Kent State University
Miami
Kent State Opens MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Wednesday against Miami
3/10/2026 1:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Kent State enters the 2026 Mid-American Conference Tournament as the No. 8 seed and will battle No. 1 seed Miami on Wednesday at 11 a.m. inside of Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
The Golden Flashes (15-15, 9-9 MAC) have won 10 of their last 15 after beating Western Michigan, 67-60, in Saturday's regular season finale. Mya Babbitt had one of her most efficient scoring performances of the season and finished with 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting to go with four steals. Anna Campanelli added 11 points and is finishing her debut season strong, averaging 7.4 points over the last 15 games. Dionna Gray recorded eight assists in the victory to move into the top 10 of Kent State's single-season assists list with 150.
Junior Mya Babbitt is the fourth leading scorer in the MAC at 16.2 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 62 three-point field goals. Redshirt junior Corynne Hauser (8.6 ppg) has provided a boost since returning to action in mid-February and led the Flashes in scoring in both previous matchups with Miami. Junior Riley Rismiller (8.4 ppg), senior Tatiana Thomas (7.3 ppg) and sophomore Emory Klatt (6.2 ppg) provide low post options. Senior Dionna Gray (5.8 ppg) is fourth in the MAC and 37th in the nation in assists with 5.0 per game.
Kent State in the MAC Tournament
• Kent State is making its 38th appearance in the MAC Tournament and has a 40-32 record in tournament play.
• The Golden Flashes have advanced to the quarterfinals in Cleveland in nine of 10 seasons under head coach Todd Starkey.
• Kent State has advanced to the semifinals 21 times, recording an 13-7 record in those games (2020 game was not played after tournament was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic).
• The Flashes have won four MAC Tournament titles: 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2024.
• Kent State appeared in the championship game seven straight years from 1996-2002 and has played for the title 13 times overall.
• During that seven-year stretch, the Flashes owned an 18-4 MAC Tournament record.
MAC Tournament History vs. Miami
• Kent State and Miami will battle in the MAC Tournament for the 11th time.
• The Golden Flashes are 7-3 in previous postseason matchups, including a 68-61 victory in the quarterfinals a year ago.
• Kent State beat the RedHawks in the semifinals each of the first two years of the conference tournament being played in Cleveland with an 85-70 victory in 2001 and 74-50 victory in 2002.
Scouting Miami
The RedHawks (25-6, 16-2 MAC) are riding the momentum of the best regular season in program history and claimed a share of the conference title for the first time in 22 years. Miami is the MAC leader in scoring defense (58.7 ppg) and turnover margin (+4.9) while ranking second in blocks per game (3.7) and third in steals per game (10.9).
Forward Amber Tretter is the only player in the league who ranks in the top 10 in scoring (14.5 ppg), field goal percentage (.517), rebounding (8.1 rpg) and blocked shots (1.0 bpg). Guard Amber Scalia is the top scorer on the perimeter at 13.4 points per contest. Forward Ilse de Vries (12.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg) is the MAC leader at 1.8 blocks per game. Guard Tamar Singer (10.6 ppg) ranks fourth in the nation with 7.1 assists per game and averages a team-high 2.7 steals per game.
Series History
• Kent State is 53-51 all-time vs. Miami.
• Neither team has won more than two in a row in the series since the Golden Flashes recorded four straight victories from 2019-21.
• Head coach Todd Starkey has an 11-8 record against the RedHawks.
• Kent State is 9-2 on a neutral floor.
• The Flashes are 3-0 when the teams have met in Cleveland and have won six straight neutral site matchups overall.
• Miami's last victory on a neutral court was on Feb. 20, 1982 in Muncie, Indiana.
Broadcast Info
Dave Bacon 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
With a win, the Golden Flashes advance to the MAC Tournament semifinals on Friday, March 13 against the winner of the quarterfinal between No. 4 seed Central Michigan and No. 5 seed Ohio.
KSU Travel Network
Fans looking to save on travel while supporting the Golden Flashes this year can use the Blue and Gold Travel Network to save on flights and hotels while giving back to Kent State student-athletes by booking at BlueAndGoldTravelNetwork.com.
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