The University of Akron Athletics
Akron set for cross-divisional showdown at Central Michigan
January 23 | Women's Basketball
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Akron visits Central Michigan
Akron faces a key Mid-American Conference showdown this Saturday, Jan. 24, as the Zips visit Central Michigan for a 1 p.m. tilt. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
News, Notes and Story lines
• The Zips go in search of their third-straight road victory when Akron visits Central Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 24.
• The Zips dropped a 109-83 home decision versus the Chippewas in the lone regular season meeting between the two teams last season on Jan. 9, 2014. Akron gained a measure of redemption in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Championship besting Central Michigan, 85-69, on March 14, 2014, at Quicken Loans Arena.
• The Zips have won 13 of their last 15 regular-season games away from home.
• Akron enters its tilt at Central Michigan having won 30 of its last 35 games dating back to last season.
• On the strength of a season-best 15 steals, Akron forced Ball State into an opponent season-high 22 turnovers.
• Junior Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio) has recorded five or more assists in each of the Zips' last four games. She has led Akron in assists in eight of the team's last nine games and 10 times overall.
• Akron's 10-game winning streak to begin the season represented the second-longest such streak in program history. A year ago, the Zips won 13-consecutive contests from Jan. 18 through March 5.
• Akron established a new school record for victories to open a season (8) with its 81-63 win past Bethune-Cookman. The victory helped the Zips surpass the previous mark of 7-0 set during the 1974-75 campaign.
• Central Michigan is leading the conference in blocked shots (4.2), while ranking second in rebounding margin (+3.8) and third in rebounding offense (42.8) and defensive rebounding (28.5).
• In league-only contests, the Chippewas are leading the conference in rebounding offense (46.4), rebounding margin (+9.8), blocked shots (5.0) and defensive rebounding (32.6).
• Senior Sina King (Waterford, Ohio) owns a team-leading nine double-doubles this season.
• Akron is one of two schools to have a pair of players in Sina King and junior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) ranked in the top-30 nationally in scoring. The Zips' duo joins Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell and Ameryst Alston.
• After distributing a team-high six assists against Ball State, junior Megan Barilla checks in at No. 1 nationally in assist/turnover ratio (4.00) on the strength of dishing out 4.5 per night.
• With her 17-point output at Miami, Anita Brown surpassed the 600-point plateau for her Akron career. She will enter the Central Michigan tilt having recorded 625 career points.
• Over her five-year Akron career, Sina King has registered 1,351 points and 750 rebounds to become only the fifth player in program history to notch at least 1,200 points and 700 rebounds as a Zip. She joins Rachel Tecca (2009-14), Cheryl Bowles (1997-2001), Pam Arnold (1984-88) and Casey O'Connor (1979-83) in that exclusive club.
• Sina King needs 193 points to surpass Pam Arnold for fifth place all-time at Akron in career scoring. She will enter the Central Michigan game with 1,351 points.
• Sina King is also rated fourth, fourth, sixth, sixth and ninth, respectively, in the career record book in free throws made (328), free throws attempted (416), rebounds (750), field-goal percentage (.476) and field goals made (479).
• Akron is ranked in the top-50 in eight NCAA statistical categories, including 11th in scoring offense (78.9).
• Akron is rated No. 12 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 WBB poll released on Jan. 20, the Zips are the highest-ranked team in the Mid-American Conference.
• Akron is ranked 81st in the latest NCAA RPI rankings.
• The Zips enter their game versus Central Michigan leading the Mid-American Conference in scoring offense (78.9), field-goal percentage (.463), rebounding margin (+4.0), assists (17.2), assist/turnover ratio (1.3) and defensive rebounds (28.8), while ranking second in scoring margin (+14.7).
• Three different Zips set or matched career-high marks in a 77-73 setback versus Ball State.
PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge
Akron's home game versus Kent State on Jan. 31 is the next installment in the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge. The Golden Flashes currently lead the series 4.0-1.0.
