Golden Flashes take aim at evening conference record against East Division rival.

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The Kent State women’s basketball team welcomes East Division foe Ohio to the M.A.C. Center Saturday (Jan. 7) for its 2011-12 Mid-American Conference home opener. Opening tip is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

Fans will once again have the opportunity to participate in the always intense Basketball Bingo during the game. Tickets start at just $5. For more information contact the Kent State Athletics Ticket Office at (330) 672-2244.

The Golden Flashes (1-10, 0-1 MAC)) are looking to put an end to an eight-game losing streak and seek their second victory of the 2011-12 campaign. Kent State downed Morehead State, 65-64 on Nov. 18 courtesy of a three pointer with five seconds left by junior forward Diamon Beckford (Upper Darby, Pa.).

Saturday's game against the Bobcats will feature live stats and free live web video. The provided links will activate at the start of Saturday's game.

Saturday's contest will be aired live on both ESPN Radio 990 AM and KentStateSports.com, with Dave Wilson providing play-by-play commentary for a second straight season. Click the link above to listen live on your computer.

REMEMBERING CANDYMAN

The Kent State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will take time to remember and honor someone dear to the hearts of student-athletes, staff, administration and fans during a pregame ceremony Saturday.

Thomas F. "Candyman" Kot passed away on July 8, 2011. Supporting Kent State athletics for 60 years, Kot was a proud former foootball student-athlete for the Golden Flashes, graduating from Kent State in 1948 with a degree in education. His support of each student-athlete and team will be forever remembered. Kot's popularity and nickname came from the countless cherry gumballs that he passd out to players, staff, coaches and spectators during Kent State events. His friendly demeanor, support and dedication to Kent State earned him the Varsity "K" Person of the Year award in 2005. Kot's longtime involvement touched the lives of generations of student-athletes, supporters and community members. Kot's dedication will be memorialized by placing a commemorative name plate on his women's basketball seat.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

OHIO BOBCATS (8-7 overall, 1-0 MAC)

All-time series: Kent State leads, 48-20

Kent State Head Coach Bob Lindsay vs. Ohio: 37-9

Current Streak: W4

• The Golden Flashes and Bobcats square off for the 69th time Saturday in what has been a series dominated by Kent State. The Golden Flashes have come away with wins 37 times in 46 tries against Ohio during the Bob Lindsay era and have been victorious in the last four meetings between the programs. Kent State has won 32 of its last 37 games against Ohio -- including a span of 19 straight victories from 1996-2004.

• The M.A.C. Center has been a true home-court advantage for the Golden Flashes during their series history against the Bobcats. Ohio has managed only five victories in 32 trips to Kent. Ohio edged Kent State, 69-68 on March 1, 2008, ending a string of 15 straight losses at the M.A.C. Center and marking its first win in Kent since a 110-86 victory on Jan. 19, 1991.

• Former Tennessee All-America standout and four-year WNBA veteran Semeka Randall is in her fourth season as head coach of the Bobcats and has led Ohio to victories in the first round of the MAC Tournament in two of the last three seasons, including a 72-56 road victory at Northern Illinois last season. 

• Ohio has won two straight and opened MAC play on a positive note Wednesday (Jan. 4) with a 73-64 win over Buffalo at the Convocation Center. Freshman guard Mariah Byard scored a career-high 21 points and was one of four Bobcats to reach double digits in scoring. 

• Redshirt senior guard Tenishia Benson leads the Bobcats with 14.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game. Junior forward Porsha Harris is also averaging double figures in scoring with 10.1 points per game.

IN THE AIR TONIGHT

A Kent State victory Saturday over Ohio would:

• Improve Kent State to 256-110 all-time in MAC play. The Golden Flashes have won at least 10 conference games 18 times in 30 seasons of MAC action -- all of which have come Lindsay's tenure.

• Improve Kent State’s all-time record in the month of January to 188-118. Kent State went 6-3 in the first month of the calendar year in 2010-11. The Flashes have posted winning records in January 26 times in 36 seasons -- including 20 times in the last 22 seasons under Lindsay.

• Improve Kent State’s all-time record in games played on Jan. 7 to 4-4. The Golden Flashes have dropped their last two games played on the 11th day of the calendar year, falling at Marshall, 56-51 in 2004 and losing to Bowling Green, 77-71, in 2009. Kent State's last victory on Jan. 7 was a 79-69 victory at Bowling Green in 1995. 

FLASH BACK: JAN. 4 AT BOWLING GREEN

A late run proved to be the difference as the Kent State women's basketball team lost to division rival Bowling Green, 76-57, in its 2011-12 Mid-American Conference opener Wednesday (Jan. 4) at the Stroh Center.

The Golden Flashes trailed the Falcons by eight, 57-49, with 7:34 to play, but Bowling Green closed out the victory with a 19-8 run.

Freshman forward Melanee Stubbs (Merrillville, Ind.) came off the bench to lead Kent State with a career-high 12 points. She was joined in double figures by freshman guard Jamie Hutcheson (Ancaster, Ontario), who reached double digits for the fifth time in the last seven games with 10 points. Freshman guard Itziar Llobet (Sant Cugat de Valles, Spain) just missed out on hitting double figures for the seventh time in the last nine games, finishing with nine points. Beckford led the Flashes with six rebounds while junior guard Tamzin Barroilhet (Sainte Maxime, France) matched Llobet on the defensive end with three steals and chipped in seven points.

FLASH FORWARD

Kent State travels to Oxford, Ohio, to battle Miami next Wednesday (Jan. 11) in the first contest of a two-game MAC East road swing. Four of Kent State’s next six games will be played on the road.