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Akron Begins Season-Ending Homestand Battling Buffalo
March 01 | Women's Basketball
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GAME NOTES NO. 28 AKRON VS. BUFFALO (3/2) (PDF)
Akron (15-12, 9-7 MAC) vs. Buffalo (15-12, 7-9 MAC)
Wednesday, March 2
James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500)
Akron, Ohio • 8 p.m.
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Webstream: www.gozips.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 7:50 p.m.
Television: American Sports Network/ESPN3
What's Ahead
Akron opens a two-game homestand to conclude its regular season this Wednesday, March 2, as the Zips host Buffalo in a key Mid-American Conference showdown. The opening tip at James A. Rhodes is set for 8:05 p.m. The contest will be broadcast on American Sports Network with Mike Gleason and Mike Thibault calling the action.
A Look at Buffalo
Buffalo (15-12, 7-9 MAC) enters play this Wednesday, March 2, having won three straight and four of five overall after registering a 70-58 triumph at conference-leading Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 27. Junior Joanna Smith averages a team-high 18.3 points per contest, while junior Cassie Oursler is pulling down a team-best 6.5 rebounds per tilt. Buffalo is posting 59.5 points per contest, while holding its opponents to an identical 59.5 scoring average. The Bulls are connecting on more than 36 percent (.363) of their shots from the field, while dialing long distance at a 29.0-percent clip.
Buffalo is ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in scoring defense (59.5), three point defense (2.84) and offensive rebounds (14.6), while rating third in field goal defense (.373), rebounding margin (+2.2), steals (9.3) and turnover margin (+1.0). In league-only affairs, the Bulls lead the conference in three point defense (.292) and offensive rebounds (15.8), while ranking third in rebounding offense (41.2), rebounding margin (+4.0) and steals (8.5).
Series History
Akron will be meeting Buffalo for the 43rd time in program history with the all-time series all square at 21 wins apiece. Earlier this season, Akron registered a 69-61 win at Buffalo on Jan. 16, 2016.
The Coaches
Buffalo: Felisha Legette-Jack is in her fourth season leading the Buffalo program, owning a 63-58 (.521) record. Overall, she maintains a 204-221 (.480) ledger in 14 years overall as a head coach.
Akron: In her 10th year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, is Jodi Kest, who has a 157-151 mark (.510), including 383-304 (.558) overall, in her 24th year as a head coach.
Balanced Scoring Attack Leads Akron Over Kent State, 70-60
Four Akron players scored in double figures to lead the Zips to a 70-60 women's basketball victory over Kent State last Saturday, Feb. 27, at the M.A.C. Center.
Junior Hannah Plybon (Orville, Ohio) and senior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) both shot 6-for-13 from the field to lead Akron with 17 and 16 points, respectively. The duo also pulled down six rebounds apiece to guide the Zips to a 35-28 advantage on the glass. Senior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) contributed 14 points, four rebounds and two assists, while sophomore Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) added 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Senior Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio) added a game-high four assists to mark her 143rd helper this season for Akron.
Kent State had two players notch double digits led by Larissa Lurken's 19 points.
The Zips forced 24 turnovers in the game, which resulted in 13 steals and 31 points off turnovers.
Zips Register 65-62 Overtime Victory at Miami
Akron withstood an off shooting night to secure a key Mid-American Conference women's basketball road triumph with come-from-behind 65-62 overtime victory past Miami University on Feb. 24.
Anita Brown led three Zips scoring in double figures with a 16-point, six-rebound performance.
Joining her with double-digit scoring efforts was Hannah Plybon and DiAndra Gibson with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Kayla Brown directed Miami with a team-high 15 points, while tallying 10 points off the bench was Morgan Horvath.
Akron finished the affair shooting 33.9 percent from the field, including making six three pointers. The RedHawks connected from the floor at a 37.5-percent clip.
Miami outrebounded the Zips on the night, 43-38, including 29-23 on the defensive glass. Akron used its rebounds effectively outscoring the RedHawks in second-chance points, 17-7. Gibson and Greta Burry each corralled a team-high seven rebounds for the Zips, while Megan Barilla distributed a game-high four assists.
IN OUR LAST MEETING
Akron def. Buffalo, 69-61 (Jan. 16, 2016)
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Anita Brown and Hannah Plybon combined to score 49 points to spark Akron to a 69-61 road victory past Buffalo.
