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Akron primed for showdown at MAC East Division leader Ohio
January 27 | Women's Basketball
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Akron visits Ohio
Akron faces another key Mid-American Conference showdown this Wednesday, Jan. 28, as the Zips visit league-leading Ohio in a 7 p.m. tilt.
News, Notes and Story lines
• The Zips go in search of their fourth-straight road victory when Akron visits Ohio on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
• The Zips swept the season series from the Bobcats a year ago as Akron prevailed 80-56 at home on Jan. 23, 2014, before besting Ohio, 88-76, on Feb. 22, 2014, in Athens, Ohio.
• The Zips have won 14 of their last 16 regular-season games away from home.
• Akron enters its tilt at Ohio having won 31 of its last 36 games dating back to last season.
• The Zips' 74-72 triumph over Central Michigan marked their first victory in Mount Pleasant, Mich., since Feb. 6, 2001.
• Akron equaled a school record connecting on 13 three-pointers in its win at Central Michigan this past Saturday, Jan. 24. The Zips' effort matched the 13 triples Akron drained versus the Chippewas on Feb. 21, 2005.
• Junior Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio) has led Akron in assists in eight of the team's last 10 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.
• Ohio is leading the conference in scoring margin (+15.5), field-goal percentage defense (.335), three-point percentage (.354), turnover margin (+5.8) and triples made (9.4), while ranking second in scoring (71.8) and scoring defense (56.3).
• In league-only contests, the Bobcats are pacing the conference in field-goal percentage defense (.321) and three-pointers made (8.4).
• Senior Sina King (Waterford, Ohio) owns a team-leading 10 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-40 nationally in scoring. The Zips' duo joins Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell and Ameryst Alston.
• After distributing a four assists at Central Michigan, junior Megan Barilla checks in at No. 1 nationally in assist/turnover ratio (4.21) on the strength of dishing out 4.4 per night.
• With her 17-point output at Miami, Anita Brown surpassed the 600-point plateau for her Akron career. She will enter the Ohio tilt having recorded 636 career points.
• Over her five-year Akron career, Sina King has registered 1,370 points and 760 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 174 points to surpass Pam Arnold for fifth place all-time at Akron in career scoring. She will enter the Ohio game with 1,370 points.
• Sina King is also rated fourth, fourth, sixth, sixth and eighth, respectively, in the career record book in free throws made (328), free throws attempted (416), rebounds (760), field-goal percentage (.475) and field goals made (487).
• Akron is ranked in the top-50 in eight NCAA statistical categories, including 10th in scoring offense (78.7).
• Akron was 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 63rd in the latest NCAA RPI rankings.
• The Zips enter their game versus Ohio leading the Mid-American Conference in scoring offense (78.7), field-goal percentage (.458), assists (17.4), assist/turnover ratio (1.3) and defensive rebounds (28.8), while ranking second in rebounding margin (+3.3) and scoring margin (+14.0).
• Three different Zips set or matched career-high marks in a 74-72 victory at Central Michigan.
PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge
Akron's home game versus Kent State on Saturday 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 Saturday, 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 Ohio
Ohio enters Wednesday's game versus the Zips following having won five straight and nine of its last 10 games after recording a 60-53 triumph at Ball State on Saturday. Junior Kiyanna Black and sophomore Quiera Lampkins direct the Bobcats' offensive attack registering 15.4 and 12.8 points, respectively. Lampkins is Ohio's leading rebounder pulling down .8 caroms per night, while she and redshirt junior Kat Yelle are distributing a team-best 2.9 assists per contest. The Bobcats are scoring 71.8 points a game, while allowing their opponents only 56.3 tallies per game. Ohio is connecting on 42 percent of their shots from the field.
In Our Last Meeting
Akron 88, Ohio 76
Feb. 22, 2014 • Athens, Ohio
Akron fielded five players in double figures as the Zips outlasted Ohio on the road, 88-76.
Akron was led by a game-high 31 points from Hanna Luburgh, an effort that included a perfect 10-for-10 showing from the free throw line. Rachel Tecca had a 12-point and nine-rebound performance.
Anita Brown went 5-for-8 from the field for 11 points, while Carly Young and Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) added 10 points apiece for the Zips.
Kacie Cassell dished out a game-high eight assists to go with six points, and tied a career-high six rebounds.
Kiyanna Black put up 26 points with five three-pointers for Ohio.
As a team, the Zips shot 45.6 percent from the field for the game and 80.6 percent from the charity stripe, helping to preserve their lead down the stretch.
Akron at Central Michigan Recap
Withstanding a furious Central Michigan rally over the game's final few minutes, Akron registered a dramatic 74-72 victory at Central Michigan last Saturday at McGuirk Arena.
The Zips were forced to fend off a buzzer-beating attempt by the Chippewas' Jas'Mine Bracey to escape with their first victory at Central Michigan since Feb. 6, 2001.
Akron garnered a key jump-ball tie-up under Central Michigan's basket with 1.9 seconds remaining holding a 74-72 lead. Unfortunately, out of time-outs, the Zips were unable to get the ball inbounds and turned the ball over to the Chippewas.
After a Central Michigan time-out, the Chippewas missed on the game-winner from the right side of the paint.
Sophomore Hannah Plybon led all scorers with a game-high 21 points for the Zips, while senior Sina King, freshman Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) and junior Anita Brown added 19, 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Hung equaled a career high with 12 points, connecting on a career-best four three-pointers.
