Kent State University
Xavier
Golden Flashes Head to Xavier for Tuesday Night Tilt
11/20/2023 4:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State returns to the hardwood Tuesday night for the first time in a week when it battles Xavier on the road at 7 p.m.
Ranked No. 17 in the latest Mid-Major Top 25, the Golden Flashes (1-1) look to return to the win column after a 109-79 setback at No. 7 LSU last Tuesday. Redshirt senior Katie Shumate gave Kent State a 42-41 lead with 8:49 to play in the third quarter before the Tigers shot 25-of-33 from the field the rest of the game and pulled away. Shumate finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Junior Jenna Batsch added a career-high 16 points. The Flashes shot 14-of-33 from behind the three-point line with six players connecting on at least one triple.
Guard Katie Shumate leads the way with averages of 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while also leading Kent State with three steals and three blocked shots. Forward Jenna Batsch has set a new scoring career-high in both games and also averages 15.5 points per game. Guard Corynne Hauser (8.5 ppg), forward Bridget Dunn (8.0 ppg) and center Mikala Morris (7.0 ppg) have also posted double-digit scoring performances this season.
Scouting Xavier
The Musketeers (0-4) have lost 24 in a row, last beating crosstown rival Cincinnati on Dec. 9, 2022 for a 7-3 start to last season. After losing each of the first three games this season by at least 12 points, Xavier fell to Bowling Green, 73-64, on Saturday. The Musketeers have made just 19 of 88 attempts from behind the three-point arc for 21.6%, which ranks 318th nationally.
Guard Mackayla Scarlett is the leading scorer at 13.5 points per game and scored a career-high 25 points against the Falcons. Forward Nila Blackford, an All-MAC Second Team performer for Kent State in 2021, averages just short of a double-double at 9.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Blackford ranks 18th among active NCAA Division I players with 854 career rebounds. Guard Kaysia Woods is also scoring 9.8 points per game and has made a team-high nine three-point field goals.
Series History
• Kent State is 5-0 all-time vs. Xavier.
• The Golden Flashes have won the three meetings in Cincinnati by an average of 19.7 points per game.
• Kent State head coach Todd Starkey is 0-1 against current BIG EAST members with a loss to Butler in the second round of the 2019 WNIT.
Broadcast Info
Mike Schmaltz and Paul Fritschner will call the action on FloHoops, while Dane Richardson will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will spend Thanksgiving weekend in the Sunshine State and are scheduled to play two games at the Daytona Beach Classic against Chattanooga on Friday and Missouri on Saturday.
Season Tickets
Fans can order season tickets now at KSUTix.com for as low as $60 per seat.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on X, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
