The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Eastern Kentucky
Akron Women's Basketball Opens 2018-19 Home Schedule Against Eastern Kentucky
November 30 | Women's Basketball
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Akron vs. Eastern Kentucky Game Notes (PDF)
Akron (3-1) vs. Eastern Kentucky (0-6)
Saturday, Dec. 1
Akron, Ohio  •  James A. Rhodes Arena • 2 p.m.
Live Stats:Â GoZips.com
Watch:Â GoZips.com
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What's Ahead
After a lengthy road trip to open the 2018-19 campaign, the Akron women's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of James A. Rhodes arena to open the home portion of its schedule when the Zips host Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 2 p.m. to kick off a four-game homestand.Â
Scouting the Colonials
Eastern Kentucky is through five games early in the 2018-19 campaign but is still winless heading into its contest with the Zips. The Colonials have faced three opponents from the Mid-American Conference, Miami (44-60), Ohio (60-100), and Western Michigan (53-64), along with #20 West Virginia (39-81) from the Big 12 and Florida State (45-62) from the ACC.Â
Abby Wright leads the Colonials offense turning in 12.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game to go along with eight assists, five steals, and three blocks on the year. Catie Kaifes is averaging just below double-figures in the scoring column posting 9.0 points per game while grabbing 4.3 boards per contest. EKU has three players averaging just over seven points a game, including Teri Goodlett (7.7 ppg), Bria Bass (7.7 ppg), and Shay Solomon (7.3 ppg).Â
The Colonials thrive in the first quarter of their contests scoring a season-best 83 points in the initial period of play while EKU has struggled to start the second half of games scoring just 64 points in the third quarter. Despite scoring 82 combined points in the first quarter offensively, the Colonials have also struggled defensively allowing 128 points in the first quarter to the opposition.Â
Probable Starters
Eastern Kentucky: Abby Wright, Teri Goodlett, Bria Bass, Shay Solomon, Brittany Grice.Â
Akron: Shaunay Edmonds, Shayna Harmon, Megan Sefcik, Haliegh Reinoehl, Caitlin Vari.Â
Series History
Heading into the 12th meeting between the Zips and Colonials, Akron owns a 6-5 all-time series advantage dating back to the 1980-81 season.Â
History Against the Ohio Valley Conference
Akron is 24-34 against the 12 current members of the Ohio Valley Conference; Austin Peay (5-6), Belmont (1-0), Eastern Kentucky (6-5), Eastern Illinois (1-0), Jacksonville State (1-0), Morehead State (3-8), Murray State (2-6), Tennessee Tech (2-8), and SIU Edwardsville (0-1). Akron was once a member of the Ohio Valley Conference from 1983-87.
Last Time Out
The University of Akron women's basketball team jumped out to a 20-point lead at the halftime break and never looked back as the Zips defeated Eastern Kentucky, 62-45, on Nov. 22 at James A. Rhodes Arena.Â
As a team, the Zips shot 35.4 percent from the floor, including a game-high 41.2 percent in the first quarter, which led to an early Akron lead. From distance, the Zips shot 6-for-20 from long range for 30.0 percent clip.
CoachesÂ
Eastern Kentucky: Chrissy Roberts is in her 11th season at the helm of the Eastern Kentucky women's basketball program. Roberts has led the Colonials to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship in two of the past three years.Â
Akron: Melissa Jackson takes over the Akron women's basketball team beginning in 2018-19. Jackson spent the previous 10 seasons on the Zips coaching staff as an assistant coach (four seasons) and as the associate head coach (six seasons). Jackson played a pivotal role in the recent Akron women's basketball success and looks to continue to grow the program.Â
Mid-American Conference Member
The Zips have been a member of the Mid-American Conference for the past 27 years after joining the league in 1992 from the North Star Conference.
With A Win Over Eastern Kentucky, Akron Would...
- Earn its fourth victory of the 2018-19 season.
- Give the Zips four wins in their first five games
- Win its seventh game over the Colonials in program history and 25th against an Ohio Valley Conference opponent.
