The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan Next on Docket for Akron
January 27 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN GAME NOTES - 1/28/17 (PDF)
Akron (8-10, 1-6 MAC) vs. Eastern Michigan (6-14, 1-7 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 28
James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500)
Akron, Ohio • 5:02 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. Tom Linder will have the call starting with the pregame show starting at 4:45 p.m.
Television: ESPN3/Watch ESPN (Dave Bacon - pxp and Jacki Windon - analyst)
WHAT'S AHEAD
Akron returns to the court for the first time in a week this Saturday, Jan. 28, as the Zips square off against Eastern Michigan. The tilt will be first game in a doubleheader with the Akron men's team and is set to begin at 5:02 p.m.
A LOOK AT EASTERN MICHIGAN
Eastern Michigan enters play against Akron on Saturday, Jan. 28, having snapped a seven-game losing streak with an 81-74 overtime triumph past Bowling Green on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Four Eagles average double figures in scoring as the quartet of junior Sasha Dailey, seniors Phillis Webb and Sheyna Deans and junior Micah Robinson are posting 17.4, 13.5, 11.2 and 11.2 tallies per night, respectively. Webb is Eastern Michigan's top rebounder pulling down 8.6 caroms per contest. The Eagles are recording 63.2 points per contest and have connected at nearly 36 percent (.359) from the field and at a 26.2-percent clip from beyond the arc.
As a unit, Eastern Michigan is ranked 24th in the NCAA in defensive rebounding (29.0), 28th in total rebounds (839), 48th in rebounding (41.95) and 51st in free throws attempted (389).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron will be meeting Eastern Michigan for the 37th time in program history with the Zips leading the all-time series, 21-15. Akron registered 68-65 (OT) and 75-72 victories over the Eagles a year ago.
THE COACHES
Eastern Michigan: Fred Castro is in his first season leading the Eagles' program owning a 6-14 (.300) record.
Akron: In her 11th year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, is Jodi Kest, who has a 169-163 mark (.509), including 395-316 (.556) overall, in her 25th year as a head coach.
IN OUR LAST MEETING
Akron def. Eastern Michigan, 75-72 (Jan. 30, 2016)
AKRON, Ohio - Despite trailing for the majority of the game, Akron overcame a 12-point third-quarter deficit to defeat Eastern Michigan, 75-72, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Anita Brown recorded 27 points and contributed a game-high nine rebounds for Akron. Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) followed her lead, posting 24 points and seven rebounds. Plybon shot 7-for-14 from the field and added a perfect 6-for-6 showing from the free throw line.
DiAndra Gibson added eight points while Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) and Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) chipped in five points apiece. Megan Barilla led the team in assists for the 18th game of the season with six helpers.
Eastern Michigan placed three players in double figures offensively, led by 23 points, seven assists and five rebounds from Cha Sweeney.
Akron shot 50 percent from the field for the afternoon, compared to the Eagles connecting at a 38.5 percent clip.
Each team registered 36 rebounds in the affair with the Zips outrebounding Eastern Michigan on the defensive end, 27-19, and the Eagles corralling a 17-9 advantage off the offensive glass.
WESTERN MICHIGAN DEALS ZIPS A 73-57 SETBACK
Powered by four different players scoring in double figures, Western Michigan defeated Akron by a final score of 73-57 on Saturday, Jan. 21, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Hannah Plybon led the way for the Zips with 19 points and registered three rebounds and a trio of assists. She connected on five three pointers to move to within 12 of 300 for her career.
Greta Burry chipped in 12 points and pulled down seven boards, while redshirt sophomore Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) added an 11-point and seven-rebound effort.
Breanna Mobley paced Western Michigan's balanced attack, scoring 17 points, while Marley Hill added 16 points. Meredith Shipman and Deja Wimby rounded out the Broncos scoring in double figures with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
For the contest, the Zips connected on 34.5 percent (20-of-58) of their shots from the field and 32.1 percent (9-of-28) of their attempts from behind the arc. The Broncos hit 45.9 percent (28-of-61) of their shots from the field and 40 percent (4-of-10) of their three-point attempts.
Western Michigan ultimately won the contest with its play near the basket as the Broncos outrebounded Akron, 41-32, including 29-22 on the defensive glass. Western Michigan parlayed those efforts into a 42-22 advantage in points in the paint and turned the Zips' 21 turnovers into 31 points.
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 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 Greta Burry. 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 out-pace 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.
PLYBON AMONG THE NCAA'S ELITE
One of the most dynamic players in women's collegiate basketball, Hannah Plybon enters play this Saturday, Jan. 28, versus Eastern Michigan highly ranked among the active women's basketball players in Division 1 in several categories. Plybon is currently ranked second, third, fifth, 10th, 35th and 38th, respectively, among active career leaders in three pointers attempted (827), triples attempted per game (7.19), triples made (288), three pointers made per contest (2.50), field goals attempted (1,299) and points (1,508). Across all divisions of women's basketball, Plybon is rated fourth in three pointers attempted, sixth in triples taken per game and seventh 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 Eastern Michigan with 288 career three pointers. A year ago, Plybon connected on a school-record 104 three pointers during the 2015-16 campaign.
