Kent State University
Northern Illinois
Kent State Readies for CBS Sports Network Showcase Against NIU
1/11/2024 11:19:00 AM | Women's Basketball
For the first time in program history, the Kent State women's basketball team will compete on national television in front of its home fans on Sunday, Jan. 14, against Northern Illinois. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. All fans will receive glow sticks to light up the M.A.C. Center and students will also take home a cellphone ring light.
The Golden Flashes (9-4) have won five in a row and will attempt to start Mid-American Conference play 4-0 for the first time since the 2020-21 season. A stellar defensive performance at Miami on Wednesday resulted in a 69-38 win for the largest margin of victory in the series since 2000. Graduate student Abby Ogle led the way with a career-high six steals as Kent State recorded 20 steals as a team for the first time since beating North Dakota State on Dec. 5, 2015. Freshman Janae Tyler scored a team-high 16 points and redshirt senior Katie Shumate added 11 points and season-high 12 rebounds for her second straight double-double.
Kent State has been terrific on the defensive side of the ball and leads the MAC in opponent field goal percentage (.363), opponent three-point field goal percentage (.271), rebounding margin (+6.3) and turnover margin (+5.0), while ranking second in points allowed (59.2) and blocks per game (4.0).
The offense has found its rhythm over the past month, as the Flashes have scored at least 82 points in four of six games. For the season, Kent State leads the MAC in scoring (74.1 ppg), assists per game (15.9), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.18) and fewest turnovers per game (13.5).
Preseason All-MAC First Team guard Katie Shumate leads the Flashes with averages of 11.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Forward Jenna Batsch has been among the most improved players in the MAC this season and is averaging 11.5 points per game. After scoring 124 points in 464 minutes of action during her first two seasons, Batsch has totaled 149 points in 392 minutes. Guard Corynne Hauser (10.6 ppg) owns a 1.97 assist-to-turnover ratio and is averaging 5.3 assists per game to rank third in the conference in both categories. Forward Janae Tyler (10.0 ppg) is the only reserve player in the MAC averaging double-digits. Center Mikala Morris (8.5 ppg), and forward Bridget Dunn (6.8 ppg) have also posted multiple double-digit scoring performances. Dunn averages a career-high 6.3 rebounds per game and leads the Flashes with 23 three-point field goals.
Scouting Northern Illinois
The Huskies (8-6, 2-1 MAC) have won five of their last six games and defeated Ohio, 67-62, on Wednesday for their first road victory after dropping the first five. Northern Illinois leads the conference with 25.4 three-point attempts per game and more than 40% of shots have come from behind the arc.
Forward Brooke Stonebraker and guard Jayden Marable have stepped up as two of the most improved players in the conference in the absence of guard Chelby Koker, a Preseason All-MAC First Team member. Stonebraker (10.5 ppg) has raised her scoring average by 8.7 points per game, which is the biggest jump for any MAC player this season, and ranks third in the league in rebounding (8.0 rpg). Marable (12.6 ppg, 4.6 apg) is one of only three players in the conference averaging at least 12.5 points and 4.5 assists per game. Guard Sidney McCrea adds 9.6 points per game and ranks fourth in the MAC in three-pointers per game (2.1) and three-point field goal percentage (.426).
Series History
• Kent State is 28-18 all-time vs. Northern Illinois.
• The Golden Flashes own a four-game winning streak and have won eight of the last nine meetings overall.
• Kent State is 16-4 against the Huskies inside of the M.A.C. Center.
• The Flashes have won three straight home games in the series with a 16.0-point average margin of victory.
• Kent State is 8-5 against NIU under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Matt Shepard and Cayleigh Griffin will call the action on CBS Sports Network, while Dane Richardson will have the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will remain home to play preseason favorite Toledo on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.
Min-Plan Ticket Packages
Mini-plan options are on-sale now at KSUTix.com for as low as $24 per seat.
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