The Kent State women’s basketball team opens the home schedule on Wednesday as Coppin State visits the M.A.C. Center for a 7 p.m. contest. The game will be a “Powder Blue Out” with powder blue pom-poms being distributing to the first 1,000 fans in attendance while the first 200 through the doors will also receive an exclusive Kent State rope hat.
The Golden Flashes (3-2) are No. 17 in the latest Mid-Major Top 25 and are coming off a 67-64 victory over Missouri on Saturday in Daytona Beach. Sophomore Corynne Hauser scored the go-ahead layup with 12.3 seconds remaining and redshirt senior Katie Shumate added two free throws to secure a Power-Five win for the third consecutive season and fourth win overall against such an opponent during this time. Graduate student Mikala Morris played her best game in a Flashes uniform with 18 points and nine rebounds to earn a spot on the Daytona Beach Classic All-Tournament Team with two-game averages of 15.0 points and 5,5 rebounds per game. Hauser finished with 17 points and career-high eight assists. Junior Jenna Batsch added a career-high eight rebounds.
Guard Katie Shumate leads the way with averages of 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game on the season. After scoring in double-figures just twice in her first two seasons, forward Jenna Batsch has already done so in three games and is averaging 10.6 points per game. Center Mikala Morris adds 10.4 points per game and provides a true low post scoring option for the first time in several seasons. Guard Corynne Hauser (9.8 ppg) and forwards Janae Tyler (8.3 ppg) and Bridget Dunn (6.0 ppg) have also posted double-digit scoring performances.
Scouting Coppin State
The Eagles (3-4) followed the first win against a Power-Five opponent in program history by shooting a season-low 26.4% from the field in a 70-38 loss to unbeaten George Mason on Sunday. Coppin State, which defeated Pitt last Tuesday, commits the sixth fewest fouls per game in the country and only puts opponents at the free throw line for 12.1 attempts per contest.
Guard Faith Blackstone, the 2023 NJCAA National Player of the Year, ranks second in the MEAC in scoring at 14.9 points per game. Forward Laila Lawrence is second in the conference in rebounding (8.9 rpg) and fourth in scoring (14.6 ppg). Guard Mossi Staples, an All-MEAC Second Team performer last season, is averaging 6.7 points per game and has a team-high 15 assists.
Series History
• Kent State is 2-0 all-time against Coppin State.
• The Golden Flashes won the first matchup, 88-29, on Dec. 28, 1996.
• The 59-point margin of victory is the largest against a Division I opponent in program history.
• Kent State defeated the Eagles last season, 72-69, in overtime at the M.A.C. Center.
Broadcast Info
Dan Griffin and Normandie Berl will call the action on ESPN+, while Dane Richardson have the call on the Kent State Radio Network.
Next Up for Kent State
The Golden Flashes will play two straight on the road, beginning Sunday at No. 15 Florida State.
Min-Plan Ticket Packages
Mini-plan options are on-sale now at KSUTix.com for as low as $24 per seat.
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