Kent State University
Central Michigan
Women’s Basketball Back at M.A.C. Center Wednesday to Host CMU
2/7/2023 5:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will host Central Michigan at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8, as Mid-American Conference action continues with a two-game home week at the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes (14-7, 6-4 MAC) are No. 19 in the Mid-Major Top 25 and had a three-game winning streak ended on Saturday with an 80-71 setback at MAC co-leader Ball State. Kent State trailed by as many as 12 in the opening period as the Cardinals put 29 points on the board but continued to battle and made it a one-possession game early in the fourth quarter. Senior Katie Shumate led all players with 22 points and nine rebounds. Junior Casey Santoro added a season-high 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field.
Kent State's defense has been among the best in the MAC this season. The Flashes lead the conference in scoring defense (61.2 ppg) and rank second in field goal percentage defense (.383). Kent State is 13-1 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 11.4 points per game and has also totaled team-best marks of 34 three-pointers and 19 blocked shots. Thall is Kent State's all-time leader with 252 triples, which ranks 23rd among active NCAA Division I players, and ranks 10th among active players in career blocks (191). Guard Katie Shumate adds 10.3 points per game and pulls down a team-high 5.7 rebounds per contest, while guard Corynne Hauser (9.9 ppg) is averaging a team-best 11.8 points per game during conference play.
Guard Clare Kelly (7.6 ppg) and forwards Bridget Dunn (4.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Tatiana Thomas (4.3 ppg) lead a strong bench unit that is scoring 24.4 points per contest.
Scouting Central Michigan
The Chippewas (4-17, 2-8 MAC) are 0-9 in true road games this season with an average margin of defeat of 14.9 points. Central Michigan ranks in the bottom 30 in the country in scoring defense (74.0 ppg), field goal percentage defense (.452) and turnover margin (-4.76).
Guards Sydney Harris (17.3 ppg) and Bridget Utberg (11.0 ppg) are the two top scoring freshmen in the MAC. Harris has made a conference-best 70 three-point field goals and ranks second in the nation in three-pointers per game (3.33). Center Rochelle Norris (7.9 ppg) leads the Chippewas with averages of 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Forward Jahari Smith (6.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg) returned on Saturday after being out of action for more than two months. Smith was one of only three players in the conference who averaged a double-double last season.
Series History
• Kent State is 33-32 all-time vs. Central Michigan.
• The Golden Flashes won both matchups last season by 11 points, snapping a 10-game losing streak in the series.
• The Chippewas posted an average margin of victory of 17.4 ppg during the span.
• Kent State has a 20-12 all-time record in meetings at the M.A.C. Center.
• The Flashes are 2-5 vs. Central Michigan under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Dave Wilson and Matt Kiraly will call the action on ESPN+, while Tyler Henry will be on the call on 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will host Bowling Green for the annual Play4Kay Game on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m.