Kerby Tamm paced the Chippewas with a team-high 20 points, while Crystal Bradford and Lorreal Jones chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.
King finished with 10 rebounds to post her team-leading 10th double-double of the season. Junior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) also registered double-digit rebounds pulling down 10 for the Zips.
Akron finished the tilt shooting 38 percent from the floor, including hitting at a 40.6 percent clip from downtown, making 13 triples. Central Michigan shot 41.9 percent from the field on the afternoon.
The 13 three-pointers for the Zips equaled a school record set versus the Chippewas on Feb. 21, 2005.
Freshman Kerri McMahan (Novi, Mich.) distributed a game-high six assists for the Zips, while Brown recorded four steals.
Akron was outrebounded in the affair, 50-42.
Nationally Speaking
The Zips are nationally-ranked in several categories this season. As a team, Akron is 10th in scoring (78.7), 12th in field-goal percentage (.458), 14th in assist/turnover ratio (1.28), 17th in assists per game (17.4), 24th in won-loss percentage (.833), 24th in scoring margin (+14.0), 34th in turnovers per game (13.6) and 56th in turnover margin (+3.39). Individually, Sina King is 19th, 26th and 62nd, respectively, in double-doubles (10), scoring (20.3) and field-goal percentage (.507). Anita Brown is rated 36th in scoring (19.5) and 80th in field-goal percentage (.493), while junior Megan Barilla is leading the nation in assist-turnover ratio (4.21) and 86th in assists (4.4). Sophomore Hannah Plybon is 19th and 71st in three-pointers per game (2.89) and in three-point percentage (.382).
King Candidate For Senior CLASS Award
Senior Sina King was named one of 30 women's basketball candidates for the 2015 Senior CLASS Award.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition.
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2015 NCAA Women's Final Four®.
Each of the 30 candidate classes will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans.
King Named MAC East Player of the Week
Akron senior Sina King was selected as the Mid-American Conference East Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
King turned in a strong week for the Zips averaging 24.0 points and 10.5 rebounds en route to sparking Akron to a 1-1 record. She connected on 50 percent of her shots from the field, while drilling 50 percent of her attempts from downtown, and making all six of her free-throw shots.
In the Zips' 77-73 setback versus Ball State on Jan. 21, King equaled a career high pouring in a game-high 29 points, while pulling down a game-best 11 rebounds to collect her team-leading ninth double-double of the season.
King connected on nearly 58 percent of her shots from the floor against the Cardinals and recorded four assists and three steals. Of her 29 points and 11 rebounds, 14 and five, respectively, came in the decisive second half.
She then turned in her 10th double-double of the year with a 19-point, 10-rebound performance to lift the Zips to a come-from-behind 74-72 victory at Central Michigan last Saturday, Jan. 24. The win was the first for Akron in Mount Pleasant since the 2000-01 campaign.
King shot 42 percent from the floor, while hitting at a 60 percent clip from beyond the arc, making a trio of three-pointers and adding three assists. She saved her best for the second half scoring 15 points and pulling down eight rebounds over the final 20 minutes.
Brown Named High-Major National Player of the Week
Akron junior Anita Brown was tabbed by College Sports Madness on Jan. 19 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 en route to leading the Zips to road wins at Toledo and Miami.
Akron Notes
• Led by 18 and 17 double-figure scoring games, respectively, from Sina King and Anita Brown and eight and five courtesy of Hannah Plybon and Kerri McMahan, Akron has had players surpass the double-digit scoring plateau 54 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 will crack the top-10 for career games played as a Zip when she takes the court versus Ohio on Wednesday. The contest will be the 112th time King has donned Akron uniform, equaling Jesse Crooks (2003-07), Sue Deckard (1978-82) and Loralee Bolinger (1979-83) for 10th place all-time at Akron.
• 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 18 games as Akron has committed the same or fewer turnovers than its opponents in 14 of its 18 games.
• The Zips have garnered six 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 Jan. 26 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 Central Michigan on Feb. 21, 2005 and Jan. 24, 2015.
• 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 18 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), .380 (Central Michigan), 20 percent: NA.
Akron's Defensive Progress Report
In the Zips' 18 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), .419 (Central Michigan), 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 50 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 (9-4), 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 20.3 points and a team-best 8.9 rebounds per game. She has led the Zips in rebounding and scoring 10 and seven times, respectively, while registering a team-high 10 double-doubles. She has scored in doubles figures in 29 consecutive games and 74 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 18 games this season. She has responded registering 19.5 points per contest, while connecting on 49.3 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 12.6 ppg, while recording 2.9 rebounds 2.1 assists and 0.8 steals per contest. She leads the Zips in three-pointers made (52) and has hit at least two triples in 16 of 18 games this season. She is now four 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 Ohio, Gibson is averaging 5.8 points, 7.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 44 percent from the floor. She has recorded five or more rebounds in 15 of the Zips' 18 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 12.8 points of production from its bench through the Zips' first 18 games this season. Katie Nunan and freshmen Lauren Hung and Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) and sophomore Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) lead the way registering 4.9, 2.9, 2.0 and 1.8 points, respectively. Freshman Alli Ball is pacing the reserves in rebounding pulling down 2.4 caroms per tilt, while junior Megan Barilla is leading the team in assists (80).
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.
