Kent State University
Ohio
Women’s Basketball to “Black Out” M.A.C. Center on Saturday
1/5/2024 1:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball team will wear its new black uniform in front of the home crowd as part of a "Black Out" on Saturday when Ohio visits the M.A.C. Center for the first home contest of the Mid-American Conference season. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (7-4, 1-0 MAC) made nine three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes of Wednesday's MAC opener at Buffalo to lead by 21 and held off a pair of runs by their host to win 73-64. Redshirt senior Katie Shumate set the tone with 11 of her team-high 18 points in the first quarter. Junior Bridget Dunn recorded the first double-double of her career with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Kent State has been terrific on the defensive side of the ball and leads the MAC in opponent field goal percentage (.362), opponent three-point field goal percentage (.276) and rebounding margin (+4.7 rpg), while ranking second in points allowed (60.5 ppg) and turnover margin (+4.0). Six opponents have scored five or fewer second-chance points.
Preseason All-MAC First Team guard Katie Shumate leads the Flashes with averages of 11.9 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 six times. Guard Corynne Hauser (10.2 ppg) owns a 1.89 assist-to-turnover ratio and is averaging 4.8 assists per game with to rank third and fourth in the conference, respectively. Forward Janae Tyler (9.6 ppg), center Mikala Morris (8.5 ppg), and forward Bridget Dunn (7.8 ppg) have also posted multiple double-digit scoring performances. Dunn averages a career-high 6.7 rebounds per game and leads the Flashes with 23 three-point field goals.
Scouting Ohio
The Bobcats (4-7, 1-0 MAC) started league play by beating Akron, 67-58, on Wednesday. Ohio forces 23.5 turnovers per game, which leads the MAC, and averages 18.2 points off turnovers. With a starting unit of players all listed under six-foot tall, the Bobcats rank 344th nationally in rebounding margin (-12.0).
Guard Jaya McClure is the sixth leading scorer in the conference at 14.6 points per game and adds a team-high 3.6 assists per game. Guard Kennedi Watkins (9.9 ppg) and guard Bailey Tabeling (8.0 ppg) led Ohio with 17 points each on Wednesday. Tabeling has made a team-high 21 three-pointers and leads the MAC in three-point field goal percentage (.525).
Series History
• Kent State is 57-35 all-time vs. Ohio.
• The Golden Flashes have won three in a row in the series, including 16- and 26-point margin of victories last season.
• Prior to last season, seven of the previous nine matchups were decided by six points or fewer.
• The Flashes are 32-11 in series games played at the M.A.C. Center.
• Kent State made a program record 16 three-point field goals when it hosted Ohio on Dec. 11, 2020, an 84-80 victory.
• The Flashes are 7-7 vs. Ohio under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Dan Griffin and Normandie Berl will call the action on ESPN+, while Dane Richardson will have the call on ESPN Cleveland and the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will head back on the road to play Miami on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
Min-Plan Ticket Packages
Mini-plan options are on-sale now at KSUTix.com for as low as $24 per seat.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on X, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
