The Flashes in the huddle. (File photo from KSU website.)
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The game
Western Michigan (2-5 MAC, 8-10 overall) at Kent State (4-4, 11-8), 7 p.m. Wednesday at the M.A.C. Center.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: With a win, Flashes can finish the first half of the conference season at 5-4. A loss would be their second to one of the weakest three teams in the league.
About Western Michigan
IN THE MAC: 10th of 12 teams, ahead only of Ball State (2-6) and Bowling Green (0-8). Have beaten only those two teams by a total of five points. Lost by two points to Buffalo (6-2, 14-5) at home.
RPI: 283 of 351 teams. Schedule strength: 307. Road record: 4-2. Best team Broncos have beaten is 6-13 Ball State.
LAST GAME: Lost to Miami 82-61 Saturday.
KEY TEAM STATS:
- Averages 61.8 points a game, last in MAC. Gives up 64.4 (sixth). Field goal percentage 38.2 (10th). Field goal defense 40.2 (eighth).
- Three-point percentage: 28.8 (10th). Three-point baskets per game: 7.4 (sixth). Three-point defense: 28.1 (second).
- Rebounding margin: Minus 8.7 (last).
- Turnover margin: Plus 2.61 (fourth). Commits just 13.1 turnovers a game, first in MAC and fourth in NCAA.
KEY PLAYERS
- 5-foot-7 senior point guard Deja Wimby (13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 3.0 steals, second in MAC and 16th in country).
- 5-10 redshirt senior forward Jasmyn Walker (10.3 points, 7.1 rebounds).
- 6-foot sophomore forward Leighah-Amori Wool (10.4 points, 7.1 rebounds).
Kent State
IN THE MAC: Tied for sixth with Northern Illinois at 4-4, two-and-a-half games behind league-leader Ohio (7-2).
RPI: 75. Schedule strength: 65. Home record: 7-2.
LAST GAME: Beat Akron 73-58 in Kent on Saturday.
KEY TEAM STATS
- Averages 67.3 points a game, seven in MAC. Gives up 61.9 (third).
- Field goal percentage: 37.9 (10th). Field goal defense: 37.5 (first).
- Three-point percentage:32.7 (sixth). Three-point baskets per game: 7.3 (eighth). Three-point defense: 31.3 (seventh).
- Rebounding margin: Minus 1.2 (eighth). Turnover margin: Plus 3.63 (third)
KEY PLAYER STATS
- 5-7 redshirt junior guard Megan Carter: 16.4 points, seventh in MAC. 39.0 field goal percentage (12th). 34.2 three-point percentage. 75 percent free-throw percentage (seventh). 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists (24th).
- 5-4 freshman point guard Asiah Dingle: 13.2 points (19th). 37.9 field goal percentage. 14.7 three-point percentage. 78.9 free-throw percentage (fifth). 2.4 assists (25th). 2.2 steals (eighth).
- 6-2 freshman forward Lindsay Thall: 9.7 points. 40.3 field-goal percentage. 36.8 three-point percentage. 1.7 three-point baskets (17th). 5.2 rebounds. 1.8 blocked shots (first).
- 5-9 senior guard Alexa Golden. 7.5 points. 5.1 rebounds. 2.6 assists (22nd). 2.5 steals (third).
WHAT COACH TODD STARKEY IS SAYING: “Western Michigan better than their record. They can shoot the 3 and spread you out. They have one of the best point guards in the league in Wimby.
“If we continue to develop into a better version of ourselves and force teams to beat us by not beating ourselves, things will play out the way they’re supposed to.”
(Quoted by Allen Moff in the Record-Courier)
THE BOTTOM LINE: It’s a game Kent State ought to win. But the Flashes should have beaten Ball State 10 days ago, too. Game is likely to be in the 60s. If KSU can score its average of 67, it should be in good shape.
To follow the game
The game starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the M.A.C. Center. Reserved-seat tickets are $10, general admission $5. KSU students get in free with ID.
Audio starts at about 6:45 p.m. on Golden Flash iHeart Radio. Jacob Pavilack is the announcer.
Video is through ESPN Plus, which costs $4.99 a month. The service covers about 50 percent of KSU men’s and women’s basketball games (the rest are broadcast elsewhere). It includes access to many other MAC games and those of other mid-major conferences, along with feature content. You can watch it through your cable or satellite company or the ESPN app. Here’s a link to the ESPN broadcast, which will guide you through a purchase. David Wilson is the play-by-play announcer.
Live statistics are available through the KSU website.
Links
Preview from Kent State women’s website, including links to statistics, roster and more.
Detailed media game notes for Kent State.
Preview from Western Michigan website, including links.
Media notes for Western Michigan.