The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Eastern Ky.
Zips Close Out Road Swing Visiting Eastern Kentucky
December 09 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON AT EASTERN KENTUCKY GAME NOTES - 12/10/16 (PDF)
Akron (4-2) at Eastern Kentucky (2-5)
Saturday, Dec. 10
Alumni Coliseum (6,500)
Richmond, Ky. • 2 p.m.
Live Stats: www.ekusports.com
Webstream: www.ekusports.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 pregame show starting at 1:45 p.m.
Television: None
WHAT'S AHEAD
Seeking to extend its winning streak to three straight, Akron closes out a three-game road swing on Saturday, Dec. 10, as the Zips travel to Richmond, Ky., to square off against Eastern Kentucky. Game time in the matinee affair at Alumni Coliseum is set for 2 p.m.
A LOOK AT EASTERN KENTUCKY
Eastern Kentucky has dropped its last three contests and four of five overall entering its showdown with Akron on Saturday, Dec. 10, following a 78-51 setback at Saint Louis on Dec. 3. Senior Shavontae Naylor leads three Colonels averaging double figures in scoring netting a team-best 14.5 points per contest. Seniors Jalen O'Bannon and Alexus Cooper also surpass the double-digit scoring plateau averaging 11.7 and 11.3 tallies, respectively. O'Bannon is Eastern Kentucky's leading rebounder pulling down 7.4 caroms per night. The Colonels are recording 60.6 points per contest and have connected at nearly 37 percent (.367) from the field and at a 29.7-percent clip from beyond the arc.
SERIES HISTORY
Akron will be meeting Eastern Kentucky for the 10th time in program history with the Colonels owning a 5-4 all-time series lead. Akron registered a 65-62 home triumph past Eastern Kentucky in the last encounter between the schools on Feb. 16, 1987, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
THE COACHES
Eastern Kentucky: Chrissy Roberts is in her ninth season leading the Colonels' program owning a 102-131 (.438) record.
Akron: In her 11th year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, is Jodi Kest, who has a 165-155 mark (.516), including 391-308 (.559) overall, in her 25th year as a head coach.
RICKETTS RALLIES ZIPS PAST YOUNGSTOWN STATE IN OT, 76-74
Sparked by a career-high 20 points from senior Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.), including seven in overtime, Akron registered a come-from-behind 76-64 victory at Youngstown State on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
Ricketts posted her second career double-double pulling down 10 rebounds to go along with her team-best 20 points.
The Zips had four players turn in double-digit scoring performance as Ricketts, senior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio), freshman Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and redshirt sophomore Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) tallied 20, 18, 12 and 12 points, respectively. The 12 points represented a new career-high total for Edmonds.
Plybon added a career- and game-high 11 rebounds to notch her first career double-double.
The Penguins received 21- and 19-point efforts from Indiya Benjamin and Mary Dunn.
Akron finished the affair shooting 36.7 percent from the field, while Youngstown State connected at a 42.4-percent clip on the evening.
In a nearly even contest statistically, the Zips bettered the Penguins on the boards, 43-34, including 13-9 on the offensive glass.
SEFCIK'S CAREER DAY LEADS AKRON PAST WINTHROP, 80-59
Sparked by a career-high 19 points from Megan Sefcik, including drilling five three pointers, Akron registered a 80-59 victory past Winthrop on Dec. 3.
Sefcik led three Zips netting double-digit scoring efforts. Joining her with 10 points apiece were seniors Hannah Plybon and Alex Ricketts. Danyael Goodhope posted a team-best 14 points for the Eagles, while chipping in 10 points was Erica Williams.
Fueled by a 61.5 percent shooting mark over the final quarter, Akron finished the contest connecting on 48.4 percent of its attempts from the field. The Zips defensively limited Winthrop to a 41.3 percent effort on the afternoon.
Led by six rebounds from junior Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.), Akron garnered a 39-35 margin on the glass. Ball also distributed a game- and career-high five assists.
The Zips got strong contributions off the bench as Akron's reserves outscored the Eagles, 46-32. Leading that effort after Sefcik's 19 points with five points apiece was junior Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) and freshman Brooke Kurucz (Parkersburg, W. Va.).