Each of the fifteen (15) sports will be worth one (1) point. For a school to be the winner of The PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge, it must accumulate at least eight (8) points.
According to legend, the "Wagon Wheel" trophy traces its beginnings to the spring of 1870 when Akron industrialist John R. Buchtel set out for the town of Kent in search of a site to establish a college. In the muddy Ohio fields, however, his wagon became bogged down in the area where Kent State University is currently located. When horses pulled the wagon, a wheel came loose and became buried until it was discovered in 1902 during the construction of a pipeline along the Western Reserve Trail.
The wheel eventually fell into the possession of Dr. Raymond Manchester, who as the Kent State Dean of Men in 1945, suggested the local historic artifact be offered as the trophy to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game. Through the 2011 game, Kent State leads the series 21–19–1 in Wagon Wheel games.
Promotions vs. Kent State
Akron's game versus Kent State on Jan. 31, is the Bring Your Daughter to Work game for the Zips. The Zips will also host a youth clinic pregame. Additionally, it is YMCA and JCC Day with both groups able to get reduced rate tickets of $4.
A Look at Central Michigan
Central Michigan enters Saturday's game versus the Zips following having its four-game winning streak snapped with a 71-51 setback on Jan. 17 at Ohio. Senior Crystal Bradford paces the Chippewas' offensive attack registering team highs in scoring (20.3), rebounding (9.1), assists (3.7) and steals (2.3). Senior Jessica Green is also averaging in double figures in scoring netting 13.0 tallies per tilt. Central Michigan is scoring 68.1 points a game, while allowing opponents 67.3 tallies per contest. The Chippewas are connecting on more than 40 percent (.403) of their shots from the field.
In Our Last Meeting
Akron 85, Central Michigan 69
March 14, 2014 • Cleveland, Ohio
Five Akron players scored in double figures to lead a balanced offensive attack in an 85-69 victory over second-seeded Central Michigan in the Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinal round at Quicken Loans Arena.
Hanna Luburgh posted 17 of her game-high 25 points in the second half and also grabbed nine rebounds to pace the Zips. Kacie Cassell finished with 18 points, while Anita Brown had 16, Carly Young 11 and Rachel Tecca 10 to round out the Zips' double-digit scorers.
Young also had 10 rebounds, marking her second-straight double-double and third consecutive game with double-digit rebounds. Tecca pulled down six boards to set Akron's single-season rebounding record at 293. As a team, the Zips outrebounded Central Michigan, 49-45.
The Chippewas were led by Jessica Green's 15 points and five rebounds.
Akron vs. Ball State Recap
After battling down to the wire, Akron was unable to capitalize on its final possessions as the Zips were held without a field goal for the closing three minutes, while Mid-American Conference Western Division leader Ball State ended the game on a 10-3 run to defeat Akron, 77-73 Wednesday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Zips fought through eight ties and five lead changes and led the Cardinals four times throughout the second half, but never by more than two points. Neither team led by more than eight points throughout the contest.
Freshman Kerri McMahan (Novi, Mich.) gave the Zips their first lead of the game since the five-minute mark of the first half with a lay-up at the 6:17 mark for a 61-60 advantage.
Ball State posted five-straight points in response, which the Zips countered with a 7-0 run with McMahan again putting the Zips ahead with a long jumper, this time for a 68-66 lead with 4:04 remaining. Unfortunately, Akron connected on only one more field goal until the end of the game, which allowed the Cardinals to take control, and collect the victory.
Senior Sina King led all players in scoring equaling a career high with 29 points, while pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds to register her team-leading ninth double-double of the season. The senior dished out four assists, while issuing a perfect 6-of-6 performance from the line. King cracked double digits by the 11:13 mark of the first half.
Junior Anita Brown followed, posting 17 points with a team-high four steals, while McMahan tallied 11 points after shooting 5-of-9 from the field.
