Katie Shumate’s 26 points were the most by a Kent State player this season and one off her career high. She made 8-of-15 shots and had four 3-point baskets. (File photo from Kent State Athletics.)
Statistically, Kent State game into its Wednesday’s game against Toledo as the best defensive team in the Mid-American Conference.
Toledo scored 87 points, 29 above Kent State’s defensive average.
Rocket guard Sophia Wiard came into the game averaging 15.3 points, fifth in the MAC. She scored 40.
That’s about all you need to know about KSU’s 87-76 loss to Toledo. The Flashes drop to a tie for third place in the MAC with Bowling Green with a 4-1 conference record. Kent is 10-5 overall.
Toledo (12-3) is tied for first with Ball State at 5-0. Those teams play Sunday at Ball State (15-2 overall).
Against Kent State, the Rockets made 50.8% of their shots — second highest only to No. 10 LSU against the Flashes this season.
“The defensive side let us down,” coach Todd Starkey said. “Toledo did a really good job of executing what they wanted and getting what they wanted.”
Wiard scored every way she wanted. She made 12-of-17 shots, 3-of-4 three-pointers and 13-of-14 free throws.
“Wiard’s obviously a great point guard,” Starkey said. “But we can’t give up 40 points to her. I was more concerned about her effortless scoring opportunities than (anything else Toledo did offensively).”
Kent State got its best offensive performance of the season from redshirt senior guard Katie Shumate. She had 26 points, one off her career high, and made four 4-pointers and 6-of-6 foul shots.
Junior forward Jenna Batsch had 17 points, 13 coming in the fourth quarter when Kent State cut a 19-point Toledo lead to nine. Batsch also blocked three shots.
Freshman forward Janae Tyler had 10 points in 14 minutes for the Flashes.
Toledo committed only five turnovers, six fewer than any other team has against KSU this season. Kent State committed only 10, but the Rockets outscored KSU off turnovers 12-2, about the final margin of the game.
NEXT: Kent State plays at Akron at 2 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+. Akron, 1-4 in the MAC and 6-9 overall, lost at Bowling Green 70-59 on Wednesday.