Kent State University
Buffalo
Golden Flashes Travel to Buffalo for Battle with Bulls
2/18/2025 5:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State begins a tough stretch that includes four of five games on the road with a trip to Buffalo on Wednesday evening.
The Golden Flashes (16-9, 8-4 MAC) seek to avoid three consecutive Mid-American Conference losses for the first time since an 0-3 start to league play during the 2021-22 season. Following an impressive wire-to-wire victory at Troy on Feb. 8, Kent State suffered a 64-62 setback to Miami at home on Saturday. The Flashes won three of the quarters but were outscored 24-8 during the third period. Down 11 heading into the final 10, Kent State had a chance to win at the buzzer, but a heave from near midcourt grazed the bottom of the net. Sophomore Janae Tyler scored a game-high 18 points and senior Jenna Batsch added 14 points and five assists.
Preseason All-MAC First Team selection Jenna Batsch (16.5 ppg, 4.1 apg) is the only player in the conference averaging at least 16 points and four assists per game. Bridget Dunn (8.6 ppg) ranks fifth in the nation in defensive rebounding (8.4 drpg) and 31st overall in rebounds per game (9.8). Mya Babbitt (12.1 ppg) leads the MAC with 64 three-pointers and has made 41.0% of attempts from beyond the arc. Janae Tyler (11.3 ppg) has emerged as a consistent inside scoring presence after missing the majority of the non-conference slate of games. Dionna Gray averages 8.2 points and 4.8 assists per game while leading Kent State to a 14-6 record in games played this season.
Scouting Buffalo
The Bulls (20-4, 9-3 MAC) return to Alumni Arena, where they are 11-2 this season, for the first time since a 58-55 loss to Toledo on Feb. 5. Buffalo is aggressive on both ends of the court, leading the conference in free throw attempts per game (20.71), two-point attempt rate (.765), turnovers forced per game (22.46) and fouls per game (19.9).
All-MAC guard Chellia Watson is the top scorer in the MAC at 20.1 points per game and has gone for 21 or more in five consecutive games. Guard Kirsten Lewis-Williams adds 13.1 points per contest and ranks in the top five in the conference in steals per game (2.3) after a game-high eight swipes against Ohio on Saturday. Transfers and Noelani Cornfield (10.5 ppg, 5.2 apg) and Terah Harness (8.3 ppg) have provided veteran experience in the backcourt.
Series History
• Kent State is 36-23 all-time vs. Buffalo and has won six straight in the series.
• This is the Golden Flashes' longest winning streak in the series since being victorious in each of the first 19 games between the programs from 1999-2007.
• Kent State improved to 13-11 all-time at Alumni Arena with a 73-64 victory in the MAC opener last season.
• The Flashes were beaten in 10 consecutive trips to Buffalo from 2012-22.
• Kent State 10-11 under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Paul Peck and Heather Prusak will call the action on ESPN+.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will head to first-place Ball State on Saturday, Feb. 22 for a contest that will be broadcast on ESPNU.
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.
