The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Eastern Michigan
Zips Set to Face West Division Leader Eastern Michigan
January 05 | Women's Basketball
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GAME NOTES NO. 13 AKRON AT EASTERN MICHIGAN (1/6) (PDF)
Akron (6-6, 0-1 MAC) at Eastern Michigan (10-2, 1-0 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 6
Convocation Center (9,500)
Ypsilanti, Mich. • 7 p.m.
Live Stats: www.emueagles.com
Webstream: www.emueagles.com
Radio: SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship), for free at SportsRadio1350.com and on iHeartRadio. Bill Morgan will have the call starting with the pre-game show starting at 6:50 p.m.
Television: ESPN3
What's Ahead
Akron hits the road for the first time in Mid-American Conference play visiting West Division leader Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 6. Game time at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich., is set for 7 p.m.
A Look at Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan (10-2, 1-0 MAC) has won its last six games entering its showdown with Akron on Wednesday, Jan. 6, following the Eagles' 67-56 triumph past Buffalo on Saturday, Jan. 2. Juniors Cha Sweeney, Janay Morton and Phillis Webb are averaging 19.3, 14.1 and 13.8 points per contest to spark the Eagles' offensive attack. Senior Chanise Baldwin is Eastern Michigan's leading rebounder pulling down 8.1 rebounds per game. The Eagles are posting 77.5 points per contest, while holding its opponents to a 67.8 scoring average. Eastern Michigan is connecting on nearly 42 percent (.415) of its shots from the field, while dialing long distance at a 32.8-percent clip. The Eagles are rated eighth in fewest turnovers (153), 11th in turnover margin (6.17), 16th in turnovers per contest (12.8), 23rd in steals per game (11.0), 31st in scoring offense (77.5) and 35th in winning percentage (.833) in the NCAA this season.
Series History
Akron will be meeting Eastern Michigan for the 35th time in program history with the Zips leading the all-time series, 19-15. A year ago, Akron registered a 65-48 home triumph past the Eagles on Jan. 10, 2015, before falling in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on March 12, 2015. The Zips own wins in three of the last four games between the teams and six of the previous 10 encounters in the series.
The Coaches
Eastern Michigan: Tory Verdi is in his fourth season leading the Eastern Michigan program, owning a 61-50 (.550) record. Overall in five years as a head coach he maintains a 63-57 ledger (.525).
Akron: In her 10th year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, is Jodi Kest, who has a 148-145 mark (.505), including 374-298 (.557) overall, in her 24th year as a head coach.
Zips Drop 65-58 Decision in MAC Opener Versus Northern Illinois
Senior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) and junior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) each scored in double digits for Akron, but it wasn't enough to overcome a tough Northern Illinois' offense surge down the stretch as the Zips dropped their Mid-American Conference opener, 65-58, on Saturday, Jan. 2, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Brown scored a game-high 24 points, while Plybon added a 13-point outing. A 24-point, 16-rebound effort from Ally Lehman led the Huskies. Northern Illinois also benefited from a 14-point game from Mikayla Voigt.
Akron connected on 24 of its 67 attempts on the night for a 34.8 percent shooting mark, while hitting at a 30.4-percent clip (7-of-23) from beyond the arc. Northern Illinois was 22-of-54 for 40.7 percent from the field and was limited to only 3-of-15 (20.0 percent) in three-point shooting.
The Huskies outrebounded the Zips, 47-36, which contributed to 15 second-chance points. Akron had its struggles from the free throw line in the affair shooting 3-of-11 (27.3 percent), while Northern Illinois connected on 18 of its 25 attempts (72.0 percent).
The Zips forced the Huskies into 18 turnovers and parlayed the miscues into a 15-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
Led by a career-high nine points from junior Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.), the Zips' bench posted a 17-9 margin in scoring.