Zips Tidbits
- Brown-Mitchell, Miller, and Neitzel each made their collegiate debut against North Carolina A&T (11/13).
- Coach Jackson earned her first career victory with a 49-36 win over North Carolina A&T.Â
- The starting five of Shaunay Edmonds, Shayna Harmon, Megan Sefcik, Haliegh Reinoehl, and Caitlin Vari made their fourth start together as a group dating back to last season.Â
- Brown-Mitchell began her Akron career scoring 7 points and pulling down 6 rebounds.Â
- Dating back to 2017-18, Sefcik has scored in double-figures in 12 of her last 16 games played in.Â
- Sefcik fell one point shy of tying her career-high in scoring in a season opener with her 18 points after scoring 19 last year.Â
- All 10 active players on the roster saw time on the court against the Aggies and six of the 10 recorded at least one point.Â
- Akron outscored N.C. A&T 17-3 in the third quarter, including 10 points from Sefcik, and 27-12 in the second half to pull away with the game.Â
- The Zips 3-0 record to open the season is the best start since 2014-15 when the Akron squad went 8-0.Â
- Akron outscored all three of its first opponents by double-digits (+13 vs. NC A&T, +20 vs. Oak, +17 vs. NKU). The last time Akron won three straight games by 10+points was 2015-16.Â
- Megan Sefcik ranks fourth in the nation averaging 4.5 triples per contest and ranks 72nd in the NCAA with a 44.4-percent clip from long range.Â
- As a unit, the Zips rank second in the MAC and 14th in the NCAA in three-pointers made per game, 9.8, along with being rated the 31st best team in 3-point field goal percentage, 38.6-percent.Â
- Caitlin Vari registered the first double-double of her career against Youngstown (10 points, 10 rebounds).Â
- The Akron offense has taken care of the ball well through its first four games with just 68 turnovers which ranks 22nd in the nation.Â
- The Zips capitalized on Youngstown State being called for 14 fouls and connected on 16 free throws on 18 attempts (.889). Haliegh Reinoehl and Shayna Harmon each went 7-for-8.Â
- Shayna Harmon accounted for all seven of the Zips third quarter points against the Penguins.Â
- Mega Sefcik is four points away from joining the 600 point club, while Haliegh Reinoehl needs 96 points to hit the 500 point mark.Â
Where They Rank in the MAC, as a team (as of 11/30)
- Rated seventh in scoring (68.0 ppg)
- Ranked second in scoring defense allowing just 58.3 points per contest.Â
- Akron's +9.8 scoring margin is ranked third in the league.Â
- Akron is rated seventh in field goal percentage (.423) and second in field goal percentage allowed (.350).Â
- From long range, Akron ranks third in 3FG made (9.8) and second in 3FG% (.386).Â
- The Zips 8.50 steals per contest are a league sixth-best.
- Akron's 18 blocked shots are atop the conference rankings.Â
- Ranked fourth in free throw percentage (.759).
- Rated seventh in rebounding offense (37.5) and sixth in rebounding defense (36.0).Â
Where They Rank in the MAC, Individually (as of 11/30)
- Megan Sefcik is rated 7th in scoring (17.5 pts/game) and Haliegh Reinoehl is rated 25th (12.3 pts/game).Â
- In the rebounding category, Caitlin Vari has the 4th most boards per contest (7.0) and Reinoehl ranks 10th (6.5/game).
- Sefcik ranks 7th in FG% (.500), 4th in 3FG% (.444), 3rd in 3FG made per game (4.5), while Reinoehl is rated 17th in 3FG made per contest (1.8).Â
- Shaunay Edmonds ranks 5th in assists (5.0 apg).
- At the free throw line, Reinoehl ranks seventh (.857) and Shayna Harmon ranks 17th (.722).Â
- Edmonds and Sefcik rank 7th and 8th in steals per game (2.3 per game).Â
- Colleen Neitzel is rated 3rd in blocks per game (1.5 bpg).Â
Up Next
The Akron Zips are slated for their sixth-annual Education Day on Wednesday, Dec. 5, when St. Bonaventure visits James A. Rhodes Arena. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
