Kent State University
Ball State
Women’s Basketball to Battle First-Place Cardinals on ESPNU Saturday at Noon
2/21/2025 1:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball will try to get back in the win column on Saturday when it takes in first-place Ball State at 12 p.m. Saturday on ESPNU.
The Golden Flashes (16-10, 8-5 MAC) seek to avoid three consecutive Mid-American Conference losses for the first time since a stretch during January 2019. Kent State led for more than 35 minutes Wednesday evening at Buffalo but was outscored 14-3 over the final 3:29 in the 76-70 setback. The Flashes led by 10 early in the fourth quarter and have now lost two in a row while leading at halftime. Sophomore Mya Babbitt and senior Jenna Batsch scored 17 points each to share the team lead, while sophomore Janae Tyler grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds.
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 (8.2 drpg) and 33rd overall in rebounds per game (9.6). Mya Babbitt (12.3 ppg) leads the MAC with 68 three-pointers and has made 41.2% of attempts from beyond the arc. Janae Tyler (11.2 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 4.9 assists per game.
Scouting Ball State
The Cardinals (20-6, 12-1 MAC) are No. 7 in the most recent Mid-Major Top 25 and look to bounce back from their first conference loss of the season Wednesday night at Toledo. Ball State has won 15 consecutive home games against MAC opponents and owns an average margin of victory of more than 18 points this season.
Point guard Ally Becki ranks sixth nationally in assists per game (6.2) and is the conference leader in assist-to-turnover (2.30) in addition to posting averages of 15.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per contest. Post Alex Richard scored a career-high 33 points on Wednesday and leads the Cardinals in scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounding 7.1 rpg). Guards Madelyn Bischoff (11.2 ppg) and Lachelle Austin (10.5 ppg) are also double-digit scorers.
Series History
• Kent State is 42-26 all-time against Ball State.
• The Golden Flashes are 12-19 in trips to Muncie.
• Kent State has lost four straight regular season matchups but did earn a 65-50 victory in the MAC Tournament semifinals last March.
• The Flashes have held the Cardinals below 65 points in seven of the last 11 meetings.
• Kent State is 5-8 vs. Ball State under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Dorian Craft and Alexis Ayala will call the action on ESPNU.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will return to the M.A.C. Center and host Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Feb. 26 before playing two of the final three regular season contests on the road.
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