Akron Overpowers Youngstown State, 74-49
Led by a 19-point and career-best 14-rebound performance from Anita Brown, Akron registered a 74-49 victory past Youngstown State on Dec. 21, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The triumph was the fifth for the Zips in their last six games, while the Penguins suffered only their second loss of the season.
Joining Brown with double-digit scoring efforts for Akron was Hannah Plybon with 17 points, while senior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) notched her second career double-double with a 14-point, 10-rebound performance. Sarah Cash and Alison Smolinski paced Youngstown State's attack collecting 15 and 10 points, respectively.
The Zips finished the affair connecting on 41.9 percent of their shots, while limiting the Penguins to a 29.5 percent shooting mark.
Akron posted a decided 58-27 advantage in rebounds, including 23-8 on the offensive glass. The Zips parlayed the rebounds into a 46-22 margin in points in the paint.
Sophomore Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) finished with eight points and eight rebounds for Akron, while senior Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio) distributed a game-high nine assists.
The Zips posted a 16-9 margin in bench scoring led by six and four points, respectively, from sophomore Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.) and junior Sophia Simone (Silver Lake, Ohio).
IN OUR LAST MEETINGS
Eastern Michigan def. Akron, 95-66 (March 12, 2015)
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Eastern Michigan shot 54.0 percent from the field, including 57.7 percent from behind the arc to defeat Akron, 95-66, in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Eastern Michigan's 95 points posted against the Zips was the second-highest point total Akron allowed last season. Forty-five of the Eagle's points came from beyond the arc, as Akron did not have an answer for their 15-of-26 shooting from distance, while connecting at a 35.3 percent clip itself.
Anita Brown led Akron's offense with 26 points, including 14 in the second half, after going 3-of-4 from three-point range and 10-of-20 from the field. She also posted seven rebounds and distributed a team-high five assists.
Sina King followed Brown, registering a 21-point, eight-rebound performance.
DiAndra Gibson led the Zips' rebounding effort with 10, split evenly between the offensive and defensive glass. Overall, the Zips edged Eastern Michigan in the rebounding battle, 44-36, including 18-7 on the offensive glass, en route to 15 second-chance points.
Eastern Michigan was able to pick up 18 points off turnovers, as the Zips posted 14 giveaways to the Eagles' seven.
Cha Sweeney led five Eastern Michigan players in double-figures with a team-high 24 points.
Janay Morton had the game's only double-double recording 11 points and 10 assists.
Akron def. Eastern Michigan, 65-48 (Jan. 10, 2015)
AKRON, Ohio - Hannah Plybon netted six three-pointers en route to picking up a then career-high 25 points to lead Akron to a 65-48 victory over Eastern Michigan at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Plybon ended the first half shooting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc for 17 points, just one point shy of her previous career-high mark set versus Ohio Christian on Dec. 18. She eclipsed the career-best at the 19:30 mark of the second half connecting on her sixth and final triple of the afternoon. Plybon issued a 9-of-13 performance from the field including a 6-of-10 showing from long range.
Plybon's six three-pointers represented the sixth-best single-game effort in program history.
Sina King followed Plybon with 15 points to round out the Zips' double-figure scoring, Anita Brown put together a complete game with a career-best 11 boards, eight points and six assists.
Megan Barilla tied her then career-high in assists (7) without posting a turnover, while also registering a team-high four steals.
DiAndra Gibson played a key role in the Akron's victory registering five points, while pulling down five rebounds and notching a team- and game-high two blocks.
The Zips were outrebounded by the Eagles, 42-32, including 20-8 on the offensive glass.
However, Akron outrebounded Eastern Michigan on the defensive glass, 24-22, and held the Eagles to only 10 second-chance points, despite being dominated on the offensive glass.
Sera Ozelci led Eastern Michigan with 11 points.
Brown Earns Accolades
Anita Brown was named the Zips' Student-Athlete of the Week, presented by The University of Akron, Ohio's Polytechnic University. Additionally, she was tabbed by CollegeSportsMadness.com as its Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week on Dec. 21.
