Kent State University
Akron
Women’s Basketball Heads Akron for Saturday Rival Matchup
1/19/2024 4:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State seeks the start of a new winning streak on Saturday when it makes the short trip to Akron. The rivalry contest at James A. Rhodes Arena is scheduled to tip at 2 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (10-5, 4-1 MAC) dropped its first Mid-American Conference game of the season on Wednesday, as two-time defending regular season champion Toledo came into the M.A.C. Center and left with an 87-76 victory. Redshirt senior Katie Shumate led the way with a season-high 26 points and seven rebounds. Junior Jenna Batsch added 17 points and recorded a career-high three blocks.
Kent State has been terrific on the defensive side of the ball and leads the MAC in opponent field goal percentage (.367), opponent three-point field goal percentage (.272) and rebounding margin (+6.1), while ranking second in points allowed (60.3 ppg) and turnover margin (+4.1).
The offense has found its rhythm over the past month, as the Flashes have scored at least 82 points in four games. For the season, Kent State leads the MAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.18) and fewest turnovers per game (14.1), while ranking second in scoring (74.1 ppg) and assists per game (15.8).
Preseason All-MAC First Team guard Katie Shumate leads the Flashes with averages of 12.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Forward Jenna Batsch has been among the most improved players in the MAC this season and is averaging 12.1 points per game. After scoring 124 points in 464 minutes of action during her first two seasons, Batsch has totaled 181 points in 454 minutes. Guard Corynne Hauser (9.7 ppg) owns a 1.72 assist-to-turnover ratio and is averaging 4.7 assists per game to rank third and fourth in the conference, respectively. Forward Janae Tyler (9.6 ppg) is the top scorer among reserve players in the MAC, while center Mikala Morris (8.5 ppg), and forward Bridget Dunn (7.3 ppg) have also posted multiple double-digit scoring performances. Dunn averages a career-high 6.3 rebounds per game and leads the Flashes with 27 three-point field goals.
Scouting Akron
The Zips (6-9, 1-4 MAC) return home after back-to-back road setbacks to Buffalo (59-57) and Bowling Green (70-59).
Forward Reagan Bass is the only MAC player averaging a double-double and ranks fifth nationally in rebounding (11.7 rpg) and free throws made (93). Bass is the second-leading scorer in the conference at 19.1 points per game. Transfers Morgan Haney and Lanae Riley have made immediate impacts. Haney (10.7 ppg) leads the Zips with 41 assists and 24 three-pointers. Riley (9.4 ppg) is scoring 11.8 points per contest in league play.
Series History
• Kent State is 58-18 all-time vs. Akron.
• The Golden Flashes swept the season series last year and posted the largest margin of victory in the rivalry since Feb. 18, 1998, with an 87-46 victory on Feb. 18.
• Kent State is 26-12 all-time at Akron.
• The Flashes' 18-game winning streak from Jan. 8, 2000, through Feb. 23, 2008 is the longest for either school.
• Kent State is 10-3 against the Zips under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps will call the action on ESPN+, while Dan Griffin will have the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will return to the M.A.C. Center on Wednesday, Jan. 24 and host Eastern Michigan in the We Back Pat game 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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