Zips Look to Build Momentum Hosting Western Michigan

Saturday, January 21

Akron, Ohio

2 pm

University of Akron

Western Michigan

Zips Look to Build Momentum Hosting Western Michigan

January 20 | Women's Basketball

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AKRON VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN GAME NOTES - 1/21/17 (PDF)

Akron (8-9, 1-5 MAC) vs. Western Michigan (13-4, 4-2 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 21
James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500)
Akron, Ohio • 2 p.m.

Live Stats: www.AkronStats.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 1:45 p.m.
Television: ESPN3/Watch ESPN (Dave Bacon - pxp and Jacki Windon - analyst)

WHAT'S AHEAD
Looking to build upon the momentum of its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season with a decisive 84-55 triumph at Northern Illinois, Akron opens a three-game homestand squaring off against Western Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 21. Game time at James A. Rhodes Arena is set for 2:02 p.m.

A LOOK AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan comes into action versus Akron on Saturday, Jan. 21, having won four of its first six league games, despite dropping a 71-67 home decision against Kent State on Wednesday, Jan. 18. The Broncos' offensive exploits have been paced by 16.3, 14.5 and 11.5 points, respectively, from redshirt junior Marley Hill, sophomore Breanna Mobley and senior Meredith Shipman. Mobley is Western Michigan's top rebounder pulling down a team-best 10.4 caroms per game. The Broncos are recording 68.7 points per contest and have connected at nearly 42 percent (.427) from the field and at a 31.6-percent clip from beyond the arc.

As a unit, Western Michigan is ranked 42nd in the NCAA in winning percentage (.765).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron will be meeting Western Michigan for the 38th time in program history with the Broncos leading the all-time series, 27-10. Earlier this season, Western Michigan registered a 73-60 decision past the Zips on Dec. 31, 2016, in Kalamazoo, Mich.

THE COACHES
Western Michigan: Shane Clipfell is in his fifth season leading the Broncos' program owning a 74-70 (.514) record and maintains a 87-81 (.518) overall mark in six years as a head coach.

Akron: In her 11th year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, is Jodi Kest, who has a 169-162 mark (.511), including 395-315 (.556) overall, in her 25th year as a head coach.

IN OUR LAST MEETING
Western Michigan def. Akron, 73-60 (Dec. 31, 2016)
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - A more than six-minute scoreless drought proved too much for Akron to overcome in its Mid-American Conference opener as Western Michigan used a 13-0 run over that span to register a 73-60 triumph over the Zips.

Akron was directed by 16- and 14-point performances from seniors Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) and Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio), while freshman Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio) contributed a then career-best seven points off the bench. The Broncos benefitted from 23, 21 and 19 points, respectively, from Marley Hill, Breanna Mobley and Deja Wimby. Mobley finished with a double-double recording a game-high 16 rebounds.

Akron connected on 38.2 percent of its attempts from the field on the afternoon, while Western Michigan shot nearly 40 percent (.397) from the floor.

The Broncos garnered a decided advantage in rebounding bettering the Zips, 45-30, including 20-7 on the offensive glass. Western Michigan parlayed that margin into a 15-5 spread in second-chance points and a 34-14 edge in points in the paint.

AKRON DOMINATES IN 84-55 VICTORY AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS
A dominating second-half performance propelled Akron to an 84-55 victory past Mid-American Conference West Division leader Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

The Zips connected on a season-best 14 three pointers in the tilt and held the Huskies, who came into the affair averaging 90.2 points per game, to 35 points under their scoring average.

Akron saw all five starters finish with double-figure scoring efforts led by a game-high 20 points from Hannah Plybon. Freshmen Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) added 13 points apiece, while contributing 11 points each was Alex Ricketts and junior Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio). The 13 points for Edmonds and Reinoehl established new career-high scoring marks.

Northern Illinois, who came into play with six players averaging double figures in scoring, were paced by a 15-point effort from Mikayla Voight. Adding 14 and 11 points, respectively, were Janae Poisson and Courtney Woods. Additionally, the Zips held the Huskies' all-conference candidate Ally Lehman without a point.

Akron registered a season-best 55 rebounds to outpace Northern Illinois on the glass, 55-37, including 18-10 on the offensive end. Burry pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for the Zips to notch her fifth career double-double, while freshman Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) recorded a career-best nine rebounds.

ZIPS' RALLY NOT ENOUGH AS AKRON FALLS AT BALL STATE, 80-70
Akron twice cut its fourth-quarter deficit to seven points, but the Zips were unable to complete the rally and earn its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season as Ball State registered an 80-70 decision on Saturday, Jan. 14.