Barilla Among Elite Company With Triple-Double
Megan Barilla's 10-point, 10-rebound and 10-assist effort against UCF marked the first triple-double for a Zips since the NCAA Division I record book began for following the 1985-86 campaign. The triple-double also represents the 12th by a player from the current 12 members of the Mid-American Conference over the same span. The 10-point and 10-rebound efforts established new career-high marks, while she matched her career-best 10 assist performance in a 102-101 victory last season at Toledo.
Brown Joins 1,000-Point Club
Anita Brown joined the 1,000-point club at Akron when she connected on a three pointer at the 6:54 mark of the fourth quarter in the Zips' 74-54 victory over UCF on Dec. 5. She will enter the Eastern Michigan contest with 1,132 career points.
News, Notes and Story lines
• Akron enters contest versus Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 6, having won 44 of its last 61 games dating back to the 2013-14 campaign.
• The next victory for the Zips will mark the 375th in the coaching career of Jodi Kest. A pair of wins and Kest will record her 150th coaching triumph at Akron.
• Anita Brown entered the 2015-16 campaign as the Zips' active leader in career scoring. She will enter Akron's game with Eastern Michigan having amassed 1,132 points and has shot 45 percent (.450) from the field and at a 34.6-percent clip from beyond the arc.
• Anita Brown is ranked ninth in career scoring at Akron with 1,132 career points. She is 30 points shy of surpassing Toreeda Turner (1981-85) for ninth all-time in the Zips' record book.
• Greta Burry is shooting nearly 56 percent (.558) from the field for her career having made 63 of her 113 shots, while shooting 85.2 percent from the charity stripe.
• Megan Barilla leads Akron in assists distributing a team-best 5.5 dimes per game. Over the past two seasons she had posted 174 assists.
• The Zips have won 20 or more games in each of the last three seasons.
• With its win against Bowling Green (March 7), Akron surpassed the 2012-13 squad for the most regular season victories (22) in program history.
• The Zips' 12 league wins represented the second-best single-season mark in program history.
• With its 67-55 triumph over Miami (March 4), Akron's established a new school record for home wins in a season (13).
• The Zips have won 10 or more home games in four of the last six seasons under head coach Jodi Kest.
• With its triumph at Kent State (Feb. 25), Akron registered its third-consecutive 20-win season. On the strength of the win, Akron currently owns the longest active streak among league teams of winning 20 or more games having done so in each of the previous three campaigns (2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15).
• Akron posted the second-, third-, third-, third-, third-, fourth-, fourth-, fourth- and fifth-best single-season marks in program history in winning percentage (.710), assists (508), field-goal percentage (.435), scoring average (74.4), three-pointers made (205), points scored (2,307), field goals made (858), triples attempted (596) and three-point percentage (.344).
• Akron's 10-game winning streak to begin last season represented the second-longest such streak in program history.
On This Date in Akron Women's Basketball History
The Zips will be playing for the 10th time in program history on Jan. 6 when Akron battles Eastern Michigan on Wednesday. The Zips own victories over Eastern Michigan (73-65 in 1996) and Central Michigan (79-78 in 1999).
Akron Notes
• Akron has responded following each of its six losses this season as three Zips are averaging double figures in these games while outscoring its opponents by 10.2 tallies per outing. Anita Brown, Hannah Plybon and Greta Burry are posting 20.8, 15.4 and 11.0 points per contest, while DiAndra Gibson is recording 8.8 points and a team-best 8.2 rebounds per tilt.
• In the Zips' six games away from James A. Rhodes Arena this season Anita Brown is averaging 26.0 points per contest.
• DiAndra Gibson (15) and Megan Barilla (10) established new single-game scoring marks in Akron's victory over UCF.
• Seven Zips set career-best numbers against Rochester College, including redshirt freshman Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) (6), sophomores Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) (12), Greta Burry (18) and Kaitlyn Flowers (Lompoc, Calif.) (2) and juniors Alex Ricketts (9) and Sophia Simone (6) registering career-best efforts in scoring.