Junior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) finished two points shy of a double-double with an eight-point, 11-rebound effort, while junior Megan Barilla dished out a game-high six assists.
Akron edged Ball State in the rebounding battle, 33-32, while both teams struggled with ball control. The Zips forced the Cardinals into 23 turnovers, while posting 19 giveaways of their own.
Ball State garnered a 27-0 advantage in bench points in the affair.
Nationally Speaking
The Zips are nationally-ranked in several categories this season. As a team, Akron is 11th in field-goal percentage (.463), 11th in scoring (78.9), 13th in assist/turnover ratio (1.29), 18th in assists per game (17.2), 20th in scoring margin (+14.7), 23rd in defensive rebounding (29.0), 26th in turnovers per game (13.4), 29th in won-loss percentage (.824), 54th in turnover margin (+3.59) and 62nd in field-goal percentage defense (.368). Individually, Sina King is 21st, 24th and 53rd, respectively, in double-doubles (9), scoring (20.4) and field-goal percentage (.514). Anita Brown is rated 30th in scoring (20.4) and 74th in field-goal percentage (.500), while junior Megan Barilla is leading the nation in assist-turnover ratio (4.00) and 84th in assists (4.5). Sophomore Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) is 27th and 73rd in three-pointers per game (2.76) and in three-point percentage (.382).
Brown Named MAC East Player of the Week
Akron junior Anita Brown was selected as the Mid-American Conference East Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday.
Brown registered 26.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.5 steals per contest last week en route to leading the Zips to road wins at Toledo and Miami.
In Akron's 102-101 come-from-behind win at Toledo on Jan. 14, Brown recorded a career and team season-best 36 points. She connected on more than 59 percent (.591) of her shots, including going 2-for-2 from downtown, while pulling down a team-high nine rebounds and adding three assists and three steals.
The 36-point effort represented the fourth-best single-game scoring output in program history.
Brown followed with a team-best 17-point effort to spark the Zips to a comeback victory, 65-47, at Miami on Jan. 17. She connected on better than 47 percent of her shots from the field, while garnering a team-best eight rebounds and adding five assists and two steals. She scored six points in a 17-0 Zips' run to open the second half that broke open a 31-31 game at halftime.
Brown Named High-Major National Player of the Week
Akron junior Anita Brown was tabbed by College Sports Madness on Monday as its Madness High-Major Women's Basketball National Player of the Week for her efforts leading the Zips to a pair of road victories last week.
She also claimed top honors by College Sports Madness as its Mid-American Conference Player of the Week.
Brown registered 26.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals per contest last week en route to leading the Zips to road wins at Toledo and Miami.
Akron Notes
• Led by 17 and 16 double-figure scoring games, respectively, from Sina King and Anita Brown and seven and five courtesy of Hannah Plybon and Kerri McMahan, Akron has had players surpass the double-digit scoring plateau 50 times this season.
• The Zips have won 20 of their last 23 games at the James A. Rhodes Arena, including an 8-1 mark this season.
• Senior Sina King, junior Anita Brown and sophomore Hannah Plybon each registered career-high marks in scoring in the Zips' 102-101 victory at Toledo. The trio registered 29, 36 and 26 points, respectively.
• Brown's 36 points against the Rockets represented the fourth-highest single-game scoring effort in program history, while junior Megan Barilla's notched the ninth-best performance for assists with 10 dimes.
• Since 2010, Akron has surpassed the 100-point plateau in scoring on seven occasions, including versus Valparaiso and Toledo this season. The Zips' record all-time when scoring 100 or more is 10-0.
• The Zips' 102-101 victory at Toledo marked the first time in program history that both Akron and its opponent had surpassed 100 points in a game.
• The Zips' 102 points at Toledo represented the fifth-best single-game scoring output in program history, while also marking the first contest this season decided by less than five points for Akron.
• The Zips have displayed their defensive presence in the squad's first 17 games as Akron has committed less turnovers than its opponents in 13 of its 17 games.
