Monday evening marks the return of the Kent State women’s basketball team, as the Flashes prepare to open the season at home against James Madison. 

The Flashes are coming off a strong season, where the team finished third in the Mid-American Conference regular season standings, and ran the table to win the MAC Championship in the tournament. Despite the impressive season, coach Todd Starkey was reluctant to make comparisons to the current team.  

“I think it’s natural to try and draw comparisons to last year,” Starkey said. “We won the MAC tournament and people are going to want to compare us to that, but I think it does this team a disservice in the trajectory they need to take for where they want to be at the end of the season.” 

The team lost multiple major pieces in the offseason, headlined by the loss of guard Katie Shumate, one of the most distinguished players in Kent State’s athletic history. 

Her college career includes four All-MAC selections, an All-MAC First Team selection and a MAC tournament MVP to cap off her senior year at Kent State. 

Starkey is hopeful senior guard Jenna Batsch, who made All-MAC first team in the preseason, can fill the void Shumate left behind. 

“From what I’m seeing, she has progressed well into that lead guard role for us and has a lot of confidence right now,” Starkey said.

Fresh off a MAC Championship, a big question mark going into the season is how that will affect the Flashes’ mindsets and expectations for themselves. Starkey is confident the title won’t get to his player’s heads, but will also give them a level of experience that will carry over into the season. 

“I don’t think we have an issue at all with overconfidence, our players know who they are and know how hard it is [to win,]” Starkey said. “The balance you have to have is, what can you use from the good; bring it forward, learn from the bad and then use that as we’re moving into the season.”

The new season, of course, raises questions regarding returning players’ new roles and the roles of younger, less established players. Some of those players expected to step up into a bigger role for the Flashes are sophomore guard Mya Babbitt, who averaged 2.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.3 assists last year and junior guard Kaley Perkins, who averaged 1.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.0 assists last season.

Although the team has yet to play together, Starkey said the team has “really good chemistry.” 

“Our young players are starting to do some things and really prove themselves, and our veteran players see that and know that some of them are going to be able to help us this season as they continue to progress,” he said. “As far as them meshing together, especially off the court, they’re great with each other.” 

Another player expected to take a huge leap this year is Batsch, who is primed to fill a leadership role for the team. 

“That’s just something I realized it was needed and was something I was going to have to do whether I liked it or not,” Batsch said. “Fortunately, we also have Dionna [Gray], Bridget [Dunn] and Corynne [Hauser] who have been really good leaders, so I don’t have to do it alone.” 

In an age of college sports where NIL and the transfer portal runs rampant, Batsch said there was never any doubt in her mind about returning for her senior season. 

“My parents have always taught me growing up that there’s a certain level of loyalty you show, especially to the school and coaches that gave you your first opportunity to play at a Division-I school and live out your dream,” Batsch said. 

Batsch was a major performer for the Flashes last season with averages of 13.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Batsch finished as a top-10 scorer in the MAC last year, and was also awarded with a Third Team All-MAC selection for her performance last year. Despite the impressive season from her, she was all about improving going into the offseason. 

“I’m a three-level scorer, so I worked on three-point shooting, mid-range and finishing,” Bastch said. “This year, a step I need to take is rebounding, which is something that’s effort-based and something I’m going to have to want to do.” 

Both Starkey and Batsch have one main goal in mind for the team this year, and that’s to once again hoist a MAC Championship trophy. 

“That’s our goal every year,” Starkey said. “If you don’t feel like you have a chance to compete for a championship at the beginning of every season, you probably haven’t done your job in recruiting and you probably don’t have the right mindset.” 

John Engoglia is a reporter, contact him at [email protected].