travel to Northern Illinois to battle the Huskies on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
