Kent State University
Chattanooga
Kent State Heads to Daytona Beach Classic
11/23/2023 11:27:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball team will play a pair of challenging opponents as part of the Daytona Beach Classic over Thanksgiving weekend. The Golden Flashes (2-1) are scheduled to play a Chattanooga team coming off a NCAA Tournament appearance on Friday and then battle Missouri out of the Southeastern Conference on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip at 5:45 p.m. inside of the Ocean Center.
Ranked No. 17 in the latest Mid-Major Top 25, Kent State overcame an eight-point deficit with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter to win at Xavier, 64-57, on Tuesday. Sophomore Corynne Hauser and redshirt senior Katie Shumate tied for the team lead with 15 points each and accounted for 16 points during the 29-14 run to close the game. Junior Bridget Dunn grabbed nine of her career-high 10 rebounds on the defensive end to limit the Musketeers to five offensive boards. Junior Jenna Batsch and Shumate both pulled down four of the Flashes' misses to help post a 21-5 second-chance scoring advantage.
Guard Katie Shumate leads the way with averages of 15.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game to rank in the top-five in the Mid-American Conference in both categories. After scoring in double-figures just twice in her first two seasons, forward Jenna Batsch has done so in all three games and is averaging 13.7 points per game. Guard Corynne Hauser (10.7 ppg), forward Bridget Dunn (7.3 ppg) and center Mikala Morris (7.3 ppg) have also posted double-digit scoring performances this season.
Scouting Chattanooga
The Mocs (4-1) are off to their best start in 10 years with the lone setback coming to Marshall on Nov. 12. The top four scorers are all shooting better than 50% from the field and Chattanooga ranks sixth in the country in field goal percentage (.516).
Preseason All-Southern Conference selections Raven Thompson and Jada Guinn both earned tournament MVP honors in their respective conferences last season. Thompson, the SoCon Freshman of the Year, leads the Mocs at 16.2 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game. Guinn, a graduate transfer from Tennessee Tech, adds 16.0 points per game. Guard Hannah Kohn adds 9.6 points per game and has made a team-high 13 three-point field goals.
Scouting Missouri
The Tigers (4-1) have won two in a row after a setback at Saint Louis on Nov. 12. Missouri is the nation's 19th highest-scoring team (86.8 ppg) and has scored at least 84 points in its past four games. The Tigers rank in the top-10 in the country in three-pointers per game (10.6) and three-point field goal percentage (.421).
Guard Ashton Judd leads five scorers averaging double-figures at 19.6 points per game. Forward Hayley Frank was a preseason All-SEC first team selection and enters the weekend with averages of 17.0 points per game and team-high 7.2 rebounds per game. Point guard Mama Dembele (10.8 ppg) ranks in the top-five in the country in total assists (40) and total steals (20).
Series History
• Kent State has never played either of this weekend's opponents.
• Head coach Todd Starkey is 0-2 against current members of the SEC.
• The Golden Flashes lost to Arkansas, 80-59, last season and fell to No. 7 LSU, 109-79, on Nov. 14.
Broadcast Info
Every game of the Daytona Beach Classic will be streamed on FloHoops, while Dane Richardson will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes host Coppin State in the home opener at the M.A.C. Center on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.
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.