PLYBON AMONG THE NCAA'S ELITE
One of the most dynamic players in women's collegiate basketball, Hannah Plybon enters play this Saturday, Dec. 10, versus Eastern Kentucky highly ranked among the active women's basketball players in Division 1 in several categories. Plybon is currently ranked second, second, sixth, 10th, 43rd and 47th, respectively, among active career leaders in triples attempted per game (6.96), three pointers attempted (717), triples made (251), three pointers made per contest (2.44), field goals attempted (1,114) and points (1,296). Across all divisions of women's basketball, Plybon is rated fourth in three pointers attempted and taken per game and eighth in triples made.
NEWS, NOTES AND STORYLINES
• Akron's tilt at Eastern Kentucky marks the 700th game in the head coaching career of Jodi Kest.
• The Zips' next victory will mark the 350th since Akron transitioned to NCAA Division I prior to the 1983-84 campaign.
• Hannah Plybon enters play versus Eastern Kentucky needing 19 triples to surpass Taylor Ruper's (2009-13) school-record 269 three pointers made. A year ago, she connected on a school-record 104 three pointers during the 2015-16 campaign.
• When Hannah Plybon surpasses 20 points in a contest Akron has posted an 14-5 record.
• Akron enters its contest versus Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Dec. 10, having won 61 of its last 88 games dating back to the 2013-14 campaign.
• Since the start of the 2011-12 campaign, the Zips have won 74 percent (.740) of their games at James A. Rhodes Arena, having posted a 57-20 ledger.
• Hannah Plybon came into the 2016-17 campaign as the Zips' active leader in career scoring. She will enter Akron's game with Eastern Kentucky having amassed 1,296 points and has connected on 38.0 percent of her shots from the field and at a 35.0-percent clip from beyond the arc.
• Hannah Plybon is ranked eighth in career scoring at Akron with 1,296 career points. She is 249 points shy of surpassing Pam Arnold (1,544) for seventh all-time in the Zips' record book.
• Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) is shooting 52.1 percent from the field for her career having made 136 of her 261 shots.
• The Zips have won 19 or more games in each of the last four seasons.
AKRON NOTES
• Alex Ricketts registered her second career double-double with a 20-point, 10-rebound effort to spark Akron to a 76-64 overtime triumph at Youngstown State on Dec. 6. In her first career start at Western Michigan on Feb. 13, 2016, she poured in a 12-point, 12-rebound performance.
• Greta Burry is the Zips' active leader in double-doubles having posted three in her Zips' career. Her double-doubles came at Florida Atlantic (14 points/12 rebounds - 11/13/15), at Eastern Michigan (17 points/10 rebounds - Jan. 6, 2016) and at Bowling Green (17 points/11 rebounds - Jan. 20, 2016).
• While Burry owns a team-best three double-doubles, Akron has also benefited from two from Alex Ricketts and one apiece courtesy of Hannah Plybon (18 points/11 rebounds at Youngstown State - Dec. 6, 2016) and Alli Ball (13 points/11 rebounds at Florida Atlantic - Nov. 13, 2015)
• Shaunay Edmonds turned in a solid game for the Zips versus Bucknell on Nov. 30, leading Akron in scoring (6), rebounds (5), assists (4) and steals (3) in 24 minutes of action.
• Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) registered career-high marks in scoring (5), rebounding (5) and blocked shots (3) against Bucknell on Nov. 30.
• Five players in Hannah Plybon (5), Megan Sefcik (4), Alex Ricketts (3), Shaunay Edmonds (2) and Alli Ball (1) have scored in double figures for the Zips this season.
• Twelve Zips have established career-high marks in scoring this season including; Hannah Plybon (39 at Canisius), Alex Ricketts (20 at Youngstown State), Megan Sefcik (19 at Winthrop), Alli Ball (15 vs. Malone), Shaunay Edmonds (12 at Youngstown State), Brittany Gordon (South Charleston, W. Va.) (6 at Penn State), Brooke Kurucz (5 at Winthrop), Haliegh Reinoehl (5 vs. Bucknell), Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio) (4 vs. Bucknell), Fredniqua Walker (Cleveland, Ohio) (4 at Winthrop), Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) (4 at Winthrop) and Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind.) (2 at Winthrop).
