The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
Akron Travels to Face Rival Kent State
February 24 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON VS. KENT STATE GAME NOTES - 2/25/17 (PDF)Akron (9-17, 2-13 MAC) at Kent State (16-11, 10-5 MAC)
Saturday, Feb. 25
M.A.C. Center (6,327)
Kent, Ohio • 2 p.m.
Live Stats: www.KentStateSports.com
Webstream: www. KentStateSports.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: Spectrum Sports/ESPN3/Watch ESPN (Mason Lowry - pxp and Jacki Windon - analyst)
WHAT'S AHEAD
Akron renews its cross-town rivalry with Kent State on Saturday, Feb. 25, as the Zips and Golden Flashes square off in the second and final regular season meeting this season. Game time is set for 2 p.m. inside the M.A.C. Center with the game being televised by Spectrum sports with Mason Lowry and Jacki Windon calling the action.
CRYSTAL CLINIC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
Valuable points will be on the line when Akron and Kent State battle on Saturday, Feb. 25, 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, 3.5-2.5, with a half point up for grabs to the winner of the contest. For more information on the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel challenge please visit WagonWheelChallenge.com.
A LOOK AT KENT STATE
Kent State has won four straight and eight of 10 overall following the squad's 70-60 triumph past Bowling Green on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Senior Larissa Lurken averages team-high marks in scoring (23.3) and rebounding (6.5) for the Golden Flashes, while junior Jordan Korinek tallies 15.8 points an outing. Kent State is recording 71.1 points per contest and has connected at nearly 40 percent (.399) of its attempts from the field and at a 32.1-percent clip from beyond the arc.
As a unit, the Golden Flashes are ranked first in the NCAA in free throws made (512) and second in free throws attempted (693).
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. Kent State bested Akron, 72-58, on Feb. 11.
THE COACHES
Kent State: Todd Starkey is in his first season leading the Golden Flashes' program owning a 16-11 (.593) record and maintains a 181-106 (.631) 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 170-170 mark (.500), including 396-323 (.551) overall, in her 25th year as a head coach.
IN OUR LAST MEETING
Kent State def. Akron, 72-58 (Feb. 11, 2017)
AKRON, Ohio - A 20-0 second-quarter run proved too much for Akron to overcome as the Zips suffered a 72-58 setback to their rival Kent State at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Senior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) directed Akron with a game-high 24 points, including making five three pointers. No other Zip was able to crack the double-digit scoring plateau.
McKenna Stephens, Jordan Korinek and Larissa Lurken registered 20, 17 and 14 points, respectively, for the Golden Flashes.
Akron finished the contest shooting 34.4 percent from the field and at a 28-percent clip beyond the arc. Kent State elevated for a 48.3 percent shooting effort, while making 6-of-18 three pointers (33.3 percent).
The Zips posted a 40-38 margin in rebounding, including a 14-8 advantage on the offensive glass.
REDHAWKS EDGE ZIPS, 66-62
In a back-and-forth battle which featured 12 lead changes and eight ties, Akron suffered a 66-62 defeat against Miami University on Wednesday night, Feb. 22, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Hannah Plybon led the way for the Zips with 14 points, while senior Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) added nine points and four rebounds. Freshman Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored eight points and dished out six assists to go along with a seven-point, eight-rebound effort from freshman Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.).
Kendall McCoy and Lauren Dickerson paced the RedHawks in the scoring department with 17 points apiece. McCoy pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, while Kayla Brown added 11 points and collected six rebounds in the contest.
For the evening, the Zips connected on 43.9 percent (25-of-57) of their attempts from the field. Akron doubled the Miami points in the paint, 36-18, while both teams pulled down 37 rebounds in the affair. The RedHawks converted 38 percent (23-of-6) of their shots and connected on 81 percent (13-16) of their attempts from the free throw line.
BUFFALO LEADS WIRE-TO-WIRE IN 81-51 VICTORY OVER AKRON
Buffalo led wire-to-wire as the Bulls dealt Akron an 81-51 setback on Feb. 18, at Alumni Arena.
Freshman Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio) and Hannah Plybon led the Zips in scoring registering eight points apiece. Stephanie Reid posted a game-high 17 points for Buffalo, while JoAnna Smith and Cassie Oursler added 15 and 13 points, respectively.
Akron finished the contest shooting 27.9 percent from the field, while the Bulls connected on 38.2 percent of their attempts in the game.
Paced by a game-best 10 rebounds from Gabi Bade, the Bulls outmuscled Akron on the boards, 57-37, including recording an 18-7 margin on the offensive glass. Junior Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.) notched a team-leading eight rebounds for the Zips.
Akron garnered edges in the affair in points in the paint, 20-16, and points off turnovers, 18-14, but it was the Bulls bested the Zips in second-chance points, 13-1.
PLYBON AMONG THE NCAA'S ELITE
One of the most dynamic players in women's collegiate basketball, Hannah Plybon enters play this Saturday, Feb. 25, 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, 17th, 34th and 39th, respectively, among active career leaders in three pointers attempted (893), triples attempted per game (7.26), triples made (305), three pointers made per contest (2.48), field goals attempted (1,414) and points (1,621). 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. 25, ranked fourth all-time in Mid-American Conference women's basketball history in three pointers made (305). She trails only Kiyanna Black (Ohio, 2013-16), Audrey McDonald (Ball State, 2006-10) and Lauren Prochaska (Bowling Green, 2007-11) on the MAC's career leader board. The trio recorded 329, 323 and 310 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 26 contests for Akron leading the squad in assists (100) and steals (51), while ranking fourth in scoring (7.3) and fifth in blocked shots (6). In league play, those numbers jumps as Edmonds directs the Zips in assists (64) and steals (31), while rating third in scoring (8.2). She has scored seven or more points in nine conference tilts, including surpassing double digits three times. On the season, she has led the Zips in assists 18 times and in scoring on three occasions.
