The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Basketball Travels to Buffalo Seeking First MAC Win
January 05 | Women's Basketball
- After dropping the first MAC game of the season at Bowling Green, 84-65, the University of Akron women are seeking to chalk up win No. 1 this afternoon in Buffalo. The last time the Zips played a regular-season game at Alumni Arena they defeated the Bulls, 65-58.
- Senior forward Jamie Scott has been quietly making her presence known off the bench. She led Akron with 13 points and 10 rebounds at BGSU and has moved into a tie for third on the team in scoring at 6.2 ppg.
- This afternoon's game is one of six MAC games scheduled. In other action, Ball State is at Central Michigan, Bowling Green at Ohio, Eastern Michigan at Kent State, Marshall at Northern Illinois and Toledo at Miami.
- The winner of this afternoon's game will take the lead in the
all-time series as the two teams are knotted at four games apiece.
Buffalo has won two of the last three and holds a 3-2 advantage
since the two teams began meeting in conference play in 1998-99.
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About Buffalo
Buffalo got off to a quick start in MAC play with a 68-56 win over East Division foe Miami in Oxford, Ohio. Guard Sonia Ortega led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds, along with 19 points from Mari McClure and 10 from preseason All-MAC pick Tiffany Bell. The win bumped the Bulls to 10-2 overall, 1-0 in conference play.
As with last season the Bulls continue to be led by 2000 Kodak Honorable Mention All-American Bell. She currently sits second in the conference with 17.2 ppg and fifth in rebounds with 7.8 boards per contest. She is also among the top 15 in the MAC in field goal percentage (6th-.497), free throw percentage (12th-.762) and blocked shots (3rd-1.25).
A 2000 All-MAC Honorable Mention pick, Ortega is scoring well above her 5.9 ppg career average, sitting third on the team with 9.3 points per outing. She has also improved her performance on the boards with an average of 6.7 per game.
Senior guard McClure opened the 2000-01 season with a bang, posting a career-high 35 points in a 95-89 upset win over North Carolina at home. She has been the game-high scorer for the Bulls four times this season and is second in scoring with 15.8 ppg.
Head coach Cheryl Dozier is in her third season at the helm of the Buffalo program and boasts a record of 43-25 entering this afternoon's game. She is assisted by Deborah Perry, Kevin Eckert and Cheri Euler.
Last season...
These two teams met up three times in 1999-00 with Buffalo winning two of the three contests. The teams first met up in Akron on Jan. 22 as the Bulls came away with a 70-58 win. Cheryl Bowles posted a game-high 23 points but it was not enough as Buffalo had four players in double figures, including 18 from Kim Kilpela.
The second meeting saw Akron erase a 34-30 halftime deficit to come away with a 65-58 win at Alumni Arena. Erica Glover scored 23 points and Bowles added 21 for Akron's first-ever win at Buffalo.
Game three was the first round of the MAC Tournament as the Bulls hosted Akron and came away with a 72-55 win. The Zips were down by just two, 28-26, at the break, but a 15-point second half advantage by Buffalo sealed the win. Bowles contributed 20 and guard Angela Tylec had a then-career-high 12 points.
Last Time Out...
Despite a promising start and just a six-point deficit at the half, the University of Akron women's basketball team dropped its MAC season-opener on the road at Bowling Green, 84-65. The Zips fell to 2-10, 0-1 in the MAC while the Falcons improved to 5-7, 1-0 in conference play.
"I think we looked better in this game overall, particularly in the end, but we just don't have the scoring power to match up with a shooting team like this one," said Akron head coach Roxanne Allen. "But this is a game that we can build upon."
Both teams took awhile to warm up as there were just two baskets in the first 4:43 of the game, giving Bowling Green a 3-2 lead. Soon after that the Zip offense would kick into gear as guard Julie McDivitt hit the first three-pointer of her career to put Akron up 8-3 with 14:18 left in the first half. McDivitt would finish the game with a career-best 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor.
