The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
A Rivalry Renewed as Akron Hosts Kent State
February 10 | Women's Basketball
Follow Akron Women's Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Follow Coach Kest on Twitter
AKRON VS. KENT STATE GAME NOTES - 2/11/17 (PDF)
Akron (9-13, 2-9 MAC) vs. Kent State (13-11, 7-5 MAC)
Saturday, Feb. 11
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 beginning with the pre-game show at 1:45 p.m.
Television: ESPN3/Watch ESPN (Dave Bacon - pxp and Jacki Windon - analyst)
WHAT'S AHEAD
Akron renews its cross-town rivalry with Kent State on Saturday, Feb. 11, as the Zips and Golden Flashes square off in the first of two meetings this season. Game time is set for 2:02 p.m inside James A. Rhodes Arena.
CRYSTAL CLINIC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
Valuable points will be on the line when Akron and Kent State battle on Saturday, Feb. 11, as part of the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge. The Zips currently lead the season-long competition which awards points to the head-to-head winners in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's golf, women's soccer, softball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field and volleyball, 3.5-1.5, with a half point up for grabs to the winner of the contest. The two sides will again meet on Feb. 25 when the Golden Flashes host the Zips. For more information on the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel challenge please visit WagonWheelChallenge.com.
A LOOK AT KENT STATE
Kent State has won three of its last four games and seven of 10 overall following the squad's 83-65 triumph past Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Senior Larissa Lurken averages team-high marks in scoring (23.3) and rebounding (6.5) for the Golden Flashes, while junior Jordan Korinek tallies 15.7 points an outing. Lurken leads the nation in free throws made (205) and attempted (245) and single-handedly has scored more points at the charity stripe than all but two Zips have tallied overall this season. Kent State is recording 70.6 points per contest and has connected at more than 39 percent (.392) of its attempts from the field and at a 32.0-percent clip from beyond the arc.
As a unit, the Golden Flashes are ranked first in the NCAA in free throws made (453), second in free throws attempted (607) and 49th in free throw percentage (.746).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron will be meeting Kent State for the 63rd time in program history with the Golden Flashes leading the all-time series, 47-15. The Zips posted a pair of wins over Kent State a year ago.
THE COACHES
Kent State: Todd Starkey is in his first season leading the Golden Flashes' program owning a 13-11 (.542) record and maintains a 178-106 (.627) overall ledger in 10 seasons as a head coach.
Akron: In her 11th year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, is Jodi Kest, who has a 170-166 mark (.506), including 396-319 (.554) overall, in her 25th year as a head coach.
IN OUR LAST MEETING
Akron def. Kent State, 70-60 (Feb. 27, 2016)
KENT, Ohio - Four Akron players scored in double figures to lead the Zips to a 70-60 women's basketball victory over Kent State at the M.A.C. Center.
Akron swept the season series from the Golden Flashes en route to claiming its eighth straight victory over Kent State. The triumph also marks the first time in program history that a senior class has shutout the Golden Flashes over a four-year span.
Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) and Anita Brown 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. DiAndra Gibson contributed 14 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) added 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Megan Barilla added a game-high four assists 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.
SHOOTING WOES SPELL 54-49 SETBACK FOR ZIPS AT MIAMI
An extended shooting slump over final 10 minutes of play proved too much for Akron to overcome as Miami University registered a 54-49 victory past the Zips in Mid-American Conference action on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Millett Hall.
Freshmen Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) led Akron's scoring efforts recording 16 and 10 points, respectively. Kendall McCoy directed three RedHawks scoring in double figures with a 14-point, 10-rebound performance, while Lauren Dickerson and Leah Purvis tallied 13 and 11 points.
Akron finished the game shooting a season-low 28.6 percent from the field and at a 23.8-percent clip beyond the arc. Miami shot 31.7 percent from the floor on the evening and made just three of its shots from distance (15.8 percent).
The RedHawks outrebounded the Zips in the tilt, 50-42, with Miami parlaying the advantage into an 18-7 margin in second-chance points. Reinoehl fell one rebound shy of her first career double-double pulling down team-best nine caroms to go along with her 10 points.
BOWLING GREEN SHOOTS PAST AKRON, 86-50
Bowling Green connected on a season-high 15 three pointers en route to dealing Akron an 86-50 setback on Feb 4, at the Stroh Center.
The Falcons shot nearly 54 percent (.536) from beyond the arc in the game and 44.8 percent overall, while limiting the Zips to a 32.8 percent shooting mark en route to earning the victory.
Redshirt sophomore Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) led Akron with a team-high 14 points, including make four triples. Carly Santoro directed three Bowling Green players scoring in double figures with a game-high 16 points. Also surpassing the double-digit scoring plateau for the Falcons was Sydney Lambert and Caterrion Thompson with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Bowling Green posted a 48-32 advantage in rebounding on the afternoon, including 34-24 on the defensive glass and capitalized on the margin with an 18-6 difference in second-chance points.
