The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Buffalo
Senior Night on Tap as Akron Hosts Buffalo
February 28 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON VS. BUFFALO GAME NOTES - 3/1/17 (PDF)
Akron (9-18, 2-14 MAC) vs. Buffalo (19-8, 9-7 MAC)
Wednesday, March 1
James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500)
Akron, Ohio • 7:02 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. Bill Morgan will have the call beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.
Television: ESPN3/Watch ESPN (Michael Reghi - pxp and Jacki Windon - analyst)
WHAT'S AHEAD
The regular season home campaign draws to a close for Akron on Wednesday, March 1, as the Zips eye on final victory for the 2016-17 campaign on the James A. Rhodes Arena homecourt entertaining Buffalo. Game time against the Zips is set for 7:02 p.m.
IF THE MAC TOURNAMENT BEGAN TODAY
If the Mid-American Conference Championship began today, the Zips would open the tournament as the No. 11 seed on March 6 traveling to face sixth-seeded Toledo. The winner would advance to battle third-seeded Northern Illinois on March 8 at Quicken Loans Arena. The other opening rounds game would pit No. 5 Ohio entertaining No. 12 Eastern Michigan, No. 7 Buffalo playing No. 10 Miami and No. 8 Western Michigan hosting No. 9 Bowling Green.
ONE FINAL DANCE
Akron's showdown this Wednesday with Buffalo represents the final regular season home game in the distinguished careers of seniors Brittany Gordon (South Charleston, W.Va.), Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) and Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio). The trio will enter the Zips' showdown versus the Bulls having appeared in 124, 104 and 27 career games, respectively. Plybon, Ricketts and Gordon have recorded career scoring totals of 1,634, 423 and 33 points.
A LOOK AT BUFFALO
Buffalo comes into action against Akron on Wednesday, March 1, having won three of its last four outings despite dropping a 64-62 home decision versus Bowling Green on Saturday, Feb. 25. Senior JoAnna Smith is averaging a team-best 16.4 points a night for the Bulls, while junior Stephanie Reid is tallying 10.8 points per contest. Freshman Summer Hemphill paces Buffalo in rebounding pulling down a team-high 8.0 rebounds per tilt. The Bulls are recording 67.6 points per contest and have connected on more than 39 percent (.392) of its attempts from the field and at a 29.5-percent clip from beyond the arc.
As a unit, the Bulls are ranked 15th in the NCAA in three-point defense (.273), 16th in offensive rebounding (16.0) and 19th in rebounding (42.93).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron will be meeting Buffalo for the 46th time in program history with the Bulls leading the all-time series, 23-22. Buffalo registered an 81-51 decision past the Zips on Feb. 18.
THE COACHES
Buffalo: Felisha Legette-Jack is in her fifth season leading the Bulls' program owning a 87-68 (.561) record and maintains a 228-231 (.497) overall ledger in 15 seasons as a head coach.
Akron: In her 11th year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, is Jodi Kest, who has a 170-171 mark (.499), including 396-324 (.550) overall, in her 25th year as a head coach.
IN OUR LAST MEETING
Buffalo def. Akron, 81-51 (Feb. 18, 2017)
BUFFALO, N.Y. - 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.
AKRON FALLS AT KENT STATE, 73-69
Akron waged a valiant comeback over the final minutes of play, but the rally was not rewarded as Kent State secured a 73-69 triumph past the Zips in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the M.A.C. Center.
Freshman Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored 20 of her career- and team-high 26 points in the second half to direct Akron in scoring. Hannah Plybon and junior Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) added 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the Zips. Larissa Lurken paced all scorers in the affair with a game-best 28 points.
Akron finished the contest connecting on 41.2 percent of its attempts from the field and limited the high-powered Kent State offense to a 34.8 percent shooting mark on the afternoon.
The Zips registered a 43-36 advantage in rebounding and parlayed the edge into a 26-20 spread in points in the paint. Freshman Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) pulled down a game-high nine rebounds for Akron, while Plybon secured eight rebounds.
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 Feb. 22, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Hannah Plybon led the way for the Zips with 14 points, while senior Alex Ricketts added nine points and four rebounds. Shaunay Edmonds scored eight points and dished out six assists to go along with a seven-point, eight-rebound effort from Haliegh Reinoehl.
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.
PLYBON AMONG THE NCAA'S ELITE
One of the most dynamic players in women's collegiate basketball, Hannah Plybon enters play this Wednesday, March 1, versus Buffalo highly ranked among the active women's basketball players in Division 1 in several categories. Plybon is currently ranked second, fourth, fifth, 19th, 33rd and 42nd, respectively, among active career leaders in three pointers attempted (903), triples attempted per game (7.28), triples made (306), three pointers made per contest (2.47), field goals attempted (1,432) and points (1,634). 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.
