Kent State University
James Madison
Kent State to Host JMU for Mid-Major Clash as Women’s Basketball Season Starts on Monday
11/3/2024 4:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Two of the top mid-major teams in the country will be on display at the M.A.C. Center on Monday night as Kent State opens the 2024-25 campaign against James Madison in a Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Challenge contest at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Both teams enter the season with championships aspirations. Led by ninth-year head coach Todd Starkey, the Golden Flashes were picked second in the Preseason MAC Poll and sit at No. 16 in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll entering the season. The Dukes are the preseason favorite in the Sun Belt and ranked No. 13 in the Mid-Major Top 25.
Guard Jenna Batsch was named to the Preseason All-MAC First Team and leads a trio of returning starters from last season's NCAA Tournament team. Batsch earned All-MAC Third Team accolades last season, averaging 13.3 points per game while shooting 38.9% from three-point range. Forward Bridget Dunn (6.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg) played her best ball in a Kent State uniform down the stretch and was named to the All-MAC Tournament Team. Juniors Corynne Hauser (9.8 ppg, 4.2 apg) and Dionna Gray (4.9 ppg) bring experience to the point guard position, while forward Janae Tyler (9.7 ppg) moves into a larger role after earning MAC All-Freshman Team honors last season.
Scouting James Madison
The Dukes received 12 of 14 first-place points in the Preseason Sun Belt Conference Poll and bring back four starters from last season's team that won 23 games and earned a No. 1 seed in the inaugural WBIT. James Madison list six members of its roster at 6-foot or taller and returns five of its top six rebounders from last year's team that ranked fifth nationally in rebounding margin (+11.3).
Three Dukes — guard Peyton McDaniel, center Kseniia Kozlova and guard Ro Scott — were included in World Exposure Report's '50 Mid-Major players to watch in 2024-25' list. McDaniel was voted as the Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year after posting team-high averages of 15.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while being the conference leader in three-point field goals (81) last season. Kozlova averaged 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and was named to Preseason All-SBC Second Team. Scott transferred to JMU from Marshall in the offseason and has scored 1,308 points during her collegiate career. She was sidelined after just six games last season and earned All-SBC Second Team accolades in 2023. Guard Jamia Hazell (9.2 ppg) and forward Ashanti Barnes (7.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) were also major contributors last season.
Series History
• Kent State is 0-1 all-time against James Madison.
• The Dukes earned a 55-48 victory in the only previous matchup on Nov. 30, 1996, in Minneapolis as part of Minnesota's Dial Classic.
KSU in Season Openers
• Kent State is 25-24 all-time in season openers after going on the road and beating Louisiana, 64-55, last season as part of the inaugural MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
• Head coach Todd Starkey is 5-3 in openers and is the only KSU head coach to be victorious in their debut at the school with a 77-52 win against Bradley to begin the 2016-17 season.
• Starkey has led the Golden Flashes to a 2-1 record in season openers at the M.A.C. Center, most recently falling to Florida State, 80-71, to start the 2022-23 campaign.
Broadcast Info
Blake Goloja and Jacki Windon will call the action on ESPN+, while Dane Richardson will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will be back in action at the M.A.C. Center against Walsh on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Follow the Flashes
Be sure to follow the Golden Flashes on X, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the team.
