Kent State University
Northern Illinois
Kent State Hosts NIU Wednesday Night for Annual Play4Kay Game
2/17/2026 3:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Kent State women's basketball team will host the annual Play4Kay game on Wednesday as Northern Illinois visits the M.A.C. Center for a 7 p.m. matchup.
The Golden Flashes (11-13, 5-7 MAC) look to get back in the win column after a 71-61 setback at Ohio on Saturday. After battling back to trim a 24-point deficit to just six points with three minutes to play, Kent State was unable to make another field goal until just a few seconds remained. Mya Babbitt led the way in the scoring column with 15 points and Anna Campanelli added 12 points. Dionna Gray recorded assists on 11 of the Flashes' 12 baskets.
Junior Mya Babbitt is the third leading scorer in the MAC at 16.8 points per game and is the only player in the league with three performances of at least 28 points. Babbitt is fourth in the conference with 53 three-point field goals. Juniors Riley Rismiller (8.6 ppg) and Tatiana Thomas (7.0 ppg) provide low post options. Rismiller has three double-doubles and Thomas is grabbing 5.4 boards per conference contest. Senior Dionna Gray (6.2Â ppg) is third in the MAC in assists with 5.8 per game.
Scouting Northern Illinois
The Huskies (5-20, 2-11 MAC) are back on the road following three straight home contests. With just one player on the roster listed as taller than six-feet, Northern Illinois is last in the conference in rebounding (31.4 rpg).
Transfers Nevaeh Wingate (St. John's) and Nadechka Laccen (St. Bonaventure) are double-digit scorers. Wingate leads the way with averages of 12.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Laccen adds 10.3 points per contest. Emilie Sorensen (9.7 ppg) has made a team-high 44 three-pointers and is the only player to start all 25 games.
Series History
• Kent State is 31-19 all-time vs. Northern Illinois.
• The Golden Flashes have won 11 of the last 13 matchups.
• Kent State is 17-4 against the Huskies inside of the M.A.C. Center.
• The Flashes have won five straight home games in the series with a 18.2-point average margin of victory.
• Kent State is 11-6 against NIU under head coach Todd Starkey.
Broadcast Info
Dane Richardson and Jacki Windon will call the action on ESPN+, Cam Manna will be on the call on the Kent State Radio Network.Â
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will play the next two games on the road, beginning Saturday, Feb. 21 against rival Akron.
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