Kent State University
James Madison
Kent State Women’s Hoops Visits James Madison for 2025-26 Opener
11/2/2025 10:37:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Two elite mid-major programs will battle in a rematch from the season opener a year ago on Monday night as Kent State travels to James Madison for a MAC-Sun Belt Challenge contest to begin the 2025-26 campaign.
Both teams were voted as the preseason favorite in their respective conference and are top-10 in the Mid-Major Top 25, with the Golden Flashes at No. 10 and the Dukes at No. 3. Led by 10th-year head coach Todd Starkey, Kent State was picked first in the Preseason Mid-American Conference Coaches' Poll for the first time since divisions were eliminated.
Preseason All-MAC selections Janae Tyler and Mya Babbitt headline the return of three starters and seven players who logged at least 10 minutes per games during a 21-win campaign in 2024-25. Tyler earned All-MAC honorable mention accolades with averages of 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Babbitt is the top scorer back from last season at 11.8 points per contest. The sharpshooter made a program record 83 three-point field goals and led the conference with 41.3% accuracy from behind the arc.
In her first full season as starting point guard, Dionna Gray averaged 8.5 points and 4.9 assists per contest, which ranked third in the MAC. The return of Corynne Hauser to action for the first time since Feb. 7, 2024 bolsters the backcourt. Hauser has started 45 games during her career at Kent State and averaged 9.8 points and 4.2 assists over the first 20 games of her sophomore campaign.
Forwards Riley Rismiller (7.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and Tatiana Thomas (5.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg) showed much improvement last season and join Tyler as returners on the inside.
Scouting James Madison
The Dukes enter the season at No. 3 in the Mid-Major Top 25 and totaled four points in the USA Today Sports Preseason Coaches' Poll. Last season, James Madison won a program-record 30 games – including an undefeated 18-0 mark during Sun Belt Conference play – and reached the WBIT quarterfinals.
Guard Peyton McDaniel, the 2025 Sun Belt Player of the Year, is one of 25 student-athletes on the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List. Last season, McDaniel led the Dukes by averaging 16.0 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while knocking down a team-high 73 three-pointers. Forward Ashanti Barnes was an All-Sun Belt Third Team performer a year ago with averages of 10.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest. Guard Zakiya Stephenson (4.5 ppg) started all 35 games and led the team with 3.0 assists per game in her first season at JMU after transferring from Ole Miss. Guard Bree Robinson (5.0 ppg) logged 24.1 minutes per game a year ago, the most by any non-starter.
KSU in Season Openers
• Kent State is 25-25 all-time in season openers after a 67-56 setback to James Madison last season.
• Head coach Todd Starkey is 5-4 in openers and is the only KSU head coach to be victorious in their debut at the school with a 77-52 win against Bradley to begin the 2016-17 season.
• Starkey's teams have gone 4-2 in season openers on the road, with both losses against Power 4 opponents (North Carolina, Ohio State).
Series History
• Kent State is 0-2 all-time against James Madison.
• The Dukes earned a 55-48 victory in the only previous matchup on Nov. 30, 1996, in Minneapolis as part of Minnesota's Dial Classic.
• James Madison beat the Golden Flashes, 67-56, in a MAC-Sun Belt Challenge matchup to open the 2024-25 season.
• This will be the first time the teams play in Harrisonburg.
Broadcast Info
Curt Dudley and Missy Buck will call the action on ESPN+, while Cam Manna will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will have another tough road test at West Virginia on Friday, Nov. 7.
KSU Travel Network
Fans looking to save on travel while supporting the Golden Flashes this year can use the Blue and Gold Travel Network to save on flights and hotels while giving back to Kent State student-athletes by booking at BlueAndGoldTravelNetwork.com.
Follow Kent State Women's Basketball
For complete coverage of Kent State Women's Basketball, download the official Kent State Golden Flashes app (iOS, Android) and follow the Golden Flashes on social media on X, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates.