The Falcons would take a slim 14-13 lead, but a 6-0 run by the Zips put them up 19-14 with 10:17 to play. McDivitt picked up four of the six points during the span.
Bowling Green would take the lead for good at the 6:38 mark in the first half when a three pointer by Francine Miller put BG up, 24-23. The Falcons would hit six of 13 three-point attempts in the half and finished the game 12-of-30 from the three-point arc. Kim Griech was four of eight on three-point tries and finished with a game-high 18 points.
"They have a really nice team chemistry and are a talented group," Allen said.
Akron was also hampered by foul trouble in the first half as the Zips committed 12 team fouls, sending Bowling Green to the line 18 times, of which they made 14 shots. The Falcons went in at the half with a 40-34 advantage.
After a promising start offensively in the first half, the Zips could not keep up with the outside shots of Bowling Green as the Falcons continued to extend their lead in the second half, up by as much as 24 points, 80-56, with under three minutes to play. A 7-4 run by Akron made the final score 84-65.
The Zips were led by Jamie Scott who finished the game with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Sierra Cooper added 11 after a 9-10 performance at the free throw line, along with 10 points from Cheryl Bowles who was battling the flu and did not start. Sandy Martin contributed eight rebounds to the effort.
All-Tournament Teams
Akron has played in two tournaments this season and two different Zips have been honored with all-tournament selections. At the Carrier Classic, Bowles garnered all-tournament honors, averaging 9.5 ppg and 7.5 rebounds per game. She picked up her second trophy at the Hawai'i Invitational and was joined by sophomore Sandy Martin who averaged 14.0 ppg and 10.5 rpg in the tournament.
Tournament Travels
The Zips participated in two regular-season tournaments this year, beginning with the Carrier Classic at Syracuse. The Zips finished 0-2 at the Classic with senior center Cheryl Bowles being named to the All-Tournament Team. Akron then travelled more than 4,000 miles to face in-state foe, Wright State, on Dec. 8, defeating the Raiders, 71-63. The Zips lost to host Hawai'i in the championship game, 67-54, finishing 1-3 in tournament games for the season.
The Zips played in two tournaments last year, the Patriot Thanksgiving Classic (George Mason) and the State Farm Classic (Louisiana Tech). Akron went 1-3 in those tournament games, the lone victory a 74-58 win over Southeast Louisiana.
Double-Digit Dandy
Former Akron volleyball standout Julie McDivitt posted a career game on Wednesday at Bowling Green, finishing with a career-best 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including two of three attempts from the three-point arc. McDivitt joined the squad for the game against Cleveland State on Dec. 5 and has slowly been working her way back into basketball form.
An outstanding athlete, McDivitt holds the Mid-American Conference record for career digs with 1,814 and is the first player in MAC history to record more than 1,000 digs, kills and assists in a career. At Windham High School, McDivitt was an All-Ohio First Team selection in basketball, as well as an All-America Honorable Mention pick.
Injury Rebounds...
Akron welcomes two Jamie's back into the fold as senior guard Jamie Krivak and senior forward Jamie Scott return to action in 2000-01. Both missed the 1999-2000 season with injuries. Krivak started seven games and was second on the team in scoring before going down for the season with an ACL injury against Marist in December 1999. In 12 starts this season she is second on the squad in scoring at 8.1 ppg.
Scott has been a pleasant surprise returnee after not having played a game since a season-ending knee injury on Feb. 6, 1999 at Miami. Scott is recapturing the form that made her a dominating force underneath the basket. She led the Zips against Ohio State with 12 points and nine rebounds and again at Bowling Green with 13 points and 10 boards. She has played in all 12 games, starting four.
With the parade of injuries that defined 1999-2000, Akron also has junior guard Hollie Stephenson available for the first time in over a year. A sharp shooter, Stephenson has started seven of 12 contests and is tied with Krivak for the team lead in treys with eight.
