Action Continues as Women's Basketball Hosts UMass on Tuesday

GAME NOTES
AUDIO
VIDEO
LIVE STATS

THE GAME
Kent State (3-6) heads back to the court after a week off to take on UMass (2-7) at home Tuesday night (Dec. 17). Tipoff is slated for 7:00pm.

The game marks the third straight at home. Last time out, Kent State lost a last-second heartbreaker 55-56 on a buzzer-beater by Georgia State. In that game, the Golden Flashes jumped out to a 10-0 lead to begin the contest. That ten-point margin would be the biggest for either time throughout. Ashley Evans made two free throws to take a one point lead and give the Panthers the ball with three seconds on the clock. Georgia State was able to rush down the court and put up a shot that bounced around the rim and sunk for the game-winner. Evans and CiCi Shannon each had 12 points in the game with Evans also having five assists and Shannon four blocks. Cheylene Harper contributed with 11 points off the bench. Evans has the led the team in scoring the past three games by averaginig 11.7.

Prior to the Grogia State game, the Golden Flashes won two in a row for the first time since January of the 2011-12 season. With three wins already in their keeping, they have already matched last year's win total. Their most recent victory, a 69-46 domination of Niagara, was the team's largest win-margin since December 1, 2010.

Kent State has played well on home court. They are keeping those games close, being outscored by an average of just two points, whereas they are being outscored by 21 away from the M.A.C.C.

Kent State began the season last year with a trip to Amherst, Mass., where they fell 53-85. Prior to that, the teams split their other two meetings with UMass taking a victory in 1997 and KSU winning in 1996.

The Minutewomen's two wins this year have come against Rutgers and Hartford. They opened their season with losses at home against fellow Mid-American Conference members Western Michigan and Central Michigan. UMass is led by Kim Pierre-Louis and Emily Mital, both who are averaging just more than ten points a game.

LIVE STATS
Live stats will be available at sidearmstats.com/kent/wbball.

TV/RADIO
Dave Wilson will have the call on Golden Flashes Radio on iHeart Radio and 640AM WHLO.

UP NEXT
Kent State will close out the non-conference season as they host St. Bonaventure at 7:00pm on Friday night (Dec. 20).

THE MATCHUP: UMASS
• Kent State is 1-2 all-time against UMass.
• Last season, the Golden Flashes began their season with a 53-85 loss in Amherst.
• Prior to that, the Minutewomen took a victory in 1997 while the Flashes took the first-ever meeting in 1996.

IN A FLASH
• The Golden Flashes secured two wins faster this season than in the last two years.
• Last year, their second win came on January 2; their first came on December 6.
• They also have won back-to-back games for the first time since January of the 2011-2012 season.
• Kent State's 23-point win over Niagara was the team's largest win margin since Decmeber 1, 2010.

KEYS TO VICTORY
• Rebounding, free-throws and turnovers seem to be the keys to Kent State's victories this year.
• In the three wins, they are averaging 18.3 made free-throws per game, 44 rebounds per game and 16 turnovers with a +1.7 turnover margin.
• Compare that to 13.5 made free-throws per game, 31.8 rebounds per game and 20.5 turnovers per game with a -2.5 margin in the team's six losses.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
• Two-thirds of the Golden Flashes' wins have come at home the past two seasons.
• Opponents are out-scoring them by just two points at home while Kent State is being outscored by 21 points on average away from the M.A.C. Center

STEPPING UP
• Mikell Chinn has stepped up as a starter in the point-guard position, especially on the defensive end.
• She leads the team with 21 assists and 19 steals.
• Chinn has excelled at the line, making 20 of her 22 free-throw attempts this year.

Kent State University Athletics

Action Continues as Women's Basketball Hosts UMass on Tuesday

Related Videos

Footer