The women vie for a third straight victory

Last year’s game between Kent State and Toledo centered around the matchup in the low post. The battle between Toledo’s Karin Hoogendam and Kent State’s Andrea Csaszar helped to determined the outcome of the Flashes 69-56 victory.

Csaszar held the Rocket’s top scorer to just nine points. That same effort is going to be needed if the Flashes hope to repeat last year’s outcome in their meeting with Toledo, which is scheduled for noon tomorrow. The game will be broadcast on FSN Ohio.

The inside trio of Lindsay Shearer, Tiffany LaFleur and Mallorie Griffith will all need to play a good game because Csaszar is playing in Europe rather than using her last year of eligibility.

The three have been doing a good job of anchoring the second best defense in the Mid-American Conference. The defense has stepped up this season holding opponents to an average of 57.7 points per game — second in the MAC behind Eastern Michigan’s 55.7.

But the Rockets (12-11, 8-4 MAC) do not just center around Hoogendam, who is averaging 12.7 points per game. Sophomore forward Danielle Bishop is averaging 14.5 points per game.

The Flashes (15-8, 8-4 MAC) are going to have to play another solid game on the defensive side of the ball if they are going to keep their win streak alive. Currently, Kent State has won three games in a row including their last two games on the road.

This year’s win streak is starting to mimic that of last year. The Flashes ended last season on an eight-game win streak before losing in the MAC quarterfinals.

The offense has also been on par with the defense the last couple of games. The Flashes have scored 60 points in eight of their last nine games. Coincidentally, the Flashes have won seven of those games.

They have been led by senior guard Melissa DeGrate, who is second on the team with 15 points per game. Shearer, a junior forward, leads with 17.2 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game.

The team has also received help from the bench. La’Kia Stewart scored a season high 14 points in the Flashes victory over Buffalo.

The Kent State women’s basketball team will continue to rack up the travel miles when it faces Toledo tomorrow.

During February, the Flashes have traveled to Marshall, Akron and Buffalo. They also still have a trip to Miami slated for Feb. 26.

After the month is finally over, the Flashes will have traveled about 1,796 miles round trip. But the good news for Kent State is the team finally seems to be getting over the road woes that plagued them during the beginning of the MAC season.

Contact women’s basketball reporter Joshua Hudson at [email protected].