Kent State University
Buffalo
Kent State Visits Buffalo to Start #MACtion
1/2/2024 9:36:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will begin Mid-American Conference women's basketball play Wednesday at Buffalo in a matchup between two of the top defensive teams in the conference. Tip inside of Alumni Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (6-4) are coming off back-to-back record-setting performances to close the 2023 calendar. Kent State allowed the fewest points in program history in an 84-20 victory over Lake Erie on Dec. 19. The Flashes totaled 19 steals and held the Storm to just 5-of-46 shooting. Kent State then posted its largest margin of victory on Dec. 30, beating La Roche 109-31. The Flashes totaled 36 assists, one off the school record, and scored the most points in a game since Dec. 29, 1993.
Kent State has been terrific on the defensive side of the ball and leads the MAC in points allowed (60.5 ppg), opponent field goal percentage (.359) opponent three-point field goal percentage (.273) and rebounding margin (+4.9 rpg). Only three opponents have scored more than 64 points and six have shot 37.0% or worse from the floor.
Preseason All-MAC First Team guard Katie Shumate leads the Flashes with averages of 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Forward Jenna Batsch has been among the most improved players in the MAC this season and is averaging 10.8 points per game. After scoring in double-figures just twice in her first two seasons, Batsch has done so five times. Guard Corynne Hauser (10.2 ppg) is second in the conference with a 1.84 assist-to-turnover ratio and averages 4.6 assists per game to rank fifth. Hauser has recorded 14 assists and zero turnover over the past two games. Forward Janae Tyler (9.7 ppg), center Mikala Morris (8.8 ppg), and forward Bridget Dunn (7.2 ppg) have also posted multiple double-digit scoring performances. Dunn averages a career-high 6.4 rebounds per game and leads the Flashes with 19 three-point field goals.
Scouting Buffalo
The Bulls (7-3) improved to 6-1 inside of Alumni Arena on Saturday, defeating Maryland Eastern Shore to snap a three-game losing streak. Buffalo's roster had tremendous turnover for the second year in a row with just four returners. Playing too aggressively on defense has been an issue for the Bulls, who have been whistled for 20.6 fouls per game and resulted in 20.0 free throw attempts per game for their opponents.
Guard Chellia Watson enters conference play averaging a MAC-high 21.1 points per game. An All-Big South First Team performer in 2022 under UB head coach Becky Burke who sat out last season as a two-time transfer, Watson has scored at least 17 points in nine of 10 games. Guard Kirsten Lewis-Williams is the top scorer among MAC freshmen at 12.8 points per game and adds a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game. Lewis-Williams has committed at least four fouls in seven of 10 games. Guard/forward Hattie Ogden (9.6 ppg) and guard Rana Elhusseini (9.3 ppg) provide additional scoring threats.
KSU in MAC Openers
• Kent State is 20-22 all-time in MAC openers and just 6-13 in road games.
• The Golden Flashes opened conference play against Buffalo for the first time last season, winning 64-63 on a layup by Clare Kelly with 1.5 seconds remaining.
• Head coach Todd Starkey owns a 4-3 record in conference openers and has split a pair of road games.
• Kent State defeated Eastern Michigan, 67-60, on Dec. 30, 2017.
• The Flashes lost at Ball State, 66-62, on Jan. 4, 2020.
Series History
• Kent State is 32-23 all-time vs. Buffalo.
• The Golden Flashes won each of the first 19 games in the series, beginning with an 86-77 victory on Jan. 13, 1999.
• However, the Bulls are 20-6 over the past 26 meetings.
• Kent State has reached the 70-point mark just four times during this stretch, averaging 59.1 points per game.
• The Flashes improved to 12-11 all-time at Alumni Arena and snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 72-69 victory last season.
• Kent State is 6-11 under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Paul Peck and Matt Mattia will call the action on ESPN+, while Dane Richardson will have the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will wear their new black uniform in front of the home crowd for the first time on Saturday, Jan. 6 when Ohio visits the M.A.C. Center.
Min-Plan Ticket Packages
Mini-plan options are on-sale now at KSUTix.com for as low as $24 per seat.
Follow the Flashes
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