Women’s hoops prepare for EMU

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Watch TV2 live. Follow TV2 Sports on Twitter @TV2KSUSports.

Contact Hunter Austin at [email protected].

The Kent State women’s basketball team has been constantly improving over the last four games. Thursday, they will look to put a tally in the win column at home against Eastern Michigan.

With a strong showing in a loss vs. Ball State, the Flashes (2-15, 0-4 Mid-American Conference) are still looking for the missing piece. Flashes coach Danielle O’Banion believes the team knows what needs to be executed to be successful.

“Different games we have missed different parts of the deal,” O’Banion said, “But we have really focused in on number one, limiting or decreasing our turnovers, because that ultimately decreases the number of chances we get to score baskets.”

O’Banion also believes that drawing fouls and scoring more points in the paint are important ways to get easy points.

“If you can get consistent in those phases we feel like we can be competitive against whoever we play,” she said.

Freshman Rachel Mendelsohn scored a career-high 17 points in her third career start for the Flashes. She ignited a fiery comeback in the first half versus Ball State, scoring 9 points.

“I just come in with a lot of confidence,” Mendelsohn said. “All of my coaches and teammates trust me and I feel comfortable up there handling the ball, so I’m just going to go out there and play like I know how to play.”

Eastern Michigan (3-14, 1-3 MAC) is in the middle of a three-game losing streak against conference foes. Leading scorer Miranda Tate was averaging 12.9 points per game before being dismissed from the team for violating team policy. The pressure shifts to junior forward Olivia Fouty, who is averaging 10.7 points per game.

Kent State will have an advantage on the boards over the Eagles, who are second to last in the MAC in rebounding. The Flashes are ranked sixth in the MAC in rebounding, averaging 37 total rebounds per game.

“They zone us a lot, so we are doing a lot of scout on zone,” Mendelsohn said. “I think defensive and offensive rebounding is very important to us and we are definitely focused on that most games.”

Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center.

Contact Meghan Blaha at [email protected].