• The 103 points scored against Rochester College, Dec. 2, marked the fourth-highest single-game point total in program history. Seven of the top-10 single-game scoring outputs have occurred under 10th-year head coach Jodi Kest.
• Seven players in Anita Brown (12), Hannah Plybon (10), Greta Burry (5), DiAndra Gibson (4), Alli Ball (2), Megan Barilla (1) Lauren Hung (2) have scored in double figures for the Zips this season.
• Anita Brown is averaging a team-best 8.5 points in the first half of games this season, while Greta Burry is shooting 61.1 percent (22-36) in the initial 20 minutes of the Zips' tilts on the campaign.
• In the second half of games this season, Anita Brown leads the offensive efforts for Akron averaging 13.2 points. As a team, the Zips are shooting 43 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes of their 12 contests this season.
• Hannah Plybon connected on five three pointers in the Zips' 77-75 victory versus Northern Kentucky marking the ninth time in her career in which has made five triples in a game.
• Akron's 62 rebounds against Winthrop marked the ninth-best single-game performance in program history.
• Greta Burry and Alli Ball registered their first career double-doubles at Florida Atlantic.
• The Zips' +31 rebounding advantage against Youngstown State was the largest margin for Akron this season and most for the Zips since outrebounding Bowling Green, 56-32, in the 2014-15 regular season finale on March 7, 2015.
• Akron's 22 offensive rebounds at Florida Atlantic and at home versus Winthrop equaled the top-performance for the Zips during the entire 2014-15 campaign. Akron pulled down 22 offensive caroms in a 79-71 victory at Bowling Green on March 7, 2015.
• Akron equaled or outrebounded its opponent in 15 consecutive games before being bettered on the boards, 39-37, versus Florida Gulf Coast.
• Anita Brown was selected as the Mid-American Conference East Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Nov. 17. Brown directed Akron's efforts in the Zips' 91-77 setback at Florida Atlantic on Nov. 13, registering a team-high 27 points.
• Anita Brown was selected as the Mid-American Conference East Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Dec. 14. Brown turned in a big week for the Zips averaging 25.0 points and 6.5 rebounds en route to shooting 50 percent from the field in a pair of road games for Akron.
• Anita Brown pulled down a then career-high 13 rebounds, respectively, against Winthrop, while Greta Burry scored a then career-best 16 points.
• Greta Burry's eight offensive rebounds against Florida Atlantic equaled the top single-game performance last season by a Zip, set by Anita Brown, who pulled down eight offensive boards in an 80-49 triumph over Binghamton.
• Anita Brown and Hannah Plybon own 21 and eight career 20-point performances after Brown poured in a team-high 24 points against Northern Illinois.
• The Zips have won 29 of their last 35 games at the James A. Rhodes Arena, including a 4-2 mark this season.
• Akron is 6-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points.
• Akron equaled a school record connecting on 13 three-pointers in its win at Central Michigan on Jan. 24, 2015. The Zips' effort matched the 13 triples Akron drained versus the Chippewas on Feb. 21, 2005.
• Anita Brown's 36 points against Toledo (Jan. 14) last season represented the fourth-highest single-game scoring effort in program history, while Megan Barilla notched the ninth-best performance for assists with 10 dimes.
• Since 2010, Akron has surpassed the 100-point plateau in scoring on nine occasions, including versus Valparaiso and Toledo last season. The Zips' record all-time when scoring 100 or more is 11-0.
• The Zips' 100-65 win over Valparaiso marked the 350th in the coaching career of Kest.
• The Zips made their fourth postseason appearance in the last six years last season, advancing to the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The Zips ended their postseason run with an 86-68 loss at Kansas State.
• Kest, now in her 10th 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.
