Kent State University
Akron
Women’s Basketball Hosts Rival Zips on Saturday
1/16/2026 1:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State looks for its seventh straight rivalry game victory on Saturday and hosts Akron for a 1 p.m. matchup.
The Golden Flashes (7-10, 2-4 MAC) have won two in a row and handed visiting Ohio its first Mid-American Conference loss of the season, 71-68, on Wednesday evening. The bench has provided major boosts with 69 points combined against the Bobcats and last Saturday at Eastern Michigan. Emory Klatt led the way with 17 points and 12 rebounds, setting a new career-high in both categories. Mya Babbitt was the top scorer again with 18 points, Dionna Gray recorded a career-high 12 assists, tying the most by a Kent State player against a Division I opponent since Naddiyah Cross had 12 against Brown o Dec. 22, 2015.
Junior Mya Babbitt is the fourth leading scorer in the MAC at 15.8 points per game and has two of the top four single-game scoring performances in the league. Babbitt is second in the conference with 38 three-point field goals. Juniors Riley Rismiller (7.5 ppg) and Tatiana Thomas (7.6 ppg) provide low post options. Rismiller has three double-doubles and ranks ninth in the MAC in rebounding with 6.8 per game, while Thomas is grabbing 7.4 boards per conference contest. Senior Dionna Gray (5.4 ppg) is fourth in the MAC in assists with 5.0 per game.
Scouting Akron
The Zips (3-14, 0-5 MAC) have lost five in a row and are still seeking their first conference and true road wins of the season. Akron has been outscored by an average of 18.1 points in eight games this season. The Zips rank last in the conference in scoring defense (75.6 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (.445).
Forward Ni'rah Clark is the top scorer at 11.8 points per game and adds 5.6 rebounds per game. Guard/forward Monique Mitchell is among the top freshman scorers in the MAC at 10.2 points per contest. Guard/forward Keiryn McGuff (9.1 ppg) grabs a team-best 5.9 rebounds per game.
Series History
• Kent State owns a 62-18 all-time record in the rivalry.
• The Golden Flashes have won six in a row, matching the longest streak since being victorious in the first 18 meetings of the 21st century.
• Kent State has especially dominated contests at the M.A.C. Center historically with a 34-6 all-time record.
• The Flashes are 14-3 against the Zips under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Dane Richardson and Jacki Windon will call the action on ESPN+, while Cam Manna will be on the call on the Fox Sports 1350 AM.
Next Up for Kent State
The final team in the conference to have a bye date, the Golden Flashes will not be in action this coming Wednesday and then visit Buffalo on Saturday, Jan. 24.
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