Kent State University
UMass
Women’s Hoops to Host UMass in Second Game of Saturday Doubleheader at the M.A.C. Center
1/2/2026 1:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State looks to start the new calendar year with a victory as Mid-American Conference newcomer UMass visits the M.A.C. Center on Saturday. The contest will be part of a doubleheader and will tip approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the men's basketball game against Northern Illinois, which is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (5-8, 0-2 MAC) have lost both conference games this season by just four points, most recently falling to Miami on Wednesday by a score of 67-63, and will try to prevent the first three-game skid since the 2021-22 campaign. Kent State has been whistled for 22 fouls in both contests, resulting in 11 fewer points at the free throw line than their opponents. Tatiana Thomas has taken advantage of an opportunity for more court action and is averaging 12.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per conference game. Thomas totaled career-high marks in points (18), rebounds (13) and blocks (4) against the RedHawks on Wednesday.
Junior Mya Babbitt is the leading scorer at 14.6 points per game and has two of the top four single-game scoring performances in the league. Babbitt is tied for third in the conference with 26 three-point field goals and adds 4.7 rebounds per contest. Juniors Janae Tyler (10.5 ppg) and Riley Rismiller (8.1 ppg) provide low post options. Rismiller has three double-doubles and ranks eighth in the MAC in rebounding with 7.5 per game. Senior Dionna Gray (4.5 ppg) is fourth in the MAC in assists with 4.9 per game.
Scouting UMass
The Minutewomen (9-2, 1-0 MAC) used a 22-0 run during the first half to pull away and beat Western Michigan, 73-40, in their conference debut on Wednesday. UMass is elite defensively, leading the MAC in scoring defense (54.1 ppg), field goal percentage defense (.343) and fewest opponent free throws (157) while ranking second in three-point field goal percentage (.267), steals per game (10.73) and blocks per game (3.64).
Guard Yahmani McKayle (15.4 ppg) and forward Megan Olbrys (15.0 ppg) are the third highest scoring duo in the league. McKayle is one of the top three-point shooters in the conference with 24 makes and 40.0-percent accuracy while ranking second with 5.0 assists per game. Olbrys ranks in the top 10 in the MAC in field goal percentage (.569) and rebounding (7.4 rpg). Guard Allie Palmieri adds 10.9 points per game and is second on the team with 17 three-pointers. Guard Ayanna Franks (7.8 ppg) is second in the conference in steals per game (3.1) and had nine earlier this season against Holy Cross, which was one off the program record.
Series History
• Kent State is 1-4 all-time vs. UMass on the hardwood.
• The Golden Flashes are 0-2 at the M.A.C. Center with losses during the 1997-98 and 2013-14 campaigns.
• The Minutewomen have won four straight in the series and won the most recent matchup, 72-64, in the semifinals of the 2021 Gulf Coast Showcase.
• Kent State is 0-1 vs. UMass 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 Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will play two road games next weekend, visiting Central Michigan on Jan. 7 and Eastern Michigan on Jan. 10.
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