Kent State University
Eastern Michigan
Women’s Hoops Starts Final Road Stretch at EMU
2/25/2023 10:20:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will play the first of back-to-back road games at Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (18-8, 10-5 MAC) have won three in a row to secure the No. 4 seed in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament. Kent State has committed single-digit turnovers in all three games and is coming off consecutive conference wins by at least 26 points for the first time since February 2000 after decisive victories over rival Akron and Ohio.
Kent State's defense has been among the best in the MAC this season. The Flashes lead the conference in scoring defense (61.3 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (.388). Kent State is 17-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 70 points and 5-0 when opposing teams shoot less than 30% from the field.
Forward Lindsey Thall is the top scorer at 11.5 points per game and has also totaled team-best marks of 42 three-pointers and 26 blocked shots. Thall is Kent State's all-time leader with 260 triples, which ranks 25th among active NCAA Division I players, and ranks 10th among active players in career blocks (198). Guard Katie Shumate adds 11.1 points per game and pulls down a team-high 6.4 rebounds per contest, while guard Corynne Hauser (10.2 ppg) is averaging a team-best 11.7 points per game during conference play.
Guard Clare Kelly (7.1 ppg) and forwards Bridget Dunn (4.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Tatiana Thomas (4.8 ppg) lead a strong bench unit that is scoring 23.7 points per contest.
Scouting Eastern Michigan
The Eagles (14-12, 6-9 MAC) defeated Buffalo, 61-57, on Thursday to improve to 9-6 at home and move into a tie for fifth in the MAC standings. Eastern Michigan has strong interior play and ranks second in the conference with a plus-2.9 rebounding margin and is 4.3 blocked shots per game.
Forward Ce'Nara Skanes leads the way with 13.0 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game. Guard Lachelle Austin (12.3 ppg) has nearly doubled her scoring average from last season, leads the Eagles in assists (2.8 per game) and steals (1.9 per game). Guard Olivia Smith (8.5 ppg) has made a team-high 45 three-pointers and center Tayra Eke (8.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg) has a MAC-high 46 blocks.
Series History
• Kent State is 44-28 all-time vs. Eastern Michigan.
• The Golden Flashes have won four in a row in the series, and 10 of the past 11 matchups overall.
• Kent State is 15-19 in trips to Ypsilanti.
• The Flashes' 19-game winning streak from 1992-03 is the longest for either team.
• Kent State is109-1 under head coach Todd Starkey.
• The Flashes had an 11-game losing streak prior to Starkey's arrival in 2016.
Broadcast Info
Ryan Wooley and Reggie Butler 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 be back on the road at Toledo on Wednesday, March 1.