After missing the beginning of the season with two separate injuries, senior forward Amanda Croston is back on the court practicing and could see her first game action of the season this afternoon. Junior Sierra Cooper is back in the lineup after missing two games with a deep thigh bruise. She had 11 points in her first game back at BGSU, including a 9-10 performance at the free throw line.
... and Injury Losses
Although the Zips return several players who spent last season on the injured reserve, there are new casualties for 2000-01. Senior guard Katie Hank suffered an injury to her kneecap against South Carolina and is out for a couple of weeks. Sophomore guard Angela Tylec pulled her hamstring but could see action this afternoon. Junior forward Felecia Bell has decided to have surgery to repair an ACL and is out for the season.
TO Troubles
If there is one area on the court where the Zips have struggled this season it is in ball handling. With the graduation of All-MAC performers Abby Hoy and Erica Glover in the back court, the Zips have struggled to find a replacement bringing the ball up the court and have used several different combinations, including Jamie Krivak, Katie Hank, Katrina Carter and even Cheryl Bowles, in the role. With freshman Carter still learning the college game and no other true points on the roster, Akron is averaging 26.0 turnovers a game and just 11.9 assists per game.
Preseason Predictions
Coming off an 11-17 campaign in 1999-2000, many have high hopes for this year's young Zip squad with the Mid-American Conference News Media Association picking Akron to finish third in the East Division. Kent State is picked to repeat as division champs, receiving 254 points and 33 of 37 first-place votes. Miami was second with 178 points and two first-place votes, followed by the Zips with 166 points and two first-place votes. Akron also received one vote to win the MAC Tournament.
In the West, defending champion Western Michigan is also favored to repeat with 202 points and 21 first-place votes. Right on its heels is Eastern Michigan with 163 points and 12 first-place votes. Rounding out the top three is Ball State with 144 points.
Bowles Preseason All-MAC
For the second season in a row, senior center Cheryl Bowles (Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill) was named to the Mid-American Conference's five-woman preseason All-MAC team. Last year Bowles lived up to the billing by becoming Akron's first-ever First-Team All-MAC selection. In 1999-2000 she led the team in scoring (17.8 ppg), rebounding (8.4 rpg), field goal percentage (194-351, .553) and blocked shots (28). As a sophomore she was a second-team All-MAC pick and was named to the All-Freshman squad in her first season.
All-America Honors
In addition to being the first Zip to earn first-team all-conference honors, Cheryl Bowles went one step further by becoming Akron's first All-America honoree, earning Kodak All-America Honorable Mention notice. She was one of four MAC players to earn the honor.
Zips Excel in the Classroom
Akron was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Academic Top-25 for the 1999-2000 season. The Zips came in at No. 16 with a team GPA of 3.267. Only two other MAC schools were among the top 25 with Toledo at No. 3 and Kent State in 18th.
Across the board the Zips have always taken pride in their academic performance. Senior Cheryl Bowles graduated in three years and is now spending her fourth year as a graduate student. Nine women posted a 3.0 or better for the Spring 2000 semester and Felecia Bell, Bowles, Sierra Cooper, Amanda Croston, Erica Glover, Katie Hank, and Kimberly Larson earned Academic All-MAC honors.
Freshman Faces
The Zips have received steady contributions from the two freshman on the 2000-01 squad, Katrina Carter and Kristy Booms. A guard, Carter has started six contests and has played in all 12. She is averaging 20.8 minutes a contest and is contributing 2.9 ppg. She is second on the team with 24 assists .
Booms has appeared in nine games off the bench, offering relief in the post for starters Cheryl Bowles and Jamie Scott. In 12.2 minutes a game, Booms is averaging 1.2 rebounds, as well as 2.8 points per outing.
Roaming the Sidelines
Akron also welcomes a new coach to the floor. Marla Cleveland begins her first season at Akron after two seasons as an assistant at Ashland University. Prior to that she spent three seasons as an assistant at her alma mater, Illinois State. From 1986-88 she was head coach of NCAA Division III Illinois Wesleyan University. She replaces Deana Bahhur who returned to her alma mater, John Carroll.