Haliegh Reinoehl pulled down a team-best seven rebounds for Akron.
PLYBON AMONG THE NCAA'S ELITE
One of the most dynamic players in women's collegiate basketball, Hannah Plybon enters play this Saturday, Feb. 11, versus Kent State highly ranked among the active women's basketball players in Division 1 in several categories. Plybon is currently ranked second, fourth, fifth, 14th, 34th and 40th, respectively, among active career leaders in three pointers attempted (860), triples attempted per game (7.23), triples made (296), three pointers made per contest (2.49), field goals attempted (1,355) and points (1,557). Across all divisions of women's basketball, Plybon is rated fourth in three pointers attempted, seventh in three pointers made and eighth in triples taken per game.
PLYBON CLIMBING CAREER MAC THREE-POINT LADDER
Hannah Plybon enters play against Kent State on Saturday, Feb. 11, ranked fifth all-time in Mid-American Conference women's basketball history in three pointers made (296). She trails only Kiyanna Black (Ohio, 2013-16), Audrey McDonald (Ball State, 2006-10), Lauren Prochaska (Bowling Green, 2007-11) and Courtney Osborn (Miami, 2009-13) on the MAC's career leader board. The quartet recorded 329, 323, 310 and 299 triples, respectively, during their collegiate careers.
ZIPS' FRESHMEN DUO SHINING
The evolution in the development of freshmen Shaunay Edmonds and Haliegh Reinoehl has been impressive for the Zips this season.
Given the keys to the proverbial car as a rookie, Edmonds has started all 22 contests for Akron leading the squad in assists (78) and steals (43), while ranking fourth in scoring (7.4) and fifth in blocked shots (6). In league play, those numbers jumps as Edmonds directs the Zips in assists (42) and steals (23), while rating third in scoring (8.8) and fourth in blocks (3). She has scored seven or more points in seven conference tilts, including surpassing double digits three times. On the season, she has led the Zips in assists 14 times and in scoring on three occasions.
Reinoehl has played in 21 of 22 contests for Akron as a freshman, including making eight starts and has responded averaging 4.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Her 4.7 rebound average is ranked third on the squad, while also rating second in offensive rebounds (32), third in overall rebounds (99) and defensive caroms (67) and fourth in blocked shots (8). In conference-only games, Reinoehl averages 5.6 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds per game. She has scored five or more points in six contests, including a career-best 13 points in a victory at Northern Illinois, while pulling down five or more rebounds on eight occasions. Reinoehl has paced Akron in rebounding a team-high eight times.
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 Kent State with 296 career three pointers. A year ago, Plybon connected on a school-record 104 three pointers during the 2015-16 campaign.
• Akron's game versus Ball State on Feb. 1 marked the first time this season in which both Hannah Plybon and Megan Sefcik, the Zips' leading three-point shooters, did not connect on a triple.
• Hannah Plybon is averaging a team-best 13.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in six career contests against Kent State, while Greta Burry averages 4.3 points against the Golden Flashes.
• The Zips have won their last eight games against Kent State and have garnered victories in five straight inside James A. Rhodes Arena.
• Over the Zips' last five contests, Hannah Plybon and Shaunay Edmonds are averaging 13.6 and 10.4 points, respectively. Edmonds owns team-best marks 19 assists, while Brittany Gordon (South Charleston, W. Va.) and Plybon have distributed 11 assists apiece. Plybon and Sefcik have combined to connect on 22 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 2.23 three pointers and 9.2 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 more than 70 percent (.702) of their games at James A. Rhodes Arena, having posted a 59-25 ledger.
• Akron has recorded at least one block in 53 of its last 55 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 9.3 points per tilt from Megan Sefcik, Akron is averaging 18.8 points per contest off the bench. The Zips' reserves are shooting 37.1 percent from the field and at a 31.5-percent clip from beyond the arc. Brittany Gordon has registered 59 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 18-6 record.
• Akron enters its contest versus Kent State on Saturday, Feb. 11, having won 66 of its last 104 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 Kent State having amassed 1,557 points and has connected on 37.4 percent of her shots from the field and at a 34.4-percent clip from beyond the arc.
• Hannah Plybon is ranked seventh in career scoring at Akron with 1,557 career points. She is 12 points shy of surpassing former teammate Anita Brown (1,568) for sixth all-time in the Zips' record book.
• Greta Burry is shooting 52.4 percent from the field for her career having made 173 of her 330 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 15 games, while posting three or more steals in eight contests.
• Hannah Plybon is ranked fifth, seventh, ninth, 10th and 10th, respectively, all-time at Akron in career field goals attempted (1,355), scoring (1,557), free throws attempted (333), field goals made (507) and free throws made (247). Additionally, she is just outside the top-10 in games played (119).
