The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Basketball returns home to host Northern Illinois on Wednesday
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Northern Illinois (8-14, 4-8) at Akron (15-8, 9-3)
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 • 7:00 p.m. ET
Akron, Ohio
James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500)
Television: None.
Webcast/Live Statistics: Available at GoZips.com -- webcast and live statistics free of charge. Video stream will include play-by-play and commentary from Bill Morgan.
Radio: None.
Akron Coach Jodi Kest (Slippery Rock, 1984): Kest is in her eighth season at Akron, posting a 112-128 (.467) mark. She is 338-281 (.546) in 21+ seasons as a collegiate head coach. Kest guided Akron to its best season in program history in 2012-13, including the Zips' first trip to the MAC championship game and their second ever appearance in the WNIT.
The Series: Akron trails the all-time series against Northern Illinois, 9-18. The Zips defeated the Huskies two weeks ago at the Convocation Center, 71-67, after completing a five-point play with 18 seconds remaining in the game.
A Win Would:
• Set a new record for Akron's longest winning streak in program history at nine games
• Give Akron a 7-1 overall record against MAC West opponents this season
• Tie the school record for most wins at home in a season (11)
Akron Concludes MAC West Slate
The Zips return home to face their final West Division opponent of the regular season when they host Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
News, Notes and Storylines
• Akron extended its winning streak to eight games, tying the longest in program history, with a 87-64 victory on the road at Ball State Saturday.
• Five Zips scored in double figures for the third time this season, led by Hanna Luburgh with a game-high 22 points.
• Kacie Cassell recorded her first double-double of the year, posting 13 points on three 3-pointers and dishing out 11 assists. The senior also limited herself to just two turnovers in 34 minutes on the court.
• Rachel Tecca put up 13 points as well to go with 12 rebounds. Tecca has five double-doubles over the course of Akron's current eight-game winning streak.
• The senior forward is the eighth all-time leading scorer and seventh all-time leading rebounder in MAC history, and is just the second player in the league ever to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career (Caroline Mast, Ohio, 1983-86).
• Tecca now has 2,125 points and 1,026 rebounds, and is 73 points away from breaking UA's single-season scoring record that she set last season (609 points).
• UA has seen an increased offensive production from its bench of late. Led by Carly Young and Anita Brown, the Zips' bench players have averaged a combined 20.9 points per game over the course of its current eight-game winning streak.
• The Zips have played well at home this sea- son, posting a 10-1 record at the JAR including a perfect 5-0 in non-conference play. Akron has won 21 of its last 25 games on its home floor.
• As a team, the Zips rank in the top-25 nationally in five categories (out of 343 Division I teams):
o Scoring Offense: 13th (82.8 ppg)
o Field-Goal Percentage: 22nd (45.1%)
o Free-Throw Percentage: 19th (76.0%)
o Assists Per Game: 8th (18.7 apg)
o Assist to Turnover Ratio: 20th (1.25)
• UA has not given up late second half leads this season. The Zips are 15-0 this year when they lead with five minutes or less remaining.
A Look at Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois dropped back-to-back games to Ball State (63-50) and Buffalo (66-57) in the two weeks since the Zips traveled to DeKalb. The Huskies are just 2-9 overall away from home this season, but they are holding conference opponents to an average of 60.7 points per game in league play.
Amanda Corral (13.4 ppg), Natecia Augusta (10.1 ppg) and Danny Pulliam (9.8 ppg) are NIU's top three scoring threats. Jenna Thorp hurt the Zips in the last meeting with a double double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Last Time Against Northern Illinois
Trailing by three with 28 seconds to play and no timeouts, Akron pulled off an unthinkable 5-point play to regain the lead and take down Northern Illinois, 71-67, on the road on Feb. 5.
With both teams in the double-bonus, NIU hit two free throws to take a 67-64 lead with 28 seconds left in the game. Hanna Luburgh drained a triple just as Carly Young drew a foul off the ball to earn a trip to the free throw line. The 3-pointer counted, and Young put in her two shots to give the Zips five points in one possession, a two-point lead and 18 seconds to go.
Rachel Tecca came up with a steal on the other end and was fouled, sinking her free throws as well, to give Akron a four-point advantage it was able to hold on to for the final eight seconds of the contest.
Akron at Ball State Recap
Akron held down the defensive end from the opening tip and five Zips scored in double figures to defeat Ball State on the road, 87-64, Saturday afternoon.
Kacie Cassell recorded her first double-double of the season, posting 13 points on three 3-pointers and dishing out 11 assists. The senior also limited herself to two turnovers in 34 minutes on the court.
Rachel Tecca joined Cassell with a double-double of her own, matching the point guard's 13 points and pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds.
Hanna Luburgh led all scorers with 22 points. Hannah Plybon added 15 points, connecting on 6-of-11 from the floor, and Carly Young put in 13 points off the bench, including a 3-of-3 performance from 3-point land.
Ball State was led by Brandy Woody's 17 points, and eight rebounds, and 10 points from Shelbie Justice.
The Scoop on The Streak
The Zips are riding an eight-game winning streak, the longest against MAC opponents since Akron joined the league in 1992, and it is one game away from setting a new record for the longest in program history. Here are some notes on "The Streak":
• Akron has out-scored opponents by an average of 17.6 points per game
• Three Zips put up double figures - Tecca (23.0 ppg) Luburgh (22.4 ppg) and Plybon (11.1 ppg). Tecca reels in a double-double with 12.1 rebounds.
• UA limits itself to 13.4 turnovers per contest
• Zips led at halftime in seven out of the eight games (Northern Illinois), and have not trailed at all in five out of the eight games.
Tecca Earns Academic All-District
Rachel Tecca has been named to the Capital One Academic All-District V First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). This is the third Academic All-District distinction that Tecca has received in her career, making her eligible to earn Academic All-America She was named to the Academic All-America second team as a redshirt junior in 2013, the first UA player ever to earn the award. The Tallmadge, Ohio, native carries a graduate GPA of 3.89 as she works to complete her master's degree in business administration. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing management in December of 2012.
Tecca's Career Day
Tecca's 43-point and 22-rebound outburst against Eastern Michigan on Jan. 26 broke all kinds of school and facility records. The individual output is the greatest scoring and rebounding combination by a Division I player this season, earning her NCAA Women's Basketball Player of the Week honors - the first recognition of its kind for an Akron player. Tecca's 43 points and 22 boards also broke EMU's Convocation Center records for single-game scoring and rebounding totals.
Getting to the Line
Senior Rachel Tecca earns more trips to the free throw line than any other player in the Mid-American Conference. She ranks seventh in the league in free throw percentage (152-for-190), but she has connected on more free throws than any other conference player has even attempted.
Dynamic Duo
Rachel Tecca and Hanna Luburgh are not only the top two scorers in the Mid-American Conference, but they make up the top scoring duo in the country. The two combine to score an average of 46.2 points per game, and each ranks in the top-11 in scoring nationally.
Cassell Named to Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List
Kacie Cassell has been named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List, as announced by the Basketball Hall of Fame. The award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. Candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman. The Lieberman Award winner will be announced during Final Four weekend activities.
Super Senior Class
The 2013-14 senior class marks the first full recruiting class for recruiting coordinator/Associate Head Coach Melissa Jackson at Akron, and it is a class that has torn down nearly every record that has stood in their way for the past three seasons. With 66 wins over the last three and a half seasons, the group has become the winningest class in school history.