A New Crop
Head coach Roxanne Allen inked three players for the 2001-02 season during the early signing period in November.
At guard, Lindsay Hemmelgarn is a 5-8 1-2 guard from Versailles High school in New Weston, Ohio. As a junior she averaged 11 points per game, 5.3 assists per game and was an all-league selection. She is ranked No. 1 in her class and sports a perfect 4.0 GPA.
A 5-8 point guard, Celina Dopoulos of Strongsville, Ohio earned first-team All-Pioneer Conference honors her junior season, averaging 14 points, five assists and 3.5 steals per game. She is a member of the President's Honor Roll with a 4.0 GPA.
A 6-2 post player, Cydney Overton (Hamilton, Ohio) led Badin High School to a 23-5 record and Division II state runner up notice. She was an honorable mention All-Butler County pick as she led her team in rebounding with an average of six boards per game.
About Head Coach Roxanne Allen
Now entering her fourth year at the helm of the Akron women's basketball program, head coach Roxanne Allen is beginning to see the fruits of her labor. Her first recruiting class is about to embark on its senior year and still carries the memory of what is was like to record a winning season and advance to the WNIT. With a rash of unexpected and debilitating injuries during the '99-'00 season behind them, the Zips are ready to reclaim that success that tasted so sweet the season before. In 2000-01, the Zips boast a returning cast that includes All-America candidate Cheryl Bowles, and six players with 87 starts among them.
In 1998-99, UA earned the program's first-ever postseason national tournament bid by landing a spot in the WNIT. The Zips also set two school records by reaching the Mid-American Conference semifinals and for Division I victories with 16. Hoping to build upon that momentum in '99-'00, the Zips saw the loss of two starters, and a host of injuries to several of the other players turn the year into a frustrating 11-17 campaign, including a mark of 7-9 in the MAC. Despite the disappointment, Allen has the program miles ahead of where it was just three seasons ago.
Last year should have been a key year for us, but we got taken out of it early with all the injury problems, Allen said. Regardless, we have the core nucleus, and with the inexperienced players getting experience last year we are going to have some stability and scoring power.
A native of Elton, La., Allen was a two-sport athlete at Northeast Louisiana University, playing volleyball and being a pioneer member of the women's basketball program from 1972-74. After two seasons at NLU, she transferred to McNeese State, where she concentrated on basketball and earned her B.S. degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation in 1976.
Allen completed her master's degree at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, in 1988, while serving as an assistant volleyball coach.
MAC Moves to Gund
The Mid-American Conference women's basketball tournament has a new home for 2001 as the women will join the men's teams in playing at Gund Arena, home of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. Last season the women played their tournament at Public Hall in downtown Cleveland. Kent State won the championship with a 71-60 win over Toledo.
Quarterfinal games will be held on March 6, with semifinal action on March 9 and the championship game set for 1 p.m. on March 10. This will mark the second year that all 13 MAC schools participate in the tournament, after just eight teams qualified from 1992-99.
Also, the Mid-American Conference has announced that Kraft is the title sponsor of the 2001 tournament. The partnership, which is a two-year deal, is a fully integrated sponsorship consisting of television and print ads, signage and sampling opportunities. Additionally, Kraft will present two $1,000 educational scholarships to students currently enrolled at a MAC institution during halftime of the women's championship game.
Bowles Joins 1,000-Point Club; Nears Scoring Mark
In 1999-00, center Cheryl Bowles became just the seventh player in school history to go over 1,000 points for her career. Bowles now occupies the No. 2 spot as she has 1,502 points in 98 games. She needs just 43 points over the remainder of her career to reach the top spot. She was joined by teammate Abby Hoy who was the eighth player to join the 1,000-point club, finishing her Zip career with 1,056 points.
Bowles is currently the leading scorer among active players in the MAC. She is 26th overall as she continues to move up the chart.
