The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Basketball Announces 2011-12 Schedule
August 25 | Women's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio – Two early-season tournaments and a total of 14 regular season home games at James A. Rhodes Arena highlight the 2011-12 University of Akron women's basketball schedule, which head coach Jodi Kest released today. For information on season tickets, please click here.
"We feel with 10 returning players that it would benefit our team to play a more competitive schedule to get us ready for our conference games," said Kest. "Playing programs from the Big East and ACC will test our team early in the season and help us grow prior to MAC play."
The Zips will face stiff competition, as they are scheduled to play at least 15 games against teams that participated in postseason play a year ago. Four of Akron's opponents played in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, while five made it to the WNIT and three competed in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI).
Fans will get their first glimpse of the team in action in a home exhibition contest against Ohio Dominican University on Nov. 5. The regular season then kicks off with the Preseason WNIT, as Akron will travel to Notre Dame for its first-round match up against the 2011 NCAA Runner-Up. The meeting will mark the first-ever game between the two schools.
The Zips are guaranteed to play two more games as part of the WNIT before returning home to face St. Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 22. The Red Flash played in the NCAA Tournament last season after winning the Northeast Conference title.
Thanksgiving will find UA heading across the country to participate in the Seattle University Tournament on Nov. 25 & 26. The Zips will play Loyola-Chicago in their first game and either Seattle or the University of San Francisco on the second day of the event.
After returning to Ohio, Akron will take on Cleveland State at the Wolstein Center on Nov. 30. The Zips defeated the Vikings, who were a No. 1 seed in the WBI last year, by a score of 73-64 last season at the JAR.
Opening a two-game homestand, St. Peter's College will visit Akron on Dec. 3, followed by NCAA Tournament participant Florida State on Dec. 10 for the second-ever meeting between the two teams. FSU claimed the first game back in 2002.
Looking for revenge, the Zips will travel to Duquesne on Dec. 14 after falling to the Dukes at home last season. A member of the Atlantic 10, Duquesne made it to the third round of the WNIT last year.
For the 16th consecutive season, Akron will face nearby Youngstown State, this time at home on Dec. 18. UA will be going for its third-straight win over YSU and is 14-36 all-time against the Penguins. The Zips then play at Robert Morris on Dec. 21, a team they took down 88-60 last season in the JAR.
After breaking for the holidays, Akron will play two more home games to wrap up the non-conference slate, first against Providence College on Dec. 28. The teams were scheduled to have their first-ever meeting last season, but the game was cancelled due to inclement weather.
For the final game of 2011, Chicago State visits the UA campus on Dec. 30. The Cougars won the Great West Tournament last year and made it all the way to the WBI semifinals.
The Mid-American Conference schedule starts off with a challenge for the Zips, as they will play six of their first nine league games on the road. The second half of the slate could provide an advantage, however, as five of Akron's final seven games will be in the friendly confines of Rhodes Arena.
"Our MAC schedule is very challenging due to playing a lot of road games early in conference play," said Kest. "However, I believe our team will accept any challenges that we face this year. With our hard work and determination, we will use the second half of the schedule to make a run for the conference championship."
The MAC season opens at home on Jan. 4 with a game against East division foe Miami (Ohio). Then Akron will hit the road for a pair of games at Bowling Green (Jan. 7) and Buffalo (Jan. 11).
The Zips welcome rival Kent State to the JAR on Jan. 14 for the first of three doubleheaders with the men's basketball team before again facing two more road contests at Ohio (Jan. 19) and Ball State (Jan. 22). With the next home action, Northern Illinois comes to Akron on Jan. 25, while the weekend wraps up at Eastern Michigan on Jan. 28.
A midweek game at WNIT champion Toledo (Feb. 1) leads into a four-game homestand for the Blue & Gold that kicks off against Central Michigan on Feb. 4, another doubleheader event. After a week off, Western Michigan (Feb. 11), Ohio (Feb. 14) and Bowling Green (Feb. 18) all visit the JAR within seven days, including another doubleheader game with men's basketball (Feb. 11) and a midweek tangle with the Bobcats on Valentine's Day.
Road dates with Miami (Ohio) (Feb. 22) and Kent State (Feb. 25) close out the regular season trips for the Zips, and a clash with Buffalo at the JAR on Feb. 28 wraps up the MAC slate.
The 2012 MAC Tournament begins with first round games at campus sites on March 3, with the remaining rounds to be held March 7-10 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Recently announced by the league office, the new format will seed the tournament by rewarding the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds with a bye into the semifinal round, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will receive a bye to the quarterfinal round. Seeding will be determined by winning percentage, regardless of division.
Season tickets for Akron women's basketball start at $25 for youth (ages 3 to 14) and $55 for adults. UA faculty and staff can purchase a season ticket for just $40. Family plans (two adults and two youth or one adult and three youth) are also available for just $99. A women's basketball season ticket can be added at a discounted rate to a men's basketball season ticket, as well.
For more information, visit www.GoZips.com/tickets, or call 1-888-99-AKRON or visit the C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (located at the southwest corner of the venue, near Gate 1, at the corner of East Exchange and South Union streets).
The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
2011-12 Home Schedule
Nov. 5 – Ohio Dominican (Exhibition)
Nov. 22 – St. Francis (Pa.)
Dec. 3 – Saint Peter's College
Dec. 10 – Florida State
Dec. 18 – Youngstown State
Dec. 28 – Providence College
Dec. 30 – Chicago State
Jan. 4 – Miami (Ohio)*
Jan. 14 – Kent State* (Doubleheader)
Jan. 25 – Northern Illinois*
Feb. 4 – Central Michigan* (Doubleheader)
Feb. 11 – Western Michigan* (Doubleheader)
Feb. 14 – Ohio*
Feb. 18 – Bowling Green*
Feb. 28 – Buffalo*
*Mid-American Conference game
