Kent State University
Buffalo
Kent State to Meet Buffalo in MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Title Game
3/15/2024 7:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will play Buffalo in the 2024 Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game on Saturday at 11 a.m. on CBS Sports Network.
The Golden Flashes (20-10) are just one win away from returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002 after an impressive 65-50 victory Ball State in the semifinals on Friday. Kent State dominated play around the basket with large advantages in points in the paint (44-16), rebounding (50-23) and second chance points (21-2). Junior Bridget Dunn recorded her second straight double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds and redshirt senior Katie Shumate added 12 points and career-high 14 boards.
Kent State has been terrific on the defensive side of the ball and ranks second in the MAC in opponent field goal percentage (.385) and third in opponent three-point field goal percentage (.297) and blocks per game (3.7).
All-MAC First Team guard Katie Shumate leads the Flashes with averages of 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and is one of only two 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 13.3 points per game. Forward Janae Tyler (9.4 ppg) is one of the top scorers among reserve players in the MAC, while forward Bridget Dunn (7.1 ppg) has helped the Flashes lead the conference in rebounding margin (+6.2) with a career-best average of 7.2 rebounds per game and leads the Flashes with 52 three-point field goals.
Kent State in the MAC Tournament
• Kent State is making its 36th appearance in the MAC Tournament and has a 38-31 record in tournament play.
• The Golden Flashes have advanced to semifinals three times since 2020 and will play in the championship game for the first time since 2006.
• Kent State has played in the championship game 12 times, including seven consecutive years from 1996-2002, with a 3-9 record in those contests.
• The Flashes' last title came in 2002 with a 73-59 victory over Ball State.
MAC Tournament History vs. Buffalo
• Kent State is 3-4 all-time vs. Buffalo in MAC Tournament play, with all seven being quarterfinal matchups.
• The teams met four years in a row from 2018-21, with the Golden Flashes' lone victory coming in 2020 before the remainder of the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Katie Shumate is the only player on either roster who played in any of these games.
• Shumate scored 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting in both contests.
Scouting Buffalo
The Bulls (19-12) survived pair of nail biters against Bowling Green and regular season MAC champion Toledo to advance to the championship game for the third time in the last six years. Buffalo leads the conference in opponent field goal percentage (.385) and opponent three-point field goal percentage (.270) and is 15-0 when scoring at least 65 points.
Guard Chellia Watson is the No. 6 scorer in the nation at 23.0 points per game. Watson posted her fifth 30-point performance of the season on Friday and has shot 10-of-19 from three-point range in Cleveland. MAC Freshman of the Year Kirsten Lewis-Williams averages 12.1 points per game and classmate Alexis Davis (8.0 ppg) leads the Bulls with 6.4 rebounds per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 34-23 all-time vs. Buffalo and has won four straight in the series.
• The Golden Flashes won each of the first 19 games in the series, beginning with an 86-77 victory on Jan. 13, 1999.
• Prior to the 2022-23 season, the Bulls had won 20-8 of the previous 24 meetings.
• Kent State is 8-11 under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Chris Lewis and Kelly Burke will call the action on CBS Sports Network, while Dane Richardson will have the call on ESPN Cleveland and the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
Regardless of Saturday's result, the Golden Flashes are expected to compete a postseason tournament for the third season in a row.
Follow the Flashes
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