Brown Fuels Zips' Attack
Anita Brown has been the catalyst for the Zips' offense this season averaging a team-best 22.1 points per contest. She has surpassed the 20-point plateau in all but two games this season. Brown has now scored in double figures in each of the last 21 contests for the Zips, including scoring 20 or more points in 13 of the 21 tilts.
Barilla Dropping Dimes Sparks Akron
Megan Barilla is off to an impressive start distributing the ball for the Zips averaging a team-high 5.5 assists per game. She has recorded four or more dimes in each of Akron's 12 contests this season and on 26 occasions dating back to the start of the 2014-15 campaign. She is on pace to own the third-best single-season assist average in program history.
Burry Ups the Ante for the Zips
Greta Burry has delivered for the Zips this season after earning a starting role to begin the campaign. As a freshman, Burry appeared in 23 games for Akron averaging 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per night. Through 12 games this season, Burry has posted 9.5 points and 6.7 rebounds a game, while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 85.7 percent at the free throw line.
Akron Hosts Third-Annual Education Day
The University of Akron Women's Basketball team held its third-annual Education Day on Nov. 20, as the Zips hosted Winthrop in the opening game of the Akron Classic.
Nearly 1,000 fifth-grade students attended, which marked the largest class yet in the event's three years of existence. Students came from all across Akron with nearly 20 schools attending.
Students had pre-, in-, and post-game "homework" that they will complete based on the outcome of the game. Questions were integrated into the assignments relating to the game of basketball for example: score at halftime, leading scorer, scoring percentages, etc. as well as a portion about promoting an active and healthy lifestyle.
Zips Add Six the 2016 Recruiting Class
The University of Akron women's basketball team, under the leadership of 10th-year head coach Jodi Kest, has announced the addition of six student-athletes joining the Zips' squad for the 2016-17 campaign.
Donning the Akron uniform next season will be Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike), Shaunay Edwards (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle), Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio/Teays Valley), Brooke Kurucz (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg), Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) and Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio/Revere), who have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Zips' program for the 2016-17 campaign.
A 5-8 guard from Pike High School in Indianapolis, Ind., averaged 11.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest as a junior en route to earning honorable mention all-state accolades. She has helped guide the Red Devils to back-to-back sectional championships and was tabbed to the 2015 Indiana Junior All-Star team. A strong student, Clay owns a 4.45 grade-point average and is the top-ranked student in her graduating class.
A 5-3 guard, Edmonds averaged 11.0 points, 8.0 assists, 6.0 steals and 4.0 rebounds per contest as a junior at Seton LaSalle High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. The 27th-rated point guard in the country by ESPN HoopGurlz rankings, she helped lead the Rebels to a state championship as a freshman in 2013 and a runner-up performance as a sophomore in 2014. She was named the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League championship game most valuable player as a junior.
A 5-9 guard from Teays Valley High School in Ashville, Ohio, Harmon recorded 20.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 4.8 steals a game as a junior en route to earning All-Ohio special mention honors. She has garnered recognition as the 25th-rated guard in the country by Prospects Nation and is ranked 74th nationally by ESPN HoopGurlz. She was selected as the Ohio District 10 Player of the Year in 2015.
A 5-9 guard out of Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg, W.Va., Kurucz posted 18.5 points and 5.8 rebounds as a junior en route to earning third-team All-State and first-team all-conference accolades in 2015.
A 6-2 forward from Westfield, Ind., Reinoehl averaged nearly a double-double as a junior for Westfield High School registering 12.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest. An honorable mention All-State and first-team all-county selection in 2015, she is the 46th-rated forward in the country by ESPN HoopGurlz.
A 6-1 forward out of Revere High School in Richfield, Ohio, Vari was named an honorable mention All-Ohio recipient as a junior after averaging 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Additionally, she was selected as an all-county honoree in 2015.
King Earns Her Crown
Sina King became only the second Zips' player to be named the Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year with her selection as the league's top player for the 2014-15 campaign.