• The Zips have garnered five Mid-American Conference East Player of the Week selections this season with Anita Brown leading the way earning the award three times (Nov. 17, Dec. 1 and Jan. 20). Sina King took home the accolades on Nov. 24 and Hannah Plybon on Jan. 12.
• The Zips' 67-59 win over Bowling Green marked only the fourth-ever triumph by Akron versus the Falcons.
• Hannah Plybon connected on a career-best six three-pointers en route to recording a then career-high 25 points in the Zips' 65-48 win over Eastern Michigan. Her six triples represented the sixth-best single-game performance in program history.
• DiAndra Gibson registered a game- and career-best 16 rebounds in Akron's 67-59 win past Bowling Green. Her 10 defensive rebounds tied Sina King for the most by a Zip in a game this season.
• Akron connected on a season-best 58.5 percent of its shots in the Zips' 97-62 victory over Ohio Christian.
• Hannah Plybon established a new career-high mark distributing eight assists in Akron's' triumph over Bethune-Cookman.
• Freshman Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.) made the most of her first career start registering three point, four rebounds and a team- and game-high two blocks in 20 minutes of action against Bethune-Cookman.
• The Zips' 89-61 win over Morehead State represented the 400th victory in program history.
• Sparked by a 5-for-8 shooting effort in the second half of its 90-74 victory over Siena, Akron finished the contest shooting 50 percent from three-point range. It marked the first time this season that the Zips had connected on 50 percent or better from beyond the arc.
• Anita Brown finished one point shy of equaling her then career high pouring in 28 points on 11-of-21 shooting, including 4-for-7 beyond the arc versus Siena.
• Megan Barilla distributed a then career- and team-high seven assists in the Zips' 90-74 win past Siena.
• Junior Katie Nunan (Fairmont, W. Va.) came off the bench to register 17 of her career-high 19 points in a 73-58 victory over Belmont.
• The 100 points scored against the Crusaders marked the ninth-highest single-game point total in program history. Seven of the top-nine single-game scoring outputs have occurred under ninth-year head coach Jodi Kest.
• Akron nailed 12 three-pointers against Valparaiso, one off the school record of 13 set versus Buffalo on Feb. 21, 2005.
• The 40 made field goals by the Zips in a 100-65 win over Valparaiso represented the sixth-best single-game effort in program history equaling the mark set against Xavier on Dec. 1, 1984.
• The Zips' 100-65 win over Valparaiso marked the 350th in the coaching career of Kest.
• The 100-point effort against Valparaiso marked the sixth time under Kest's tenure that the Zips have scored at least 100 points in a game.
• Akron began the 2014-15 season as the defending Mid-American Conference champions, and were picked to finish third in the MAC East Division this year in the preseason poll by the league's head coaches.
• Akron returned two starters and eight letterwinners from last year's squad, and welcomed five freshmen to the team this season. In their second-straight 23-win campaign last year, the Zips posted the best conference record in the history of the program at 14-4.
• The Zips made their third postseason appearance in the last five years, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. The 13th-seeded Zips ended their postseason run with an 84-55 loss to fourth-seeded Purdue in the first round of the tournament at Mackey Arena.
• King returned to the basketball court for a fifth year this season after sitting out her true senior year to undergo treatment for blood clots. King was named to the All-MAC East Preseason Team. She was a third team All-MAC selection in 2012-13, after putting up 14 double-doubles, averaging 15.0 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game.
• Kest, now in her ninth season at the helm of the program, has collected the most wins of any Akron women's basketball head coach in the history of the program.
Akron Pair Nominated for CoSIDA Honors
Akron senior Sina King and sophomore Hannah Plybon have been nominated for the 2015 Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America Team. To be eligible, student-athletes must have a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.30 or better and be a starter or significant reserve. In her second semester of graduate school, King maintains a 3.56 GPA in exercise science and physiology, while Plybon, a speech language major, owns a 3.76 cumulative GPA.
