Kent State University
Akron
‘Gold Out’ Set for Saturday’s Women’s Basketball Rivalry Game
2/23/2024 1:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The M.A.C. Center will be a sea of gold as the Kent State women's basketball team hosts rival Akron in a 'Gold Out' game on Saturday at 1 p.m. The first 500 fans will receive a vintage Kent State t-shirt.
The Golden Flashes (15-8, 10-3 MAC) dropped a heartbreaker to host Ohio, 79-77, on Wednesday evening. After fighting back from a 10-point deficit to tie it with less than 20 seconds remaining, a fifth team foul sent the Bobcats to the free throw line for the go-ahead shots. Kent State was unable to score on its final two possessions. Redshirt senior Katie Shumate matched her career-high with 27 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Sophomore Dionna Gray recorded a career-high eight assists.
Kent State has been terrific on the defensive side of the ball and ranks third in the MAC in points allowed (62.0 ppg), opponent field goal percentage (.385), opponent three-point field goal percentage (.292) and blocks per game (3.4).
Preseason All-MAC First Team guard Katie Shumate leads the Flashes with averages of 14.7 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 13.6 points per game. Guard Corynne Hauser (9.8 ppg) owns a 1.71 assist-to-turnover ratio and is averaging the most assists per game (4.2) by a Kent State player since the 2014-15 season. Forward Janae Tyler (8.9 ppg) is one of the top scorers among reserve players in the MAC, while forward Bridget Dunn (6.6 ppg) has helped the Flashes lead the conference in rebounding margin (+5.7) with a career-high 6.6 rebounds per game and leads the Flashes with 37 three-point field goals.
Scouting Akron
The Zips (6-9, 1-4 MAC) dropped a home contest to Bowling Green, 74-68, on Wednesday and sit one game out of the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament.
Forward Reagan Bass is the only MAC player averaging a double-double and ranks in the top-25 nationally in 13 double-doubles (13), rebounding (10.4 rpg) and free throws made (118). Bass is the third-leading scorer in the conference at 16.5 points per game. Transfers Morgan Haney and Lanae Riley have made immediate impacts. Haney (9.5 ppg) leads the Zips with 71 assists and 34 three-pointers. Riley (9.3 ppg) is scoring 10.5 points per contest in league play.
Series History
• Kent State is 59-18 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 has dominated contests at the M.A.C. Center historically with a 32-6 all-time record.
• The Flashes' 18-game winning streak from Jan. 8, 2000, through Feb. 23, 2008 is the longest for either school.
• Kent State is 11-3 against the Zips under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Andy Jardy and Matt Kiraly 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 visit Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Individual Game Tickets
Individual game tickets can be purchased at KSUTix.com.
Follow the Flashes
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