• Shaunay Edmonds poured in 10 points in her collegiate debut versus Malone (Nov. 12), while fellow rookie Caitlin Vari also cracked the scoring column for the first time as a Zip with two points off the bench against the Pioneers.
• Hannah Plybon is averaging a team-best 9.8 points in the first half of games this season, while Greta Burry is shooting 56.3 percent (9-16) in the initial 20 minutes of the Zips' six tilts on the campaign.
• In the second half of games this season, Hannah Plybon leads the offensive efforts for Akron averaging 9.2 points. As a team, the Zips are shooting 41.3 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes in their six contests this season.
• Alli Ball narrowly missed registering her second career double-doubles as she posted a 15-point, eight rebound performance in Akron's 63-52 win over Malone (Nov. 12).
• Hannah Plybon owns 19 career 20-point performances after she poured in a career-best 39 points at Canisius on Nov. 20.
• The Zips have won 37 of their last 46 games at the James A. Rhodes Arena, including a 1-1 mark this season.
• Since 2010, Akron has surpassed the 100-point plateau in scoring on nine occasions, including versus Valparaiso and Toledo during the 2014-15 campaign. The Zips' record all-time when scoring 100 or more is 11-0.
• The Zips made their fifth postseason appearance in the past seven years last season, advancing to the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The Zips ended their postseason run with an 74-70 loss against Bucknell.
• Jodi Kest, now in her 11th 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.
NCAA RANKINGS
• The Zips enter play versus Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Dec. 10, sixth in the NCAA in fewest fouls committed (89), while rating 27th in three-point defense (.256), 34th in fewest turnovers (101) and 74th in triples per contest (7.2).
• Individually, Hannah Plybon is 41st in the country in scoring (19.0) , while also rating 55th in triples per game (2.67) and 66th in free throw percentage (.857). Megan Sefcik is 54th nationally in three-point percentage (.444) and 55th in triples per contest (2.67).
AKRON MAC STATISTICAL LEADERS
• Akron enters play versus Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Dec. 10, rated first in the Mid-American Conference in three-point defense (.256), third in blocked shots (4.0) and fourth in three-point percentage (.344).
• Hannah Plybon (3rd in free throw percentage - .857; 4th in scoring - 19.0; 5th in triples made - 2.7)
• Greta Burry (6th in blocked shots - 1.2)
• Shaunay Edmonds (3rd in steals - 2.5)
• Megan Sefcik (5th in three-point percentage (.444); 5th in triples made - 2.7)
A LOOK AT THE 2016-17 ZIPS
Headlining the Zips' lineup this season will be senior Hannah Plybon, who earned second-team All-Mid-American Conference accolades last year averaging 16.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest. She registered a school-record 104 three-pointers en route to scoring in double figures in 27 games, including recording 20 or more points in 11 tilts.
Junior Greta Burry and senior Alex Ricketts also played significant roles in Akron's success a year ago.
Ricketts, along with Plybon and graduate transfer Brittany Gordon comprise Akron's senior class for the 2016-17 campaign.
Burry appeared in 33 games, including 32 starts for the Zips a season ago, averaging 7.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists per contest. She ranked sixth in the MAC in field goal percentage (.522) and shot a team-best 52.2 percent from the field, while leading Akron in offensive rebounds (78).
Ricketts played in all 33 contests for the Zips during the 2015-16 campaign, including making a pair of starts, en route to averaging 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.
The Zips are also expecting solid contributions from its junior class of Alli Ball, Lauren Hung and Kaitlyn Flowers (Lompoc, Calif.), along with redshirt sophomore Megan Sefcik and sophomore Fredniqua Walker.
Ball played in 30 contests last season averaging 2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore, while Hung appeared in 23 games registering 3.0 points per tilt and Flowers earned playing time in five games.