• Akron has won five of the last six meetings with Eastern Michigan.
• The Zips own a 5-1 mark in games versus the Eagles at James A. Rhodes Arena under head coach Jodi Kest.
• Hannah Plybon is averaging a team-best 16.8 points per game in five career contests against Eastern Michigan, while Greta Burry averages 8.0 points and a team-best 5.3 rebounds per tilt against the Eagles.
• In the Zips' last encounter with Eastern Michigan on Jan. 30, 2016, Hannah Plybon recorded a 24-point, seven-rebound performance in a 75-72 Akron victory.
• Over the Zips' last five contests, Hannah Plybon, Alex Ricketts and Megan Sefcik are averaging 15.6, 11.4 and 10.0 points, respectively. Shaunay Edmonds owns team-best marks 19 assists and eight steals, while Brittany Gordon (South Charleston, W. Va.) has distributed 10 assists. Plybon, Sefcik and Ricketts have combined to connect on 32 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 2.39 three pointers and 9.9 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 71 percent (.707) of their games at James A. Rhodes Arena, having posted a 58-24 ledger.
• Akron has recorded at least one block in 49 of its last 51 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 19.3 points per contest off the bench. The Zips' reserves are shooting 37.1 percent from the field and at a 31.6-percent clip from beyond the arc. Brittany Gordon has registered 49 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 Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 21, having won 65 of its last 100 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 Eastern Michigan having amassed 1,508 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 1,508 career points. She is 37 points shy of surpassing Pam Arnold (1,544) for seventh all-time in the Zips' record book.
• Greta Burry is shooting 52.4 percent from the field for her career having made 163 of her 311 shots.
• The Zips have won 19 or more games in each of the last four seasons.
AKRON NOTES
• Shaunay Edmonds has registered three or more assists in 12 games, while posting three or more steals in seven contests.
• Megan Sefcik has recorded 49 rebounds this season and 64 for her career, and it was not until her 45th career game (Jan. 21 vs. Western Michigan) that she pulled down her first-ever rebound as a Zip on the offensive glass.
• Shaunay Edmonds and Brittany Gordon have combined to distribute 42 of Akron's 83 assists in league play this season.
• Hannah Plybon, Greta Burry and Haliegh Reinoehl have led the Zips through seven conference tilts in rebounding pulling down 5.3, 5.0 and 4.9 rebounds per outing, respectively.
• Hannah Plybon, Megan Sefcik and Alex Ricketts have connected on 20, 14 and 10 three pointers, respectively, in league play.
• Three Zips are shooting 50 percent or better from the field through seven MAC contests. Greta Burry and Caitlin Vari, and Brooke Kurucz (Parkersburg, W. Va.) are connecting at 57.7- (15-26), 50.0- (4-8) and 50.0-percent (2-4) clips.
• Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.), Alex Ricketts and Megan Sefcik have made 50.0 (2-4), 45.5 (10-22) and 37.8 (14-37) percent of their shots beyond the arc in conference play.
• Three Zips equaled or established new career-high marks versus Western Michigan on Jan. 21.
• 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 53 and 43 triples, respectively, this season.
• Greta Burry leads all Akron players in rebounding having pulled down a team-best 99 caroms this season, while Hannah Plybon, Alex Ricketts and Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.) have each recorded 97, 82 and 65 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 (16), Alex Ricketts (12), Megan Sefcik (9), Greta Burry (5), 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 53.8 percent (21-39) in the initial 20 minutes of the Zips' 18 tilts on the campaign.
• In the second half of games this season, Hannah Plybon leads the offensive efforts for Akron averaging 8.6 points. As a team, the Zips are shooting 41.5 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes in their 18 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 51 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 Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 28, 38th in the NCAA in triples made per game (7.9), while also rating 56th in triples made (142), 59th in three pointers attempted (430) and 74th in fewest fouls (303).
• Individually, Hannah Plybon is 26th in the country in three pointers attempted (153), 28th in three pointers per game (2.94), 39th in triples made (53) and 50th in scoring (18.1).
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 Michigan contest with 1,508 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 18 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 (Western Michigan-2), .345 (Malone), .338 (Bowling Green-1), .302 (Bucknell), 20 percent: .294 (Duquesne).
AKRON'S DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 18 games this season, this is how Akron's opponents have fared from the field: 50 percent: .508 (Ball State-1), .508 (Central Michigan), 40 percent: .459 (Western Michigan-2), .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
In the finale of a three-game homestand, Akron faces Ball State for the second time this season on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Game time at James A. Rhodes Arena is set for 7 p.m.
