Kent State University
Buffalo
Women’s Basketball to Host Buffalo for Senior Day on Saturday
3/1/2024 12:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will return to the M.A.C. Center on Saturday to battle Buffalo at 1 p.m. Mikala Morris, Abby Ogle and Katie Shumate will be recognized during a Senior Day presentation prior to the game.
The Golden Flashes (17-8, 12-3 MAC) can secure a top-three seed in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament and remain in the race for the regular season title with a victory. Kent State defeated Eastern Michigan, 76-64, on Wednesday for its second wire-to-wire victory in a row. Redshirt senior Katie Shumate had a game-high 23 points and junior Jenna Batsch finished with 21 to give the Flashes multiple 20-point scorers for the first time this season. Sophomore Dionna Gray added a season-high 12 points, career-high nine rebounds and five assists.
Kent State has been terrific on the defensive side of the ball and ranks second in the MAC in opponent field goal percentage (.384), and turnover margin (+3.0) and third in points allowed (61.4 ppg) and opponent three-point field goal percentage (.294).
Preseason All-MAC First Team guard Katie Shumate leads the Flashes with averages of 15.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and is one of only three MAC players who rank in the top 10 in both categories. Forward Jenna Batsch has been among the most improved players in the conference this season and is averaging 13.8 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 (9.0 ppg) is one of the top scorers among reserve players in the MAC, while forward Bridget Dunn (6.5 ppg) has helped the Flashes lead the conference in rebounding margin (+5.8) with a career-high 6.6 rebounds per game and leads the Flashes with 40 three-point field goals.
Scouting Buffalo
The Bulls (16-10, 9-6 MAC) have won two in a row and six of their last eight games overall. Buffalo leads the conference in opponent field goal percentage (.381) and opponent three-point field goal percentage (.272) and is 9-0 when scoring at least 65 points.
Guard Chellia Watson is the No. 4 scorer in the nation at 23.1 points per game. Watson has recorded four games of 30 points or more this season but was held below her average in every game during the month of February. Guard Kirsten Lewis-Williams is the top scorer among MAC freshmen at 11.9 points per game and adds 5.2 rebounds per game. Lewis-Williams has committed at least four fouls in 16 games. Guard/forward Alexis Davis (8.2 ppg) ranks second among MAC freshmen with an average of 6.3 rebounds per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 33-23 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 20-7 over the past 27 meetings.
• Kent State is 18-8 in games played at the M.A.C. Center.
• The Flashes are 7-11 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 the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will host conclude the home schedule on Wednesday, March 6 against Ball State. The contest will be nationally televised on ESPNU at 5 p.m.
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