Alex Ricketts and redshirt sophomore Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) paced Akron with a team-high 13 points apiece, while Hannah Plybon tallied 11 points. Making a return to her home state with a nine-point, nine-rebound performance was Haliegh Reinoehl. The nine rebounds represented a team- and career-high mark for Reinoehl.

Jill Morrison led Ball State with a game-high 16 points, while Renee Bennett, Carmen Grande and Calyn Hosea added 15, 13 and 13 points, respectively.

The Zips outrebounded the Cardinals on the afternoon, 35-34.

Akron finished the contest shooting better than 43 percent (.433) from the field, while Ball State connected at a 50.8-percent clip on the afternoon.

PLYBON AMONG THE NCAA'S ELITE
One of the most dynamic players in women's collegiate basketball, Hannah Plybon enters play this Saturday, Jan. 21, versus Western Michigan highly ranked among the active women's basketball players in Division 1 in several categories. Plybon is currently ranked second, fourth, sixth, 10th, 37th and 40th, respectively, among active career leaders in three pointers attempted (814), triples attempted per game (7.14), triples made (283), three pointers made per contest (2.48), field goals attempted (1,283) and points (1,489). Across all divisions of women's basketball, Plybon is rated fourth in three pointers attempted, seventh in triples taken per game and ninth in three pointers made.

NEWS, NOTES AND STORYLINES
• Hannah Plybon became Akron's all-time leader in three pointers when she connected on her second of three triples at Western Michigan on Dec. 31. She surpassed Taylor Ruper's (2009-13) school-record 269 three pointers made and enters play versus Western Michigan with 283 career three pointers. A year ago, Plybon connected on a school-record 104 three pointers during the 2015-16 campaign.
• Hannah Plybon is averaging a team-best 13.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in five career contests against Western Michigan, while Shayna Harmon, Alex Ricketts, Shaunay Edmonds and Megan Sefcik average 7.0, 6.4, 6.0 and 5.5 points per tilt against the Broncos. Haliegh Reinoehl and Ricketts pulling down 4.0 and 3.8 rebounds per outing versus Western Michigan.
• In the Zips' last encounter with Western Michigan on Dec. 31, 2016, Alex Ricketts and Hannah Plybon recorded 16 and 14 points, respectively.
• Over the Zips' last five contests, Hannah Plybon, Alex Ricketts and Megan Sefcik are averaging 14.6, 13.2 and 10.0 points, respectively. Shaunay Edmonds owns team-best marks 20 assists and 10 steals, while Brittany Gordon (South Charleston, W. Va.) has distributed 11 assists. Plybon, Sefcik and Ricketts have combined to connect on 30 three pointers.
• Akron's five non-conference victories away from James A. Rhodes Arena this season are tied for the most for the Zips in a single-season in non-conference play since the team began Mid-American Conference competition during the 1992-93 campaign. The 2012-13 and 1998-99 squads also matched the mark.
• Megan Sefcik has emerged for the Zips this season averaging 2.35 three pointers and 9.8 points per game. Sefcik has already surpassed career single-season totals in field goals, triples and free throws made/attempted, defensive rebounds, total rebounds and assists.
• Since the start of the 2011-12 campaign, the Zips have won nearly 72 percent (.716) of their games at James A. Rhodes Arena, having posted a 58-23 ledger.
• Akron has recorded at least one block in 48 of its last 50 games since the start of the 2015-16 campaign, including in all but one contest this season.
• Following their 76-74 victory over Youngstown State on Dec. 6, the Zips have won five consecutive games played in overtime, including a 4-0 record last season.
• Led by 10.1 points per tilt from Megan Sefcik, Akron is averaging 19.5 points per contest off the bench. The Zips' reserves are shooting 37 percent from the field and at a 31.7-percent clip from beyond the arc. Brittany Gordon has registered 48 assists.
• Akron's tilt at Eastern Kentucky marked the 700th game in the head coaching career of Jodi Kest.
• The Zips' victory over Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 10 marked the 350th since Akron transitioned to NCAA Division I prior to the 1983-84 campaign.
• When Hannah Plybon surpasses 20 points in a contest Akron has posted an 17-6 record.
• Akron enters its contest versus Western Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 21, having won 65 of its last 99 games dating back to the 2013-14 campaign.
• Hannah Plybon came into the 2016-17 campaign as the Zips' active leader in career scoring. She will enter Akron's game with Western Michigan having amassed 1,489 points and has connected on 37.6 percent of her shots from the field and at a 34.8-percent clip from beyond the arc.
• Hannah Plybon is ranked eighth in career scoring at Akron with 1,489 career points. She is 56 points shy of surpassing Pam Arnold (1,544) for seventh all-time in the Zips' record book.
• Greta Burry is shooting 52.1 percent from the field for her career having made 159 of her 305 shots.
• The Zips have won 19 or more games in each of the last four seasons.

