Kent State travels to Toledo Wednesday for a game against the Rockets, team that has outperformed preseason predictions.
Toledo is 8-4 against the second-toughest schedule in MAC, according to RealTmeRPI. It has won four games in a row, including a 63-53 victory over Miami at home to open the MAC season.
Earlier in the season, the Rockets beat Virginia and Arizona. Their overall RPI is 77, second in the conference to Akron (71).
In a preseason poll, Toledo was picked to finish fourth in the MAC West.
The Rockets are led by 5-10 senior guard Inma Zanoguera, who is averaging 15.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. Next statistically are 5-10 junior forward Ana Capotosto (10.1 points, 5.0 rebounds) and 6-foot sophomore forward Janice Monakana (9.9 points, 5.8 rebounds).
Kent is led in scoring by 5-9 sophomore wing Larissa Lurken, who is averaging 12 points a game. She is also KSU’s leading three-point shooter, making 23 of the 40 three-point baskets the Flashes have made this season. But she is shooting only 34 percent from the field (31 percent from three-point distance) and only 42 percent from the foul line.
KSU’s leading rebounder is senior forward Montia Johnson, who’s averaging 7.3 per game. But she freshman Jordan Korinek has moved back into the starting line-up past Johnson, who didn’t play at all Saturday. Korinek is averaging 5.1 rebounds per game.
KSU is 2-10 after its 83-62 opening MAC loss to Central Michigan Saturday.
The game is at 7 p.m. Audio is on Golden Flash iHeart Radio. You can get video and Live Stats through the Toledo website.
Scores from the first MAC games Saturday show big road wins for Ohio and Ball State:
- Ohio (10-2) 61, Buffalo (7-5) 50, at Buffalo.
- Northern Illinois (5-6) 54, Eastern Michigan (7-5) 48, at Northern Illinois.
- Western Michigan (8-4) 67, Akron (10-2) 61, at Western Michigan.
- Ball State (5-7) 62, Bowling Green (7-5) 50, at Bowling Green.
- Toledo (7-4) 63, Miami (3-9) 53, at Toledo.
- Central Michigan (6-6) 83, Kent State (2-10) 62, at Kent State
You can see detailed standings and team stats at ESPN’s MAC page.