Schedule changes continue for Kent State women's basketball team
If you have a Kent State women’s basketball schedule that was printed before the 2021-22 season began, wad it up and toss it in the nearest trash can or recycle bin.
Golden Flashes games continue to be postponed and rescheduled due to COVID-19 issues that teams across the Mid-American Conference are experiencing. The Flashes themselves were forced to pause in the middle of last month after several players tested positive.
Men’s game not completed at press time
Friday night’s Kent State men’s basketball game against Akron at the M.A.C. Center was not complete at press time. Please see recored-courier.com for the game story.
The MAC announced on Thursday that the Flashes will visit Buffalo on Monday at 5 p.m. That game was originally scheduled for Jan. 8, but was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols involving the Bulls.
Postponed games that were originally scheduled for earlier this month against Miami and Bowling Green have also been rescheduled. The Flashes will host the RedHawks on Feb. 7 and the Falcons on Feb. 21.
On Saturday, the Flashes (9-5, 1-4 MAC) will host Eastern Michigan (4-6, 1-2) in one of the rare early MAC season contests that was actually on the original 2021-22 slate. Both teams will enter this 1 p.m. clash in desperate need of a victory.
Kent State went 8-1 during the non-conference season, with wins over 19th-ranked UCLA and fellow Power Five Penn State. Then COVID-19 struck, and the Flashes have struggled to regain their early season form. They have not shot 40% from the field in a MAC game this year, and only eclipsed 40% from 3 once. Only two players are shooting above 36 percent in conference play, and only two are shooting above 27 percent from 3 against league foes.
Kent State is currently last in the MAC in scoring at 58 points per game, last in field-goal percentage (34.3%) and 11th in 3-point shooting (27.5%) during league play.
The Flashes have played their last four games without senior forward Lindsey Thall, the team’s leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, who is still recovering physically from a bout with COVID-19. Thall is questionable for Saturday's contest.
Kent State has won seven of the last eight meetings with the Eagles, who are 0-3 on the road this season and are coming off a 10-point home loss to Ball State. The Flashes defeated the Cardinals 54-51 in Muncie on Jan. 9.
Eastern Michigan features one of the MAC’s top guards in senior Areanna Combs, an Oklahoma State transfer and third-year starter for the Eagles who has scored 1,201 career points.
What: Women’s Basketball
Who: Eastern Michigan (4-6, 1-2) vs. Kent State (9-5, 1-4)
When/Where: Saturday, 1 p.m./M.A.C. Center
TV/Radio: ESPN3/Kent State Radio Network
2020-21 records: Eastern Michigan 10-10, 7-7. Kent State 11-9, 10-6
Eagles leaders: Areanna Combs, 5-10, Sr., G (17.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.7 steals. Danielle Rainey, 5-10, Sr., G (14.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 45 percent from 3). Ce’Nara Skanes, 6-0, So., F (12.5 points, 8.4 rebounds)
Flashes leaders: Lindsey Thall, 6-2, Sr., F (13.1 points, 7 rebounds). Katie Shumate, 5-11, Jr., G (13 points, 3.8 rebounds). Casey Santoro, 5-4, So., G (12.8 points, 3.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds). Nila Blackford, 6-2, Jr., F (9 points, 9.1 rebounds). Hannah Young, 5-10, Sr., G (8.1 points, 7.1 rebounds)
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Kent State will host Eastern Michigan on Saturday
