Kent State Opens NCAA Tournament Saturday at No. 2 Seed Notre Dame
3/21/2024 12:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball team returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 22 years on Saturday with a first-round matchup against No. 2 seed Notre Dame. Tip from Purcell Pavilion is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. on ESPN.
The Golden Flashes (21-10) punched their ticket to the "Big Dance" by capturing the fourth Mid-American Conference Tournament title in program history this past weekend in Cleveland. Stellar defense was key in winning three games in four days, as no opponent scored more than 60 points or shot better than 39% from the field. Redshirt senior Katie Shumate earned MVP honors and posted averages of 14.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Junior Bridget Dunn also averaged a double-double (12.3 ppg, 13.3 rpg) and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Only two players have ever grabbed more rebounds than Dunn (40) in a single tournament.
Rebounding and ball control have been strengths this season. Kent State ranks 36th in the nation in rebounds per game (40.5), 37th in rebounding margin (+6.2) and 46th in turnovers per game (13.4).
All-MAC First Team guard Katie Shumate leads the Flashes with averages of 15.0 points and 7.6 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 13.4 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 7.3 rebounds per game and leads the Flashes with 53 three-point field goals.
Kent State in the NCAA Tournament
• Kent State is making its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2002.
• The Golden Flashes are 1-5 all-time in NCAA Tournament games and 0-5 against the host school.
• The lone victory came in 1996, as No. 10 seed Kent State defeated No. 7 seed Texas A&M, 72-68, in College Station, Pennsylvania.
• The Flashes competed in the inaugural NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in 1982 and lost to USC, 99-55.
• Most recently, Kent State lost to No. 3 seed Kansas State, 93-65, in 2002.
Scouting #9 Notre Dame
The No. 2 seed Fighting Irish (26-6) have won eight in a row, including five straight against ranked opponents, and defeated #10 NC State in the ACC Tournament championship game. Notre Dame boasts two national championships in its program history and is 24-2 in home NCAA Tournament contests.
Guard Hannah Hidalgo (23.3 ppg, 5.5 apg) was announced as an AP All-America First Team selection, an honor only three freshmen in women's college basketball had previously earned. Hidalgo is the national leader with an average of 4.59 steals per game and received Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP honors from the ACC. She is joined by All-ACC Second Team members Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld to form one of the top "big 3" units in women's hoops. Citron (16.6 ppg) has scored more than 1,200 points in just 89 career games, while Westbeld averages 14.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
Series History
• In the only previous matchup, Kent State lost 66-41 to No. 20 Notre Dame in the season opener on Nov. 15, 1996.
• The contest was played in South Bend and was a first-round matchup in the Preseason WNIT.
• Current Fighting Irish head coach Niele Ivey totaled seven points, eight assists and two steals in her first collegiate game.
• The Golden Flashes are 8-21 all-time against current members of the ACC, including and 0-5 mark under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Sam Gore and Tamika Catchings will call the action on ESPN, while Dane Richardson will have the call on ESPN 850 Cleveland and the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
With a win, the Golden Flashes will advance to play the winner of the No. 7 seed Ole Miss-No. 10 seed Marquette game in a second-round contest on Monday, March 25 in South Bend.
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