Poll Party
Akron checked in at No. 12 in the Jan. 20 CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll. Other MAC schools showing up in the poll were Ohio (No. 16), Central Michigan (30 votes), Toledo (nine votes) and Bowling Green (eight votes).
Zips' Offensive Progress Report
In Akron's 17 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .585 (Ohio Christian), .545 (Toledo-1), .545 (Bethune-Cookman), .527 (Siena), 40 percent: .494 (Valparaiso), .480 (Eastern Michigan), .461 (Morehead State), .459 (Northern Kentucky), .458 (Central Florida), .441 (Ball State), .438 (Miami-1), .438 (Binghamton), .420 (Belmont), .417 (Western Michigan-1), .410 (Bowling Green-1), .403 (Northern Iowa), 30 percent: .389 (Youngstown State), 20 percent: NA.
Akron's Defensive Progress Report
In the Zips' 17 games this season, this is how Akron's opponents have fared from the field: 50 percent: .500 (Toledo-1), 40 percent: .483 (Ball State), .455 (Western Michigan-1), .424 (Youngstown State), .424 (Northern Iowa), 30 percent: .373 (Ohio Christian), .369 (Siena), .344 (Morehead State), .343 (Bethune-Cookman), .333 (Bowling Green-1) .333 (Northern Kentucky & Binghamton), .329 (Central Florida), .328 (Miami-1), .317 (Belmont), 20 percent: .297 (Eastern Michigan), .286 (Valparaiso).
Akron in Close Games
Akron has been involved in 49 games decided by five points or fewer under head coach Jodi Kest. A breakdown of those matches is as follows; one-point difference (8-8), two-point difference (8-4), three-point difference (0-4), four-point difference (4-5) and five-point difference (2-6).
The King is Back
Sina King, the lone senior on Akron's roster, has made her return to the basketball court for a fifth year in 2014-15, after a medical issue sidelined her a year ago.
King underwent treatment for blood clots during what would have been her true senior year last season, serving as a student assistant coach to help her teammates capture the first Mid-American Conference championship in school history.
King was a third-team All-MAC selection two years ago in 2012-13, after putting up 14 double-doubles, averaging 15.0 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game. She shot 84.9 percent from the free throw line that year, ranking No. 32 in the nation. The 288 rebounds she pulled down as a junior are the fourth-most for a single season in program history.
She is off to a strong start to the 2014-15 campaign as she is averaging a team-best 20.4 points and a team-best 8.8 rebounds per game. She has led the Zips in rebounding and scoring nine and seven times, respectively, while registering a team-high nine double-doubles. She has scored in doubles figures in 28 consecutive games and 73 times during her career.
Anita Buckets
After playing some of her best basketball near the end of the 2013-14 campaign junior Anita Brown has cracked the starting line-up in each of the Zips' first 17 games this season. She has responded registering 20.0 points per contest, while connecting on 50 percent of her shots from the field. Additionally, she is pulling down 6.9 rebounds a game, while distributing a 2.6 assists a tilt.
A year ago, she was fourth on the team in scoring and rebounding as the first guard off the bench (7.5 ppg and 4.4 rpg). Brown averaged 10.7 ppg over the course of the 2014 MAC Tournament, including a 16-point effort in 25 minutes in the semifinal game against Central Michigan.
Sophomore Status
Sophomore Hannah Plybon is one of two starters returning from last year's squad. The 2014 All-MAC Freshman-Team selection established herself as a prominent offensive threat on the Zips' roster last season, starting all but one game as a rookie on a senior-laden team. The Orrville, Ohio native scored in double figures on 11 occasions, averaging 25.3 minutes per game and 7.1 ppg (8.2 ppg in MAC play).
This season, she ranks third on the team in scoring 12.1 ppg, while recording 3.0 rebounds 2.1 assists and 0.9 steals per contest. She leads the Zips in three-pointers made (47) and has hit at least two triples in 15 of 17 games this season. She is now nine three-pointers away from moving into the top-10 in the single-season record book for triples.