She led the conference in scoring (20.3), rebounding (9.3) and defensive rebounding (6.8), while ranking third in three-point shooting (.382), sixth in field-goal percentage (.478) and in free-throw percentage (.789).
She scored in double figures in all 31 games en route to posting a league-best 16 double-doubles.
In conference-only affairs, she rated first in scoring (20.7) and three-point percentage (.407), and second in rebounding (9.3), while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor (sixth in the MAC).
King capped her career with 888 rebounds and 1,634 points, the third- and fourth-highest totals in program history, while playing in 124 career games.
Three Zips Earn All-MAC Honors
Led by Sina King, who was tabbed as first-team All-Mid-American Conference women's basketball selection, three Akron student-athletes garnered all-conference accolades during the 2014-15 season.
Anita Brown and Hannah Plybon were tabbed second- and third-team selections, respectively.
A second-team honoree as a sophomore and a third-team selection during her junior campaign, King started all 31 games for the Zips last season, registering team- and conference-best marks in scoring (20.7) and rebounding (9.3).
Assuming a spot in the Zips' starting line-up last season for the first time, Brown stepped into Akron's rotation and responded averaging 18.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest. She scored in double figures in 28 games and shot 47.3 percent from the floor.
In league-only affairs, Brown registered 16.9 points and 6.8 rebounds a night, while connecting on 43.1 percent of her shots from the field.
A starter in all 31 games on the campaign, Plybon connected on a school-record 97 three-pointers, while shooting 37.3 percent from beyond the arc. She ranked third on the team in scoring (13.2), fourth in assists (60) and fifth in steals (24) and scored in double figures in 18 games, including five contests recording 20 or more points.
Zips Over the Last Five Games
A pair of Zips are averaging double figures in scoring over Akron's last five games as the duo of Anita Brown and Hannah Plybon have posted 25.0 and 13.2 points a night en route to leading the Zips to a 3-2 mark. Akron is shooting 39.5 percent from the field, while limiting its opposition to a 35.4-percent shooting mark from the floor. Brown and Greta Burry pace Akron in rebounding averaging 9.4 and 7.4 caroms a night, while Megan Barilla owns a team-best 28 assists.
Akron in Close Games
Akron has been involved in 53 games decided by five points or fewer under head coach Jodi Kest. A breakdown of those matches is as follows; one-point difference (9-8), two-point difference (10-4), three-point difference (1-4), four-point difference (4-5) and five-point difference (2-6).
Zips' Offensive Progress Report
In Akron's 12 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: . 476 (Valparaiso), .476 (UCF), .457 (Rochester College), .426 (Northern Colorado), .423 (Florida Atlantic), .419 (Youngstown State), .411 (Northern Kentucky), .400 (San Diego), 30 percent: .397 (Florida Gulf Coast), .348 (Northern Illinois), .347 (Winthrop), .310 (Northern Iowa), 20 percent: NA.
Akron's Defensive Progress Report
In the Zips' 12 games this season, this is how Akron's opponents have fared from the field: 50 percent: .540 (San Diego), 40 percent: .467 (Florida Atlantic), .458 (Valparaiso), .407 (Northern Illinois), 30 percent: .393 (Northern Colorado), .391 (Florida Gulf Coast), .365 (Northern Kentucky), .343 (UCF), .307 (Winthrop), 20 percent: .295 (Youngstown State), .265 (Northern Iowa), .216 (Rochester College).
Bench Production
Akron is averaging 15.6 points of production from its bench through the Zips' first 12 games this season. Lauren Hung and Alli Ball lead the way registering 4.3 and 3.8 points, respectively. Ball paces the reserves in rebounding pulling down 3.5 caroms per tilt.
Preseason Predictions
University of Akron women's basketball senior Anita Brown and junior Hannah Plybon were named to the Preseason All-Mid-American Conference East team in a preseason poll of 12 conference coaches, the league office announced on Oct. 27.