Brown scored a game-high 26 points and added a team-best 10 rebounds to notch her then team-leading fourth double-double of the season, while Plybon tallied 23 points.
A 13-point, 11-rebound effort from Cassie Oursler directed the Bulls, while Joanna Smith and Stephanie Reid recorded 16 and 11 points, respectively.
The Zips finished the affair shooting 39 percent from the floor, while holding Buffalo to a 29.2-percent mark from the field in the game.
The Bulls outrebounded Akron, 46-43, including 17-10 on the offensive glass, and used that advantage to post a 23-10 margin in second-chance points.
Megan Barilla distributed a team-high four assists for the Zips.
If the MAC Tournament Began Today
If the Mid-American Conference Championship began today, the Zips would open the tournament as the No. 5 seed on March 7 hosting 12th-seeded Kent State. The winner would advance to battle fourth-seeded Toledo on March 9 at Quicken Loans Arena. The other opening rounds game would pit No. 6 Eastern Michigan entertaining No. 11 Miami, No. 7 Western Michigan playing No. 10 Northern Illinois and No. 8 Buffalo hosting No. 9 Bowling Green. With two games remaining, much though is yet to be decided with final tournament seeding for Akron and the remainder of the league.
One Final Dance
Akron's showdowns this week with Buffalo and Bowling Green, represented the final regular season home games in the distinguished careers of seniors Anita Brown, Megan Barilla and DiAndra Gibson. The trio will enter the Zips' showdown versus Buffalo having appeared in 121, 115 and 105 career games, respectively. Brown, Barilla and Gibson has recorded career scoring totals of 1,421, 577 and 146 points, while Brown and Gibson own 600 and 487 career rebounds.
News, Notes and Storylines
• Akron swept the season series from Kent State last Saturday, Feb. 27, en route to claiming its eighth straight victory over the Golden Flashes. The triumph marked the first time in program history that a senior class has shutout Kent State over a four-year span.
• Hannah Plybon and Anita Brown own team-best 15.6 and 10.9 scoring averages in five and eight career games, respectively, versus Buffalo.
• Akron has won five straight home games against Buffalo and nine of 10 overall (home and away) in the series.
• With its victory at Kent State, the Zips assured themselves of a winning record in league play for a school record fourth consecutive campaign.
• Anita Brown is the fifth Zip to record at least 1,400 points and pull down 600 rebounds in their Akron career. Brown enters play against Buffalo having amassed 1,421 career points and 601 rebounds.
• DiAndra Gibson is 13 rebounds shy of 500 for her Akron career.
• The Zips enter their game versus Buffalo having attempted the third-most triples (640) in a season in program history, while ranking third in three pointers made (207).
• Anita Brown owns 554 points this season to rank seventh on the single-season top 10 in scoring for the Zips. She is 27 points away from surpassing Kara Murphy (580 in 2008-09) for sixth place. She also is rated fourth, fifth, sixth and 10th, respectively, in the single-season record book in field goals attempted (493), field goals made (209), free throws attempted (167) and free throws made (115).
• Hannah Plybon has connected on 81 three pointers on the campaign and is ranked fifth on the single-season top 10 in three pointers. She is five triples from surpassing Taylor Ruper (85 in 2012-13) for fourth place.
• Megan Barilla has distributed 143 assists this season to rank fifth on the single-season top 10 in assists. She is eight dimes away from moving past Lori Anderson (150 in 1980-81) for fourth place.
• Anita Brown ranks eighth in career games played at Akron having appeared in 121 contests for the Zips entering play versus Buffalo on Wednesday, March 2. Sitting at No. 10 with 115 career games played is Megan Barilla.
• When Anita Brown has scored 20 or more points in her career the Zips own a 15-12 mark. When Hannah Plybon surpasses 20 points in a contest Akron has posted an 11-3 record.
• The Zips own a 7-2 record in mid-week games this season, including holding road triumphs over Valparaiso, Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green.
• The Zips' 68-65 overtime triumph over Eastern Michigan marked the 375th victory in the coaching career of Jodi Kest.
• Akron's 71-55 win at Bowling Green marked the 150th for head coach Jodi Kest while leading the Zips.
• Akron's overtime victories past Miami (Feb. 24), Eastern Michigan (Jan. 6) and Northern Kentucky (Dec. 19) marked the first time in program history in which the Zips have won multiple overtime contests in a single campaign.