An Unsung Warrior
The mark of a quality team is the willingness of every player to do the little things that may not always show up in the boxscore that helps win ballgames. For the Zips, one of those players this season has been junior DiAndra Gibson.
Entering Akron's game versus Central Michigan, Gibson is averaging 5.9 points, 7.2 rebounds per game, while shooting nearly 46 percent (.459) from the floor. She has recorded five or more rebounds in 14 of the Zips' 17 games this season, including pulling down a career-best 16 rebounds in a 67-59 win over Bowling Green.
She has scored in double figures twice during the 2014-15 campaign and connected on 50 percent or better from the field in eight tilts, including five of Akron's six conference games.
A Steady Hand
Junior Megan Barilla has proven to be a steadying force for the Zips off the bench this season as she leads the team in assists (4.5), while ranking third in steals (1.2). She currently owns the best assist-turnover ratio in the country (4.00) and has posted five or more assists in nine games this season. In six league contests, Barilla has distributed 5.8 assist per tilt and has committed zero turnovers in three of those contests.
McMahan On The Rise
Freshman Kerri McMahan has stepped into the starting line-up for the Zips and quickly become a presence for Akron registering 7.9 points, 3.9 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest. She has started all 17 games for Akron scoring in double figures in six games. She has paced the team in assists and steals eight and six times, respectively, this season.
Bench Production
Akron is averaging 12.6 points of production from its bench through the Zips' first 17 games this season. Katie Nunan and freshmen Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) and Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) and sophomore Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) and freshman and lead the way registering 5.0, 2.3, 2.2 and 1.9 points, respectively. Freshman Alli Ball is pacing the reserves in rebounding pulling down 2.5 caroms per tilt, while junior Megan Barilla is leading the team in assists (76).
Preseason Predictions
The Zips were picked to finish third in the MAC East Division this year in the conference preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches. UA was projected to finish behind Buffalo and Bowling Green in the East after capturing its first-ever conference tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth a year ago. Buffalo was picked to win the East Division, receiving eight first place votes out of a possible 12. BGSU received three first place votes. Ohio, Miami (Ohio) and Kent State were picked fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.
In the West Division, Central Michigan was chosen as the favorite, earning 11 of the 12 first place votes. Ball State was selected second with one first place vote, followed by Western Michigan, Toledo, Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois.
CMU was also predicted to win the 2015 MAC Tournament, March 9-14 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Leading Scorers
For the third-straight season, the Zips set a new school record for most points scored in 2013-14. Akron's signature high-octane offense averaged 82.0 points per game, which ranked 11th in the nation in scoring offense. UA was also seventh in the country in assists per game at 18.5, fueled by the graduated Kacie Cassell, the school's all-time career assists leader (688).
Zips in the Pros
Following graduation in 2014, seniors Hanna Luburgh and Rachel Tecca signed contracts to play professionally overseas. Luburgh went on to play for AZS UMCS in Lublin, Poland, for the 2014-15 season, while Tecca traveled to Iceland to compete for U.M.F. Grindavik out of the Dominos League. The pair were two of the most prolific scorers to come through Akron, as Tecca left as the career scoring leader and Luburgh holds the single-season record.
Newcomer Notes
• Alli Ball - Fr., St. Louis, Mo./Principia Upper School: Set the school record for career points (1,360), points in a single season (553), blocks in a single season (122) and career blocks (255)...two-time Missouri Basketball Coaches Association all-state selection...two-time first team all-district...named MBCA Class 3 as well as Metro League Player of the Year as a senior...averaged 19.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game as a senior...led her team to two conference, district and sectional championships in her four years...was a cross country state qualifier as a freshman and a track & field state qualifier as a sophomore.
• Greta Burry - Fr., Lakewood, Ohio/St. Joseph Academy: Four-year letterwinner...averaged 9.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals as a senior...recognized by the Cleveland Plain Dealer as a top-25 player to watch, player of the week and postseason honorable mention...recipient of the coaches award as a senior.