Reinoehl has played in 25 of 26 contests for Akron as a freshman, including making 12 starts and has responded averaging 4.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Her 4.8 rebound average is ranked second on the squad, while also rating second in offensive rebounds (37), third in overall rebounds (121), defensive caroms (84) and in blocked shots (11). In conference-only games, Reinoehl averages 5.2 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds per game. She has scored five or more points in eight contests, including a career-best 13 points in a victory at Northern Illinois, while pulling down five or more rebounds on 10 occasions. Reinoehl has paced Akron in rebounding a team-high 10 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 305 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 14.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in seven career contests against Kent State, while Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) and Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) average 5.0 and 3.8 points, respectively, against the Golden Flashes.
• The Zips have garnered victories in four straight inside the M.A.C. Center.
• Over the Zips' last five contests, Hannah Plybon and Shaunay Edmonds are averaging 14.2 and 8.4 points, respectively. Edmonds owns team-best marks 27 assists. Plybon and Megan Sefcik have combined to connect on 17 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 2.12 three pointers and 8.6 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 68 percent (.678) of their games at James A. Rhodes Arena, having posted a 59-28 ledger.
• Akron has recorded at least one block in 57 of its last 59 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 8.7 points per tilt from Megan Sefcik, Akron is averaging 18.8 points per contest off the bench. The Zips' reserves are shooting 35.8 percent from the field and at a 30.0-percent clip from beyond the arc. Brittany Gordon (South Charleston, W.Va.) has registered 64 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 18-7 record.
• Akron enters its contest versus Kent State on Saturday, Feb. 25, having won 66 of its last 108 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 1,621 points and has connected on 37.3 percent of her shots from the field and at a 34.2-percent clip from beyond the arc.
• Hannah Plybon is ranked sixth in career scoring at Akron with 1,621 career points. She is 14 points shy of surpassing former teammate Hanna Luburgh (1,634) for fifth all-time in the Zips' record book.
• Greta Burry is shooting 52.6 percent from the field for her career having made 179 of her 340 shots.
• The Zips have won 19 or more games in each of the last four seasons.
AKRON NOTES
• Hannah Plybon is ranked third, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and ninth, respectively, all-time at Akron in career field goals attempted (1,414), scoring (1,621), in games played (123), free throws made (260), free throws attempted (352) and field goals made (528).
• Sixty points has proven to be the magic number this season for Akron as all nine of the Zips' victories this year have come when the squad scores 60 or more points. Akron owns a 9-8 overall when tallying at least 60 points.
• Hannah Plybon enters play versus Kent State on Saturday, Feb. 25, rated sixth on the Akron single-season record book in triples attempted (219) and seventh in three pointers made (70).
• Shaunay Edmonds has netted 51 steals this season and needs eight more swipes to move into the top-10 on Akron's single-season record book. Additionally, she is 17 assists from moving into the top-10 in that category as well.
• Shaunay Edmonds has registered three or more assists in 19 games, while posting three or more steals in eight contests.
• Shaunay Edmonds and Brittany Gordon have combined to distribute 94 of Akron's 191 assists in league play this season.
• Haliegh Reinoehl, Greta Burry and Hannah Plybon have led the Zips through 15 conference tilts in rebounding pulling down 6.2, 4.8 and 4.3 rebounds per outing, respectively.
• Hannah Plybon, Megan Sefcik and Alex Ricketts have connected on 37, 26 and 15 three pointers, respectively, in league play.
• Greta Burry is connecting at a team-best 56.4-percent (31-55) from the field in 15 league contests.
• Alex Ricketts has made 41.7 (15-36) percent of her shots beyond the arc in conference play.
• Megan Sefcik has recorded 64 rebounds this season and 79 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.
• 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 has 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 70 and 55 triples, respectively, this season.
• Greta Burry leads all Akron players in rebounding having pulled down a team-best 136 caroms this season, while Hannah Plybon, Haliegh Reinoehl, Alex Ricketts, Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) and Alli Ball have each recorded 125, 121, 99, 96 and 86 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 (21), Alex Ricketts (14), Megan Sefcik (11), 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/at Buffalo), Brooke Kurucz (Parkersburg, W. Va.) (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 8.1 points in the first half of games this season, while Greta Burry is shooting 55.4 percent (31-56) in the initial 20 minutes of the Zips' 26 tilts on the campaign.
• In the second half of games this season, Hannah Plybon leads the offensive efforts for Akron averaging 8.8 points. As a team, the Zips are shooting 41.8 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes in their 26 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 25 career 20-point performances.
• The Zips have won 39 of their last 56 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 '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 Saturday, 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 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 Kent State on Saturday, Feb. 25, 54th in the NCAA in three pointers attempted (604) and 64th in triples made per game (7.2).
• Individually, Hannah Plybon is 20th in the country in three pointers attempted (219), 43rd in three pointers per game (2.69) and 46th in triples made (70).
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 1,621 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 66 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 (4-10) and five-point difference (2-7).
ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 26 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), .439 (Miami-2), .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), .348 (Toledo), .345 (Western Michigan-2), .345 (Malone), .344 (Kent State-1), .338 (Bowling Green-1), .328 (Bowling Green-2), .302 (Bucknell), 20 percent: .294 (Duquesne), .286 (Miami-1), .279 (Buffalo-1).
AKRON'S DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 26 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: .483 (Kent State-1), .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), .382 (Buffalo-1), .382 (Duquesne), .377 (Miami-2), .377 (Toledo), .364 (Elon), .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 closes out its regular season home campaign hosting Buffalo on Senior Night on Wednesday, March 1. Game time at James A. Rhodes Arena is set for 7 p.m.