AKRON NOTES
• Akron has faced the most-challenging conference schedule (by opponent record) thus far this season as its six league opponents own a combined 25-11 MAC ledger. The remainder of the conference entering play on Saturday, Jan. 21, is as follows; Kent State (25-11), Bowling Green (23-13), Eastern Michigan (21-15), Toledo (18-18), Ball State (17-19), Miami (16-14), Ohio (16-20), Buffalo (16-20), Central Michigan (14-22), Northern Illinois (12-24) and Western Michigan (11-25).
• Akron is one of four league schools which has played four of its first six league games on the road this season following its game at Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Jan. 18, joining Buffalo, Kent State and Ohio.
• Shaunay Edmonds has registered three or more assists in 11 games, while posting three or more steals in seven contests.
• Megan Sefcik has recorded 42 rebounds this season and 57 for her career, none of which have come off the offensive glass.
• Shaunay Edmonds and Brittany Gordon have combined to distribute 37 of Akron's 73 assists in league play this season.
• Hannah Plybon and Haliegh Reinoehl have led the Zips through six conference tilts in rebounding pulling down 5.7 and 5.2 rebounds per outing, respectively.
• Hannah Plybon, Megan Sefcik and Alex Ricketts have connected on 15, 11 and 10 three pointers, respectively, in league play.
• Four Zips are shooting 50 percent or better from the field through six MAC contests. Greta Burry and Caitlin Vari, Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.) and Brooke Kurucz (Parkersburg, W. Va.) are connecting at 57.1- (4-7), 55.0- (11-20), 50.0- (3-6) and 50.0-percent (2-4) clips.
• Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.), Alex Ricketts and Haliegh Reinoehl have made 50.0 (2-4), 45.5 (10-22) and 41.7 (5-12) percent of their shots beyond the arc in conference play.
• Six Zips equaled or established new career-high marks versus Northern Illinois on Jan. 18.
• Hannah Plybon pulled down double-figure rebounds in back-to-back contests for the first time in her career corralling 11 rebounds against Ohio, while recording 12 rebounds against Bowling Green.
• Senior Hannah Plybon bas selected by the Mid-American Conference as the MAC East Division Women's Basketball Player of the Week on three occasions this season. The conference awards are the second, third and fourth in Plybon's career. She was previous named MAC East Player of the Week this season on Dec. 27, Dec. 20 and Nov. 22, respectively.
• Hannah Plybon and Megan Sefcik have recorded 48 and 40 triples, respectively, this season.
• Hannah Plybon leads all Akron players in rebounding having pulled down a team-best 94 caroms this season, while Greta Burry, Alex Ricketts and Alli Ball have each recorded 92, 79 and 63 rebounds, respectively.
• Megan Sefcik registered career-high marks in scoring (20) and three pointers (6) in Akron's 78-66 victory over Georgia State.
• Greta Burry pulled down a season-high 13 rebounds for Akron in the Zips' 69-52 win over Ohio Christian.
• Shaunay Edmonds distributed a career-best seven assists versus Duquesne, while Caitlin Vari poured in career-high marks in scoring (6).
• The Zips committed a season-low eight turnovers versus Duquesne.
• 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 five 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), at Bowling Green (17 points/11 rebounds - Jan. 20, 2016), versus Ohio Christian (15 points/13 rebounds - Dec. 28, 2016) and at Northern Illinois (11 points/11 rebounds - Jan. 18, 2017).
• While Burry owns a team-best five double-doubles, Akron has also benefited from three, two and one, respectively, from Hannah Plybon (18 points/11 rebounds at Youngstown State - Dec. 6, 2016; 27 points/10 rebounds vs. Elon - Dec. 21, 2016; 19 points/11 rebounds vs. Ohio - Jan. 11, 2017), Alex Ricketts and Alli Ball (13 points/11 rebounds at Florida Atlantic - Nov. 13, 2015).
• Seven players in Hannah Plybon (15), Alex Ricketts (12), Megan Sefcik (8), Greta Burry (4), Shaunay Edmonds (4), Alli Ball (2) and Haliegh Reinoehl (2) 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 (20 at Georgia State), Alli Ball (15 vs. Malone), Shaunay Edmonds (13 at Northern Illinois), Haliegh Reinoehl (13 at Northern Illinois), Shayna Harmon (9 at Central Michigan), Brittany Gordon (6 at Penn State), Caitlin Vari (6 vs. Duquesne), Brooke Kurucz (5 at Winthrop), Fredniqua Walker (Cleveland, Ohio) (4 at Winthrop) and Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind.) (3 vs. Ohio Christian/at Central Michigan).
• Hannah Plybon is averaging a team-best 9.6 points in the first half of games this season, while Greta Burry is shooting 52.8 percent (19-36) in the initial 20 minutes of the Zips' 17 tilts on the campaign.
• In the second half of games this season, Hannah Plybon leads the offensive efforts for Akron averaging 8.4 points. As a team, the Zips are shooting 41.4 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes in their 17 contests this season. Additionally, Brittany Gordon owns a better than 2-1 assist-turnover ratio.
• Hannah Plybon poured in a career-best 39 points at Canisius on Nov. 20 and owns 23 career 20-point performances.
• The Zips have won 38 of their last 50 games at the James A. Rhodes Arena.
• 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.