• Kaitlyn Flowers - Fr., Lompoc, Calif./St. Joseph: Scored 1,448 points over the course of her prep career...as a senior, averaged 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.8 steals per game...shot 41 percent from the field for her career...three-time team captain ... four-time scholar-athlete...all-division first team as a senior and second team as a junior...led her squad to two league championship titles in four years and one California Interscholastic Federation Division 3 state championship...two-time all-league first team defensive MVP...was also an all-league performer in track & field (hurdles).
• Lauren Hung - Fr., Waterford, Mich./Waterford Mott: Earned all-state recognition as a senior...scored 1,315 points for her career...averaged 15.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game as a senior...two-time state free throw champion...shot 82 percent from the charity stripe during her senior season...four-time team MVP.
• Kerri McMahan - Fr., Novi, Mich./Novi: Graduated as the only girls' basketball player in school history to surpass 1,000 points, finishing with 1,069 points for her career...set the school single-game scoring record (32 points)...led her team to four division championship titles...four-time all-conference selection...Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) all-state first team as a junior and senior...two-time All-Oakland County first team selection...three-time all-area Player of the Year...received BCAM academic-all state recognition as a junior and senior...averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals during her senior season...was also an all-state cross country runner as a freshman and the fifth-fastest freshman in the state of Michigan...three-time all-state runner in the 4x400 meter relay...four-time all-state high jumper...only student-athlete in school history to earn all-state honors in three different sports.
• Megan Sefcik - Fr., Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch: Graduated as the school's second all-time leading scorer...averaged 19.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game as a senior...named the conference Player of the Year as a senior...shot 53.0 percent from the field and 89.0 percent from the free throw line during her senior season...three-time first team all-conference selection...All-Ohio Special Mention.
Zips Sign Two Prep Standouts
Akron women's basketball head coach Jodi Kest has announced the signings of prep standouts Lilli Piper (Norton, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Fredniqua "Shaq" Walker (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) to national letters of intent to join the program for the 2015-16 season.
Piper, a 5-10 guard from nearby Walsh Jesuit High School, averaged 12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game last season. She earned All-Ohio Special Mention recognition as a junior, and was also named first team all-district. A multi-sport athlete, Piper was tabbed the 2014 softball player of the year by Cleveland.com, and maintains a 3.6 GPA.
Walker a 6-1 post player out of Shaw High School in Cleveland, averaged a double-double a year ago with 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. She earned all-district recognition following her junior campaign in 2013-14. Walker boasts a 4.3 GPA and ranks No. 1 in her class.
Reid Promoted, Pierce Joins Akron Staff
Head coach Jodi Kest made a few changes in her staff during the offseason, promoting former graduate assistant Preston Reid to assistant coach, and hiring Sam Pierce as an assistant coach.
Reid served as a graduate assistant on Kest's staff for the last two seasons, after one year as the assistant video coordinator at Florida State.
Pierce comes to Akron from the state of Pennsylvania, where he founded a basketball development program called PA Pride located in Altoona, Pa. He coached boys and girls for the last six years as a part of the program.
2013-14 Postseason Recap
In Coach Kest's eighth year at the helm, Akron captured its second-consecutive 23-win season in 2013-14, finishing the year with a 23-10 overall record and a 14-4 mark in Mid-American Conference play.
Akron used the strength of a school-record 13-game winning streak to earn the No. 3 seed in the MAC Tournament for the second-straight season. During the last week of the regular season, it was one of 10 active double-digit winning streaks in Division I.
Along with several team and individual school records, the Zips secured their first MAC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth in the 40-year history of the program. The Zips were selected as the No. 13 seed in the South Bend region and traveled to No. 4 seed Purdue to play the Boilermakers on their home court at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.
UA kept it close in the first half, trailing 46-34 at the break, but would fall 84-55 as the historic season came to a close.
