Heading down I-76 to Youngstown

KSU makes its second shortest road trip of the season Saturday when it heads to Youngstown State for a noon game. (Shortest, of course, is Akron.)

It’s the Flashes’ third and final non-conference road game. They’re 0-2, and YSU is likely to be the toughest opponent of the three.

Youngstown State is 6-1 and lost its first game of the season Tuesday at Penn State, 68-51. The Penguins, who beat KSU 68-49 in Kent last season, are 51st in the latest RealTimeRPI ratings, which are updated daily. They were picked fourth in the Horizon League after going 21-11 a year ago.

Kent State is 3-5. It also lost on the road Tuesday at Bradley, 68-60.

YSU’s top scorer is 6-1 sophomore forward Sarah Cash, who is averaging 15 points and 7.7 rebounds. She had 19 and 11 rebounds against Penn State. Cash was a walk-on last season and averaged just 3.2 points in 11 minutes per game, all off the bench.

The Penguins have held five of their seven opponents under 55 points, and they lead the Horizon League in scoring defense at 56.6 points per game. They average 62.1 points a game on offense. (YSU women’s website)

Kent State averages 67.8 points a game, its most in at least five years, and is giving up 69.5 points a game. The Flashes lead the MAC in steals per game (12.8), are third in the league in turnover margin (+1.88), and fourth in the league in three-point defense (28.4 percent) and assists (13.8).

But they’re last in the MAC in three-point shooting (23.9 percent), three-point baskets per game (3.5), rebound margin (-3.1) and blocks per game (1.4). They’re second to last in overall field goal defense (42.7 percent).

Leading scorer Jordan Korinek (17.0 points a game) ranks seventh in the league. Larissa Lurken (14.9) is ninth and Tyra James (11.1) is 18th. Korinek is tied for ninth in rebounding with a 7.3 average.

Chelsi Watson in third in the league in shooting percentage (60.5) with Korinek fifth (57.1). Naddiyah Cross is third in assists (4.5) and James and Alexa Golden are tied for third in steals (2.3).

James, Lurken and Korinek are all in the top 10 in the league in minutes played. (Full MAC statistics)

If you’re going to the game, here are directions from the YSU website.

Audio starts at 11:45 a.m. on WHLO 640 AM and Golden Flash iHeart Radio. You can get video through ESPN3 and live statistics through the YSU website. You need to subscribe to ESPN through cable or satellite to get the video.

KSU season statistics