AKRON BEGINS HOME ESPN3 BASKETBALL BROADCASTS
Zips Athletics has announced its ESPN3 basketball broadcasting schedule in partnership with the Mid-American Conference and ESPN.

Beginning on Jan. 3, with its men's basketball game against Bowling Green, Akron launched its first high-definition ESPN3 broadcast of the basketball season. All of the Zips' remaining home women's basketball tilts will be broadcast.

Under the guidance of producer Mike Bacon and Classic Television Productions, the Zips' broadcasts will feature television veteran Michael Reghi on play-by-play and Jacki Windon on color commentary

Three-time Emmy Award winner Reghi, a familiar face on MAC television broadcasts, has provided play-by-play for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is also a primary announcer for football and basketball games on the MAC Television Network and Sports Time Ohio.

Windon, who works for the Ohio High School Athletic Association, has extensive television commentary experience on Fox Sports Ohio and Time Warner Cable broadcasts. The former head women's basketball coach at Case Western Reserve also worked for Zips Athletics for three seasons, including two seasons with the women's basketball team.

The ESPN3 broadcasts are FREE to fans online at www.GoZips.com who have a WatchESPN affiliated TV or Internet provider.

NCAA RANKINGS
• The Zips enter play versus Western Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 21, 43rd in the NCAA in triples made per game (7.8), while also rating 56th in three pointers attempted (402) and made (133).
• Individually, Hannah Plybon is 32nd in the country in three pointers attempted (140), 33rd in three pointers per game (2.82), 42nd in triples made (48), 53rd in scoring (18.1), 67th in free throws made (71) and 73rd in total points (307).

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 Western Michigan contest with 1,489 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 63 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 (4-5), four-point difference (4-8) and five-point difference (2-6).

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 17 games this season, this is how the Zips has fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .484 (Winthrop), .476 (Ohio Christian), .448 (Penn State), .434 (Canisius), .433 (Ball State-1), .432 (Northern Illinois), .421 (Georgia State), 30 percent: .389 (Eastern Kentucky), .386 (Central Michigan), .382 (Western Michigan-1), .368 (Ohio-1), .367 (Youngstown State), .356 (Elon), .345 (Malone), .338 (Bowling Green-1), .302 (Bucknell), 20 percent: .294 (Duquesne).

AKRON'S DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 17 games this season, this is how Akron's opponents have fared from the field: 50 percent: .508 (Ball State-1), .508 (Central Michigan), 40 percent: .443 (Ohio-1), .432 (Penn State), .424 (Youngstown State), .414 (Georgia State), .413 (Winthrop), .400 (Bucknell), 30 percent: .397 (Western Michigan-1), .385 (Canisius), .364 (Elon), .382 (Duquesne), .333 (Northern Illinois), .333 (Eastern Kentucky), .328 (Bowling Green-1), .317 (Malone), 20 percent: .278 (Ohio Christian).

ZIPS LIVE RADIO SHOW
Every Monday throughout the 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 the Spaghetti Warehouse (510 S. Main Street). A free audio stream is available on www.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 will have the week off before welcoming Eastern Michigan to James A. Rhodes Arena for a 5 p.m. tilt on Jan. 28.