Coming off a one point victory over Bowling Green, the Kent State Women’s Basketball team will try to remain the only undefeated team in MAC East Play with a 4-0 mark against Akron tonight at the M.A.C. Center.

The undefeated start in conference play is due in large part to Kent State’s outstanding defensive play, as well as solid numbers by senior guard Jamilah Humes.

Humes is averaging a team high of 14.4 points per game as the Flashes (13-3, 4-0 MAC) are coming together behind her senior leadership.

The 5-foot-8 senior had one of her best games last season against the Zips. Humes led the game with a 31-point performance. Her efforts helped lift the Flashes to a 67-64 win on Feb. 24, 2010.

The two teams split last year’s season series with a win apiece, but the Flashes owned the series with an all-time record of 45-6.

“Akron always plays hard against us and I think that’s because it is a rivalry,” Humes said.

The Flashes are coming off the big win over Bowling Green that has many fans still excited.

The win marked the Flashes fourth straight win to open conference play.

Akron, on the other hand, is having a lackluster of a season. The team’s only win over a conference opponent was Jan. 15, when the Zips beat Ohio, 54-45.

But Humes’s experience in coming off big games is a key factor to keep the team down to earth.

“We just got to keep things in perspective,” she said. “We know that now since we are the undefeated team in the MAC now we have a target on our back, everybody is going to try and knock us off.

“We just have to keep our focus and concentration on the defensive end.”

It’s no secret that Kent State coach Bob Lindsay always preaches defense, and against Bowling Green, the team followed his game plan closely as they held a potent Falcon offense to a season low of 43 points.

“We do know that if we can play intense defense like we did against Bowling Green, we will get them (Akron) out of their set offense,” Humes said.

Although the game may appear as just another game on the schedule, whenever Akron is in the house, the game has a bigger meaning.

“It’s going to be a tough game, it’s going to be a really good game, “ Humes said. “I think that the team that works the hardest and gets most of the loose balls wins.”

Contact Matt Lofgren at [email protected].