The Zips under 10th-year head coach Jodi Kest, were picked to finish second as a team in the MAC East Division behind Ohio, who was tabbed to win the conference's regular and postseason championships. Following Akron (53 points) was Bowling Green (51 points), Miami (26 points), Buffalo (25 points) and Kent State (25 points).
In the MAC West, Eastern Michigan (64 points) received four first-place votes and was named the favorite to win the division. Ball State (63 points) captured eight first-place votes, but was selected to finish second. The Cardinals were followed by Western Michigan (45 points), Toledo (42 points), Central Michigan (24 points) and Northern Illinois (14 points).
Also voted on by the coaches was the predicted 2015 MAC Regular Season Champion. Ohio received 10 of the 12 first-place votes, while Ball State and Eastern Michigan each collected one championship vote.
In a tabulation of the MAC Championship winner, Ohio was selected as the favorite earning five first-place tallies. The Bobcats were followed by Ball State and Eastern Michigan with three votes apiece, while Buffalo rounded out the poll with the final tally.
King Garners All-America Accolades
Sina King was named an honorable mention All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) for the 2014-15 campaign.
King was one of 52 other student-athletes from across all of Division I women's basketball to be honored by the WBCA. Her selection marked the second-straight year that Akron had a player earn honorable mention All-America accolades by the WBCA.
King joined Rachel Tecca (2013-14), Cheryl Bowles (1999-2000) and Pam Arnold (1986-87) as Zips who have been honored as earned honorable mention All-America recipients during their distinguished Akron careers.
Zips' Duo Earns Academic All-MAC Honors
Sina King and Hannah Plybon were named to the 2014-15 Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball Academic All-MAC team. In all, a total of 29 student-athletes were named to the squad for last season. The duo was also named to the MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete list in 2014-15.
Newcomer Notes
• Lilli Piper - Fr., Norton, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit: averaged 14.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a senior en route to earning all-conference and honorable mention All-Ohio honors. As a junior, she recorded 12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists per contest and garnered All-Ohio Special Mention recognition, 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 maintained a 3.6 GPA.
• Fredniqua Walker - Fr., Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw: averaged a double-double as a senior posting 16 points and 12 rebounds per contest en route to earning all-conference, all-district and third-team All-Ohio accolades and being named as a McDonald's All-American nominee. As a junior, averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds per game. She earned all-district recognition following her junior campaign in 2013-14. Walker boasted a 4.3 GPA and ranked No. 1 in her class.
Zips Live Radio Show
Every Monday throughout the basketball season from 7-8 p.m. ET, Akron head coaches can be heard on the weekly radio program Zips Live, presented by Lee Hyder and Associates. The show airs locally on 1350 AM (WARF) and originates from Johnny J's Pub and Grill in the Valley (1282 Weathervane Lane). A free audio stream is available on SportsRadio1350.com.
What Is a Zip?
• One of the unique nicknames in collegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron.
• Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth "Red" Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the University's athletics teams.
• Suggestions submitted by students, faculty, and alumni included Golden Blue Devils, Tip Toppers, Rubbernecks, Hillbillies, Kangaroos, and Cheveliers.
• The winner, freshman Margaret Hamlin, received a prize of $10 for Zippers, a $6 pair of rubber overshoes and a brand name of the BF Goodrich Company.
• The evolution of Zippy, UA's mascot, began 40 years ago when the student council decided the University needed a mascot.
• "Zippy" the kangaroo was officially declared the school's mascot on May 1, 1953. The first known printed reference to the mascot as "Zippy" was a 1965 Zip football press brochure. The Buchtelite's first use of the name "Zippy" came Sept. 24, 1965, in an identification of a photo of the cheerleaders listing "Mascot - 'Zippy' - Charles Huettner."
• In 2007, Zippy was named the Capital One National Mascot of the Year.
Up Next
Akron host Central Michigan in a 2 p.m. matinee affair on Saturday, Jan. 9, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
