Story by
Kent State women vs Notre Dame in March Madness: Prediction for 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket
- Story by
- Kent State women vs Notre Dame in March Madness: Prediction for 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket
How long has it really been since the Kent State University women's basketball team played in the NCAA Tournament?
Some of the Golden Flashes couldn't tell you a word about it. They weren't even born the last time it happened.
Advertisement
The 22-year drought finally ends this week. With first team All-Mid-American Conference guard Katie Shumate leading the way, the Flashes will face Notre Dame in South Bend in the first round . The game is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. Saturday. ESPN will televise it.
Kent State is 21-10 after winning the Mid-American Conference Tournament . As the 15th-seeded Flashes prepare for their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002, here is a look at their first-round matchup with the No. 2 seed Fighting Irish .
Kent State Golden Flashes feature MAC Tournament MVP Katie Shumate
Kent State guard Katie Shumate (14) drives during the first half of the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game on Saturday.
Shumate's Kent State career will end with her first NCAA Tournament appearance. She scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Flashes past Buffalo 78-60 in Saturday's MAC Tournament championship game. The 6-foot redshirt senior guard was voted the tournament MVP. Shumate led Kent State in scoring each of the last three seasons and has 1,837 points for her career. She also ranks in the top 10 in rebounds (837) and 3-pointers (176).
Advertisement
Kent State Golden Flashes basketball's projected starting five for March Madness
Kent State's Jenna Batsch (12) shoots over Buffalo's Hattie Ogden (33) and Kristen Lewis-Williams (2) during the second half of the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game on Saturday.
No. 12 Jenna Batsch, 6-1, junior, forward:A first-year starter who was one of the MAC's most improved players. Ranks eighth in the conference in scoring with an average of 14.9 points — almost 12 points a game more than a year ago. Scored 14 points in the MAC Tournament championship game win over Buffalo.
No. 14 Katie Shumate, 6-0, redshirt senior, guard:One of two MAC players who rank in the top 10 in scoring and rebounding. Averages a team-leading 15.0 points and 7.6 rebounds. Only four-time All-MAC selection in program history.
Kent State's Bridget Dunn (15) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the second half of the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game against Buffalo.
No. 15 Bridget Dunn, 6-3, junior, forward:Recorded double-doubles in the first two games of the MAC Tournament. Her career-best average of 7.1 rebounds helped the Flashes lead the conference in rebounding margin.
Advertisement
No. 21 Dionna Gray, 5-4, sophomore, guard:Hit three third-quarter 3-pointers to help the Flashes take command of the MAC Tournament championship game against Buffalo. Finished with a season-high 14 points.
No. 30 Mikala Morris, 6-2, graduate student, center:Four-year starter at Quinnipiac before transferring to Kent State for her final season. Scored Flashes highs of 18 points against Missouri and Toledo.
Kent State's Mikala Morris (30) shoots as Buffalo's Hattie Ogden (33) defends during the first half of an NCAA college game in the championship of the Mid-American Conference tournament, Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
What to know about Notre Dame led by Naismith semifinalist Hannah Hidalgo
You often don't see many freshmen mentioned as Naismith College Player of the Year candidates. Notre Dame point guard Hannah Hidalgo is one of three of them for women's basketball this season. Hidalgo is having an incredible freshman season, averaging 23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.6 steals. She ranks third in the nation in scoring and leads the nation in steals with 147. Led by Hidalgo, the Irish (26-6) finished in a three-way tie for second in a competitive Atlantic Coast Conference that featured five ranked teams.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Hannah Hidalgo (3) dribbles in the first half Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at the Purcell Pavilion.
Kent State vs Notre Dame prediction in March Madness: Irish advance
As a 15 seed, the Flashes are playing with house money. Few people will expect them to be a serious threat to a nationally ranked ACC team playing on its home court. Inside the Kent State locker room, there will be a belief among the players they can become the second team in program history to win an NCAA Tournament game. The Flashes had a rough end to the regular season and almost didn't get out of the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament. They regrouped and won their first tournament title in 22 years. That should help fuel them against Notre Dame.
Advertisement
Score prediction
Notre Dame 75, Kent State 60: The Irish are 24-4 all-time in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, last losing in the first round in 2009 when they were a No. 7 seed. The previous 12 times they were a No. 1 or 2 seed, they won both of their games in the opening two rounds. Despite its recent run, it's hard to imagine Kent State snapping that Irish streak against a Notre Dame team with legitimate aspirations of reaching the Final Four in Cleveland. The Irish also have a good recent history in an NCAA Tournament ending in Ohio. The last time the Buckeye State hosted the Final Four, 2018, Notre Dame capped a 34-3 season under Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw by winning the national title over Mississippi State in Columbus.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Kent State vs Notre Dame prediction: March Madness, NCAA women's pick
