Kent State University
Old Dominion
Flashes Host Old Dominion Saturday for MAC-SBC Challenge Clash
2/9/2024 4:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball team looks to go unbeaten in the inaugural MAC-Sun Belt Challenge on Saturday when it battles Old Dominion at 1 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes (14-6, 9-2 MAC) went on the road and defeated Louisiana, 64-55, in the season opener on Nov. 12 and was one of three Mid-American Conference schools to earn a win in the first round of challenge matchup.
Junior Jenna Batsch scored a career-high 25 points to lead Kent State in a 70-57 victory over Western Michigan in the Play4Kay game Wednesday night. The Broncos shot 35.8% from the floor, as the Flashes held their opponent below 40% for the fourth time in the last five games.
Kent State has been terrific on the defensive side of the ball and leads the MAC in opponent field goal percentage (.376), while ranking second in in points allowed (60.5 ppg), opponent three-point field goal percentage (.290), rebounding margin (+5.7) and turnover margin (+3.4).
Preseason All-MAC First Team guard Katie Shumate leads the Flashes with averages of 13.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Forward Jenna Batsch has been among the most improved players in the MAC this season and is averaging 13.3 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 (9.2 ppg) is one of the top scorers among reserve players in the MAC, while forward Bridget Dunn (6.2 ppg) have also posted multiple double-digit scoring performances. Dunn averages a career-high 6.6 rebounds per game and leads the Flashes with 29 three-point field goals.
Scouting Old Dominion
The Monarchs (16-6, 8-4 SBC) have won four of their last five games and allow only 58.2 points per game, the fewest of any Sun Belt Conference team. Nationally, Old Dominion ranks in the top-50 in field goal percentage defense (.372), three-point field goal percentage defense (.264), steals per game (10.9) and turnovers forced per game (20.6).
Guards En'Dya Buford (11.1 ppg), Jordan McLaughlin (10.4 ppg) and Kaye Clark (9.0 ppg) lead the Monarchs in scoring while averaging at least 2.0 assists per game each. Clark ranks eighth in the country with 72 steals.
Series History
• This will be the first time matchup on the hardwood between Kent State and Old Dominion since a home-and-home series 35 years ago.
• The Monarchs recorded a 99-74 at the M.A.C. Center on Dec. 21, 1988, and then defended home court with an 89-53 win on Dec. 16, 1989.
• Head coach Todd Starkey is 2-1 against current members of the Sun Belt Conference.
• The Golden Flashes defeated Louisiana, 64-55, in the first MAC-SBC Challenge matchup back in November.
• Kent State beat Georgia Southern, 62-48, and lost to Troy, 71-64, on back-to-back days at the 2019 Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.
Broadcast Info
Dan Griffin and Matt Kiraly 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 have six days off and are scheduled to return to action at Central Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 17.
Individual Game Tickets
Individual game tickets can be purchased at KSUTix.com.
Follow the Flashes
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