The Kent State Golden Flashes women's basketball team will host the Central Michigan Chippewas on Saturday at the M.A.C. Center for Alumnae Day. The game starts at 1 p.m., with the 2025 Varsity K Hall of Fame class, including Larissa Lurken, recognized at halftime. Kent State aims to rebound from a recent loss while facing a strong Central Michigan squad.
Kent State University’s women’s basketball team returns to the M.A.C. Center on Saturday to face Central Michigan in a Mid-American Conference matchup designated as Alumnae Day. The Golden Flashes, holding a 13-14 overall record and 7-8 in the MAC, seek to recover from a 66-56 defeat at UMass on Wednesday. In that game, they won the turnover battle by six but managed only 25.8% shooting from the floor. Mya Babbitt led with 11 points, while Emory Klatt contributed nine points and a season-high 14 rebounds for Kent State.
Junior Mya Babbitt stands as the third-leading scorer in the MAC at 16.5 points per game and is the conference’s only player with three games of at least 28 points. She ranks fourth in the league with 57 three-point field goals made. Supporting her are junior Riley Rismiller averaging 8.7 points, senior Tatiana Thomas at 7.4 points, sophomore Emory Klatt with 6.4 points, and senior Dionna Gray, who averages 5.8 points and 5.1 assists per game—fourth in the MAC and 35th nationally in assists.
Central Michigan enters with a 17-10 overall mark and 11-3 in the MAC after a 68-64 victory over Toledo on Wednesday. This will be their final road game of the regular season. The Chippewas boast a national ninth-ranked rebounding margin of plus-10.2. Guard Madi Morson leads the MAC in scoring at 19.4 points per game, placing her 21st nationally. Forward Ayanna-Sarai Darrington averages 14.7 points and 7.1 rebounds, ranking eighth in the conference for both, and shoots a league-best 58.2% from the field. Guard Taylor Anderson contributes 5.7 points and ranks third in the MAC with 9.4 rebounds per game.
Historically, Kent State leads the all-time series 36-33 against Central Michigan. The Golden Flashes’ current five-game winning streak against the Chippewas ended with a 66-57 loss on January 7 in Mount Pleasant. At home, Kent State holds a 21-12 edge, with this marking their first hosting of Central Michigan since February 8, 2023. Under head coach Todd Starkey, Kent State is 5-6 versus the Chippewas.
The game will air on ESPN+ with Dane Richardson and Jana Ashley on commentary, and Cam Manna on the Kent State Radio Network. Following this contest, Kent State travels to face first-place Miami on March 4 to close the regular season.