• Akron enters its contest versus Buffalo on Wednesday, March 2, having won 53 of its last 76 games dating back to the 2013-14 campaign.
• Anita Brown entered the 2015-16 campaign as the Zips' active leader in career scoring. She will enter Akron's game with Buffalo having amassed 1,421 points and has 44 percent (.440) from the field and at a 33.6-percent clip from beyond the arc.
• Anita Brown is ranked seventh in career scoring at Akron with 1,421 career points. She is 123 points shy of surpassing Pam Arnold (1984-88) for sixth all-time in the Zips' record book.
• Greta Burry is shooting 54.0 percent from the field for her career having made 107 of her 198 shots.
• Megan Barilla leads Akron in assists distributing a team-best 5.3 dimes per game. Over the past two seasons she had posted 251 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 in 2014-15 represented the second-best single-season mark in program history.
• Akron's established a new school record for home wins in a season (13) a year ago.
• The Zips have won 10 or more home games in four of the last six seasons under head coach Jodi Kest.
• Akron registered its third-consecutive 20-win season a year ago. The Zips currently own 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 12th time in program history on March 2 when Akron battles Buffalo on Wednesday. The Zips own victories over Mount St. Joseph (88-85 in 1980), UIC (70-60 in 1990), Central Michigan (77-67 in 1996), Ohio (69-41 in 2010) and Kent State (80-66 in 2014).
Akron Notes
• Eight players in Anita Brown (26), Hannah Plybon (23), DiAndra Gibson (15), Greta Burry (9), Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.) (2), Megan Barilla (1), Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) (2) and Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) (1) have scored in double figures for the Zips this season.
• Akron has responded following each of its 12 losses this season as three Zips are averaging double figures in these games while outscoring its opponents by 6.7 tallies per outing. Akron owns a 9-3 mark in these contests. Anita Brown, Hannah Plybon and DiAndra Gibson are posting 19.8, 17.6 and 10.9 points per contest, while Brown is recording a team-best 7.8 rebounds per tilt.
• In the Zips' 15 games away from James A. Rhodes Arena this season, Anita Brown is averaging 22.1 points per contest.
• Since opening the season with a 1-4 ledger, the Zips have posted a 5-5 mark in their last 10 games, including a 5-1 record in games in December.
• Akron had won five straight true road games dating back to an 85-74 decision past Valparaiso on Dec. 9 before the Zips suffered an 81-60 setback at Central Michigan on Jan. 23. It marked Akron's longest such streak since rolling off seven consecutive true road wins during the 2013-14 campaign.
• The Zips have pulled down 50 or more rebounds in seven contests this season.
• 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.
• Anita Brown is averaging a team-best 8.5 points in the first half of games this season, while Greta Burry is shooting 52.8 percent (38-72) 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 12.5 points. As a team, the Zips are shooting 41.9 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes of their 27 contests this season.
• Hannah Plybon connected on six three pointers in the Zips' 78-66 victory versus Kent State marking the 12th time in her career in which has made five or more 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.
• 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 was selected as the Mid-American Conference East Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Jan. 25. Brown turned in a strong week for the Zips averaging team-high marks in scoring (26.0), while also posting 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.5 assists in a pair of games for the Zips.
• 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 27 and 14 career 20-point performances after Brown poured in 29 points versus Ohio on Feb. 20.
• The Zips have won 33 of their last 41 games at the James A. Rhodes Arena, including a 8-4 mark this season.
• Akron is 12-4 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.
Plybon Joins Brown 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, Hannah Plybon joined teammate Anita Brown as members of the 1,000-point club at Akron. Earlier in the season, Brown 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 to move past 1,000 career points. Brown and Plybon will enter the Buffalo contest with 1,421 and 1,089 career points, respectively.
Zips Hosted Play4Kay Game vs. Miami
Akron's Feb. 6 game versus Miami served as the Zips' Play4Kay game in honor of the late North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow, who lost her long battle with breast cancer in 2009. The game helped raise awareness for the disease and the Kay Yow Foundation, which supports research, provides grants, and drives inspiration in the fight against women's cancers.
Senior Class Moving Up Zips' All-Time Win List
Akron seniors Megan Barilla, Anita Brown and DiAndra Gibson are moving up the ladder on the Zips' list of all-time winningest classes in program history. The trio will enter Akron's game with Buffalo on Wednesday, March 2, owning 83 victories. The 2014-15 senior class of Sina King holds the all-time mark of 84 wins (2011-15).
