Kent State University
Toledo
Flashes Head to Toledo for Regular Season Finale
3/8/2024 12:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State will play its final regular season game of the 2023-24 women's basketball campaign on Saturday at first-place Toledo. Tip at Savage Arena is scheduled for 2 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (18-9, 13-4 MAC) are locked into the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament following a 75-71 setback to second-place Ball State in the home finale on Wednesday. Redshirt senior Katie Shumate led the way with 16 points and nine rebounds. Despite only nine turnovers against a defense that forces 20 per game, Kent State was outscored 16-8 in points off turnovers. The Flashes' bench played well and provided 30 points and 16 rebounds.
Kent State has been terrific on the defensive side of the ball and ranks second in the MAC in opponent three-point field goal percentage (.296) and third in opponent field goal percentage (.386), and points allowed (62.0 ppg), blocks per game (3.5) and turnover margin (+2.7).
Preseason All-MAC First Team guard Katie Shumate leads the Flashes with averages of 15.3 points and 7.4 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 13.6 points per game. Forward Janae Tyler (9.0 ppg) is one of the top scorers among reserve players in the MAC, while forward Bridget Dunn (6.7 ppg) has helped the Flashes tie for the conference lead in rebounding margin (+6.2) with a career-high 6.8 rebounds per game and leads the Flashes with 44 three-point field goals.
Scouting Toledo
The Rockets (24-4, 16-1 MAC) clinched at least a share of the MAC regular season title by beating Eastern Michigan, 87-41, on Wednesday and enter Senior Day with a 12-game winning streak inside of Savage Arena.
The play of fifth-year guards Quinesha Lockett (15.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and Sophia Wiard (14.6 ppg, 4.8 apg) has led to Toledo sitting atop the conference standings each of the past three seasons. Lockett is the sixth-leading scorer among active Division I players with 2,330 career points, while Wiard is the conference leader in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.35). Seven additional Rockets are averaging at least five points per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 35-48 all-time vs. Toledo and has lost six straight in the series.
• The Golden Flashes had seven of the previous eight matchups prior to this streak.
• Kent State is 18-16 all-time as the visiting team.
• The Flashes are 7-8 against the Rockets under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Mason Lowry and Rhett Boyd 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 head to Cleveland for the MAC Women's Basketball Tournament, beginning with a quarterfinal contest on Wednesday, March 13.
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