PLYBON CLIMBING CAREER MAC THREE-POINT LADDER
Hannah Plybon enters play against Buffalo on Wednesday, March 1, ranked fourth all-time in Mid-American Conference women's basketball history in three pointers made (306). 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 27 contests for Akron leading the squad in assists (102) and steals (54), while ranking fourth in scoring (8.0) and fifth in blocked shots (7). In league play, those numbers jumps as Edmonds directs the Zips in assists (66) and steals (34), while rating third in scoring (9.3). She has scored seven or more points in 10 conference tilts, including surpassing double digits four times. On the season, she has led the Zips in assists 18 times and in scoring on four occasions.
Reinoehl has played in 26 of 27 contests for Akron as a freshman, including making 13 starts and has responded averaging 4.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Her 5.0 rebound average is ranked second on the squad, while also rating second in offensive (39) and defensive (84) rebounds, third in overall rebounds (130) and in blocked shots (12). In conference-only games, Reinoehl averages 5.2 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds per game. She has scored five or more points in nine contests, including a career-best 13 points in a victory at Northern Illinois, while pulling down five or more rebounds on 11 occasions. Reinoehl has paced Akron in rebounding a team-high 11 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 Buffalo with 306 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 16.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in eight career contests against Buffalo, while freshmen Shayna Harmon, Shaunay Edmonds, Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) and Haliegh Reinoehl posted eight, seven, six and five tallies, respectively, in their lone game against the Bulls.
• The Zips have garnered victories in six straight against Buffalo at James A. Rhodes Arena.
• Over the Zips' last five contests, Hannah Plybon and Shaunay Edmonds are averaging 15.4 and 10.4 points, respectively. Edmonds owns team-best marks 24 assists. Plybon and Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) 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 2.07 three pointers and 8.5 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 58 of its last 60 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 8.5 points per tilt from Megan Sefcik, Akron is averaging 18.7 points per contest off the bench. The Zips' reserves are shooting 35.9 percent from the field and at a 29.4-percent clip from beyond the arc. Brittany Gordon 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 Buffalo on Wednesday, March 1, having won 66 of its last 109 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 Buffalo having amassed 1,634 points and has connected on 37.3 percent of her shots from the field and at a 33.9-percent clip from beyond the arc.
• Hannah Plybon is tied with former teammates Sina King (1,634) and Hanna Luburgh (1,634) for fourth in career scoring at Akron with 1,634 career points. She is 79 points shy of surpassing Cheryl Bowles (1,712) for third all-time in the Zips' record book.
• Greta Burry is shooting 53.0 percent from the field for her career having made 183 of her 345 shots.
• The Zips have won 19 or more games in each of the last four seasons.
AKRON NOTES
• Hannah Plybon is ranked third, fourth, sixth, eighth, eighth and ninth, respectively, all-time at Akron in career field goals attempted (1,432), scoring (1,634), in games played (124), free throws made (260), field goals made (534) and free throws attempted (352).
• 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 9-9 overall when tallying at least 60 points.
• Hannah Plybon enters play versus Buffalo on Wednesday, March 1, rated sixth on the Akron single-season record book in triples attempted (229) and seventh in three pointers made (71).
• Shaunay Edmonds has netted 54 steals this season and needs five more swipes to move into the top-10 on Akron's single-season record book. Additionally, she is 15 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 nine contests.
• Shaunay Edmonds and Brittany Gordon have combined to distribute 96 of Akron's 202 assists in league play this season.
• Haliegh Reinoehl, Greta Burry and Hannah Plybon have led the Zips through 16 conference tilts in rebounding pulling down 6.4, 4.8 and 4.6 rebounds per outing, respectively.
• Hannah Plybon, Megan Sefcik and Alex Ricketts have connected on 38, 27 and 17 three pointers, respectively, in league play.
• Greta Burry is connecting at a team-best 58.3-percent (35-60) from the field in 16 league contests.
• Alex Ricketts has made 43.6 (17-39) percent of her shots beyond the arc in conference play.
• Megan Sefcik has recorded 67 rebounds this season and 82 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 71 and 56 triples, respectively, this season.
• Greta Burry leads all Akron players in rebounding having pulled down a team-best 140 caroms this season, while Hannah Plybon, Haliegh Reinoehl, Alex Ricketts, Caitlin Vari and Alli Ball have each recorded 133, 130, 105, 101 and 87 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 (22), Alex Ricketts (14), Megan Sefcik (11), Greta Burry (7), Shaunay Edmonds (7), 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), Shaunay Edmonds (26 at Kent State), Alex Ricketts (22 vs. Eastern Michigan), Megan Sefcik (20 at Georgia 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 55.9 percent (33-59) in the initial 20 minutes of the Zips' 27 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 41.6 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes in their 27 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'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 Wednesday, March 1, 55th in the NCAA in three pointers attempted (627) and 65th in triples made per game (7.2).
• Individually, Hannah Plybon is 22nd in the country in three pointers attempted (229), 47th in three pointers per game (2.63) and 54th in triples made (71).
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 Buffalo contest with 1,634 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 67 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 (4-11) and five-point difference (2-7).
ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 27 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), .412 (Kent State-2), 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' 27 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), .348 (Kent State-2), .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 travels to Ohio for its regular season finale on Saturday, March 4. Game time at the Convocation Center is set for 2 p.m.