• Hannah Plybon enters play versus Kent State on Saturday, Feb. 11, rated seventh on the Akron single-season record book in triples attempted (186) and 10th in three pointers made (61).
• Megan Sefcik has recorded 59 rebounds this season and 74 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 67 of Akron's 138 assists in league play this season.
• Haliegh Reinoehl, Greta Burry and Hannah Plybon have led the Zips through 11 conference tilts in rebounding pulling down 6.5, 4.9 and 4.6 rebounds per outing, respectively.
• Hannah Plybon, Megan Sefcik and Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) have connected on 28, 20 and 14 three pointers, respectively, in league play.
• Two Zips are shooting 50 percent or better from the field through 11 MAC contests. Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) and Greta Burry are connecting at 58.8- (10-17) and 55.6-percent (25-45) clips.
• Alex Ricketts has made 46.7 (14-30) percent of her shots beyond the arc in conference play.
• A trio of Zips equaled or established new career-high marks versus Miami on Feb. 8.
• 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 61 and 49 triples, respectively, this season.
• Greta Burry leads all Akron players in rebounding having pulled down a team-best 118 caroms this season, while Hannah Plybon, Haliegh Reinoehl, Alex Ricketts, Caitlin Vari and Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.) have each recorded 111, 99, 87, 75 and 70 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 (18), Alex Ricketts (13), Megan Sefcik (10), Greta Burry (6), Shaunay Edmonds (6), Alli Ball (2) and Haliegh Reinoehl (3) 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 (22 vs. Eastern Michigan), Megan Sefcik (20 at Georgia State), Shaunay Edmonds (17 vs. Ball State), Alli Ball (15 vs. Malone), Haliegh Reinoehl (13 at Northern Illinois), Shayna Harmon (9 at Central Michigan), Brittany Gordon (6 at Penn State), Caitlin Vari (6 vs. Duquesne/at Bowling Green), Brooke Kurucz (Ashville, Ohio) (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 8.5 points in the first half of games this season, while Greta Burry is shooting 55.1 percent (27-49) in the initial 20 minutes of the Zips' 22 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 41.7 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes in their 22 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 24 career 20-point performances.
• The Zips have won 39 of their last 53 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.
PLAY 4KAY GAME VERSUS TOLEDO
Akron's game versus Toledo on Feb. 15 will serve 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 will help 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.
A signed pink basketball from the entire Akron women's basketball team as well as a pink-themed basket will both be raffled off separately. Additionally, this year's t-shirts with a pink-graphic design will be sold for $10
Akron will also hold a silent auction at the game for fans wishing to place a bid on their favorite Zips' jersey. Bidding starts at $50 with $5 increments, and the auction starts when doors open at 6 p.m. through the end of halftime. Winners will be announced during the second half, and jerseys must be paid for by the end of the game.
All proceeds will benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Individual donations to the cause can also be made by visiting KayYow.com.
AKRON 'Z' FUND TO HOST AWAY GAME PARTY FOR KENT STATE SHOWDOWN
Akron Athletics and the Z-Fund are hosting an Away Game Party prior to the Akron women's basketball game at Kent State on Feb. 25.
Join fellow Zips fans for lunch at Ray's Place in Kent, Ohio, and bring your Akron Blue and Gold spirit as we display our support for the Zips when they tip off against the Golden Flashes at 2 p.m.
Lunch at Ray's will begin at 12:30 p.m. and costs $20 per person (includes game ticket) for those who RSVP online at GoZips.com. Anyone who already has a ticket to the game can join the Away Game Party for a reduced price of $15 (lunch only).
AKRON'S 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 Spectrum 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 Kent State on Saturday, Feb. 11, 44th in the NCAA in triples made per game (7.6), while also rating 57th in three pointers attempted (518) and 65th in triples made (168).
• Individually, Hannah Plybon is 24th in the country in three pointers attempted (186), 37th in three pointers per game (2.77) and 49th in triples made (61).
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 (Waterford, Mich.) 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 Kent State contest with 1,557 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 64 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 (2-7).
ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 22 games this season, this is how the Zips has fared from the field: 50 percent: .559 (Eastern Michigan), 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 (Ball State-2), .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), .328 (Bowling Green-2), .302 (Bucknell), 20 percent: .294 (Duquesne), .286 (Miami-1).
AKRON'S DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 22 games this season, this is how Akron's opponents have fared from the field: 50 percent: .524 (Ball State-2), .508 (Ball State-1), .508 (Central Michigan), 40 percent: .459 (Western Michigan-2), .448 (Bowling Green-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), .344 (Eastern Michigan), .333 (Northern Illinois), .333 (Eastern Kentucky), .328 (Bowling Green-1), .317 (Miami-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 welcomes Toledo to James A. Rhodes Arena for a 7 p.m. tilt on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The contest will serve as the Zips' Play 4Kay game.
