Kent State heads to Eastern Michigan Saturday to play the second of four-straight games against teams below it in the Mid-American Conference standings.
The game is at 2 p.m. and is streamed on ESPN+ and the Golden Flashes Radio Network. Statistics during and after the game will be on the EMU website.
The games give KSU a chance to climb into the top eight in the MAC, which would qualify them for the MAC Tournament in Cleveland in March. The Flashes are currently in ninth place, a game behind Northern Illinois and two behind Bowling Green and Ohio.
Kent State’s MAC record is 3-6, with all six losses coming by fewer than 10 points. Five of the losses and one win have been decided during the last minute. The Flashes are 11-7 overall after their 68-57 win over Central Michigan on Wednesday.
Kent State held Eastern Michigan to 18 points in the second half on Jan. 15 on the way to its best win of the MAC season. The Flashes shot a season-best 51.9% from the field in winning that game 83-58.
Eastern has lost seven of its last eight games and is 2-8 in the MAC (5-12 overall). The Eagles are led by senior wing Areanna Combs, who averages 18.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.8 steals per game. Forward Ce’Nara Skanes leads EMU in rebounding at 8.1 per game and averages 12.6 points. Guard Danielle Rainey is third in the conference in 3-point baskets per game (2.6) and third in 3-point percentage (.393).
Seven different players have led Kent State in scoring in games this season. Guard Katie Shumate, who equaled a season-high of 21 against CMU on Wedneday, has done it six times. She averages 12.0 per game. Point guard Casey Santoro (12.4 points a game) has led the team four times, freshman forward Bridget Dunn (9.5) has done it three times and Hannah Young (6.3) and Lindsey Thall (12.8) twice. Nila Blackford (10.4) and Clare Kelly (3.5) have led the team in scoring once each.
KSU game notes for Eastern Michigan, which has a wealth of team information and statistics.