Averaging 2.3 points per contest in 27 games was Sefcik, while Walker returns after appearing in five games for the Zips as a freshman.
The experience of Akron's upperclassmen will be key to the Zips, as Kest and her staff have added to the mix a talented core of six true freshmen this season. The first-year players include; Alyssa Clay, Shaunay Edmonds, Shayna Harmon, Haliegh Reinoehl, Caitlin Vari and Brooke Kurucz.
PRESEASON PROJECTIONS
Akron senior Hannah Plybon was named to the Preseason All-Mid-American Conference East team in a preseason poll of 12 conference coaches, the league office announced Oct. 27.
The Zips were picked to finish third as a team in the MAC East Division behind Ohio (69 points) and 2015-16 MAC Tournament Champion Buffalo (60 points). Following Akron (48 points) was Bowling Green (30 points), Miami (27 points) and Kent State (18 points).
In the MAC West, Central Michigan (72 points) received all 12 first-place votes and was named the favorite to win the division. Ball State (53 points) and Toledo (53 points) were pegged to finish second and were followed by Western Michigan (34 points), Northern Illinois (25 points) and Eastern Michigan (15 points).
Also voted on by the coaches was the predicted 2017 MAC Regular Season Champion. Central Michigan received six of the 12 first-place votes, while Ohio (five) and Buffalo (one) collected the remaining championships tallies.
In a tabulation of the MAC Championship winner, Central Michigan was selected as the favorite earning seven first-place tallies. The Chippewas were followed again by Ohio with four votes, while Buffalo rounded out the poll with the final tally.
PLYBON IN AKRON'S 1,000-POINT CLUB
With her second of two free throws with 46 seconds remaining in Akron's 77-65 victory past Miami on Feb. 6, 2016, Hannah Plybon joined the 1,000-point club at Akron. Plybon will enter the Eastern Kentucky contest with 1,296 career points.
ZIPS INK FOUR FOR 2017 RECRUITING CLASS
The University of Akron women's basketball team, under the leadership of 11th-year head coach Jodi Kest, has announced the addition of four student-athletes joining the Zips' squad for the 2017-18 campaign.
Donning the Akron uniform next season will be Kynnedy Azubike (Columbus, Ohio/Africentric), Taylor Gregory (Mt. Vernon, Ohio/Mt. Vernon), Sarah Leyendecker (Lawrenceburg, Ind./Mother of Mercy (Ohio)), and Destiny Perkins (McCordsville, Ind./Lawrence North), who have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Zips' program for the 2017-18 campaign.
A 6-0 guard from Africentric High School in Columbus, Ohio, Azubike averaged 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per contest as a junior en route to earning All-City accolades. She helped her squad capture a state title in Division III in 2016.
A 6-2 forward from Mt. Vernon High School in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Gregory registered 14.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per contest as a junior en route to earning first-team all-conference honors.
A 6-4 forward/center from Mother of Mercy High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, Leyendecker averaged 8.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a junior en route to earning second-team all-conference recognition.
A 5-4 point guard from Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Ind., Perkins recorded 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.0 steals per contest as a junior en route to earning honorable mention all-state accolades. She is the No. 23 rated point guard according to 2017 ESPN HoopGurlz.
AKRON IN CLOSE GAMES
Akron has been involved in 61 games decided by five points or fewer under head coach Jodi Kest. A breakdown of those matches is as follows; one-point difference (9-9), two-point difference (12-4), three-point difference (4-4), four-point difference (4-7) and five-point difference (2-6).
ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's six games this season, this is how the Zips has fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .484 (Winthrop), .448 (Penn State), .434 (Canisius), 30 percent: .367 (Youngstown State), .345 (Malone), .302 (Bucknell), 20 percent: NA.
AKRON'S DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' six games this season, this is how Akron's opponents have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .432 (Penn State), .424 (Youngstown State), .413 (Winthrop), .400 (Bucknell), 30 percent: .385 (Canisius), .317 (Malone), 20 percent: NA.
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
The Zips return to James A. Rhodes Arena to host Duquesne in a 5 p.m. tilt on Dec. 17.