Zips Find Road Success in MAC Play
For the first time in program history Akron was victorious in its initial three conference road games this season before dropping an 81-60 decision at Central Michigan. The Zips registered triumphs over Eastern Michigan (68-65 in OT), Bowling Green (71-55) and Buffalo (69-61). Anita Brown and Hannah Plybon have led Akron averaging 19.3 and 15.2 points per game in road league affairs. DiAndra Gibson is recording 12.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in league road contests, while Greta Burry is posting 9.3 points and 6.3 rebound per tilt.
Brown Fuels Zips' Attack
Anita Brown has been the catalyst for the Zips' offense this season averaging a team-best 21.3 points per contest. She has surpassed the 20-point plateau in all but 10 games this season. Brown has now scored in double figures in each of the last 35 contests for the Zips, including scoring 20 or more points in 19 of the 35 tilts.
Barilla Dropping Dimes Sparks Akron
Megan Barilla is off to an impressive start distributing the ball for the Zips averaging a team-high 5.3 assists per game. She has recorded four or more dimes in 25 of Akron's 27 contests this season and on 39 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 27 games this season, Burry has posted 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds a game, while shooting 53.2 percent from the field.
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.
Plybon a Quick Study
Only a junior, Hannah Plybon has earned her undergraduate degree in speech language in just over two years from the University of Akron this past August. She is currently pursuing her master's degree.
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.
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 trio of Zips are averaging double figures in scoring over Akron's last five games as the threesome of Anita Brown, Hannah Plybon and DiAndra Gibson have posted 19.5, 17.2 and 12.4 points a night en route to leading the Zips to a 3-2 mark. Akron is shooting nearly 41.0 percent (.407) from the field, while its opposition is connecting with a 44.2-percent shooting mark from the floor. Brown paces Akron in rebounding averaging 7.3 caroms a night, while Megan Barilla owns a team-best 27 assists.
Akron in Close Games
Akron has been involved in 57 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 (4-4), four-point difference (4-6) and five-point difference (2-6).
Zips' Offensive Progress Report
In Akron's 27 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .500 (Eastern Michigan-2), 40 percent: . 476 (Valparaiso), .476 (UCF), .474 (Kent State-1), .472 (Miami-1), .457 (Rochester College), .450 (Kent State-2), .443 (Ball State), .426 (Northern Colorado), .423 (Florida Atlantic), .419 (Youngstown State), .412 (Bowling Green-1), .411 (Northern Kentucky), .407 (Toledo), .404 (Western Michigan), .400 (Central Michigan-1), .400 (San Diego), 30 percent: .397 (Florida Gulf Coast), .390 (Buffalo-1), .371 (Ohio-2), .348 (Northern Illinois), .347 (Winthrop), .339 (Miami-2), .313 (Central Michigan-2), .310 (Northern Iowa), 20 percent: .299 (Eastern Michigan-1), .274 (Ohio-1).
Akron's Defensive Progress Report
In the Zips' 27 games this season, this is how Akron's opponents have fared from the field: 50 percent: .588 (Central Michigan-1), .540 (San Diego), .500 (Kent State-1), .500 (Ball State), 40 percent: .492 (Ohio-2), .467 (Florida Atlantic), .458 (Valparaiso), .442 (Kent State-2), .407 (Northern Illinois), 30 percent: .397 (Western Michigan), .397 (Ohio-1), .393 (Northern Colorado), .391 (Toledo), .391 (Florida Gulf Coast), .385 (Eastern Michigan-2), .385 (Central Michigan-2), .375 (Miami-2), .365 (Eastern Michigan-1), .365 (Northern Kentucky), .343 (UCF), .333 (Miami-1), .307 (Winthrop), 20 percent: .295 (Youngstown State), .292 (Buffalo-1), .276 (Bowling Green-1), .265 (Northern Iowa), .216 (Rochester College).
Bench Production
Akron is averaging 12.8 points of production from its bench through the Zips' first 27 games this season. Lauren Hung, Alex Ricketts and Alli Ball lead the way registering 3.5, 3.5 and 2.6 points, respectively. Ricketts and Ball pace the reserves in rebounding pulling down 2.7 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 Thursday 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
The Zips close out the regular season hosting Bowling Green in a 2 p.m. tilt on Saturday, March 5.
