Kent State University
Northern Illinois
Women’s Basketball Visits NIU Wednesday Night
1/24/2023 2:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State continues its rigorous Mid-American Conference women's basketball schedule with a road contest against Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
The Golden Flashes (11-6, 3-3 MAC) are No. 21 in the Mid-Major Top 25 and will look to bounce back from a tough shooting performance in a 66-57 loss at MAC co-leader Bowling Green on Saturday. A stellar defensive performance kept the game close, as Kent State held the Falcons 21 points under their average from the first seven home games this season. Graduate student Lindsey Thall had a game-high 15 points. Freshman Corynne Hauser finished with 13 points and four assists and Clare Kelly added 10 points off the bench.
Kent State's defense has been among the best in the MAC this season. The Flashes rank second in goal percentage defense (.388) and scoring defense (61.8 ppg). Kent State is 11-1 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 27 three-pointers and 15 blocked shots. Thall is Kent State's all-time leader with 245 triples, which ranks 23rd among active NCAA Division I players, and ranks 11th among active players in career blocks (187). Guard Corynne Hauser (10.1 ppg) is averaging a team-best 13.7 points per game during conference play. Guard Katie Shumate adds 9.9 points per game and pulls down a team-high 5.5 rebounds per contest.
Guards Clare Kelly (7.2 ppg) and Dionna Gray (4.4 ppg) and forward Bridget Dunn (4.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) lead a strong bench unit that is scoring 25.7 points per contest.
Scouting Northern Illinois
The Huskies (10-7, 2-4 MAC) have lost three of four since earning a signature victory over Toledo on Jan. 7. Northern Illinois is 5-2 in home games and averages 10 more points per contest on its home court than on the road.
Forward A'Jah Davis is among the top rebounders in the country, ranking fifth in offensive rebounds per game (4.6) and eighth in rebounds per game (11.3). Davis scores 15.2 points per game and has recorded 11 double-doubles. Guard Chelby Koker is the Huskies' top scorer at 16.5 points per contest and has posted 20-point performances in three of the last five games. Guard Janae Poisson (10.6 ppg) has made a team-high 40 three-point field goals.
Series History
• Kent State is 25-18 all-time vs. Northern Illinois.
• The Golden Flashes are 9-12 in trips to DeKalb and have won three of the last four matchups inside of the Convocation Center.
• Kent State is 5-5 vs. the Huskies under head coach Todd Starkey and 3-3 in games played in DeKalb.
• The Flashes led or were tied in the final four minutes in two of the three road losses.
Broadcast Info
Matt Rodewald and Patricia Babcock-McGraw 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 return to the M.A.C. Center and host the annual Legacy Game on Saturday, Jan. 28 against Western Michigan.
