The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State University
Round Two Of Wagon Wheel Challenge On Tap Between Akron And Kent State
February 23 | Women's Basketball
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Akron at Kent State Game Notes: 2/24/18
Akron (8-18, 2-13 MAC) at Kent State (11-16, 4-11 MAC)
Saturday, Feb. 27
M.A.C Center
Kent, Ohio • 2:00 p.m.
Live Stats:Â GoZips.com
Radio: SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship), for free at SportsRadio1350.com and on iHeartRadio. Bill Morgan will have the call following the conclusion of the men's basketball game, approximately 4 p.m.
Watch:Â GoZips.com
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What's Ahead
The rivalry between Akron and Kent State continues as part two of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge between the Zips and Golden Flashes is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 24, when the Zips travel cross-town to Kent, Ohio. Akron picked up 0.5 points for the Zips after their 75-60 victory over the Golden Flashes at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 27. Game time between Akron and Kent State is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside the M.A.C Center.Â
Scouting The Golden Flashes
Heading into the second rendition of the Wagon Wheel showdown this season between the Zips and Golden Flashes, Kent State owns an 11-16 overall record while standing at 4-11 in league play. After opening league play with an even 2-2 record, the Golden Flashes have since dropped nine of their last 11 contests, including five straight in the last two and a half weeks. Kent State's last win came on Jan. 31 against Bowling Green (81-57).Â
Kent State's Jordan Korinek who leads the team in minutes played (31.0 min/game), paces the Golden Flashes scoring a team-best 20.7 points per game while also grabbing a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game and tallying a squad-best 15 blocks. Korinek's 20.1 points per game rank second-best inside the MAC. Megan Carter, who has seen action in the last 15 contests has become Kent State's second scoring threat averaging 10.7 points per game since returning the Golden Flashes lineup. McKenna Stephens is averaging just under 10 points per contest (9.9 pts/game) and reels in a team second-most rebounds per game, 6.4. KSU's point guard, Naddiyah Cross, runs the offense dishing out 98 assists on the year and 3.6 dimes per tilt, while also taking away 21 steals. Alexa Golden, a member of the Golden Flashes starting five, has ripped a team-best 42 steals and recorded 10 blocked shots while adding 7.3 points per match-up.Â
Probable Starters
Kent State: Jordan Korinek, McKenna Stephens, Ali Poole, Alexa Golden, Naddiyah Cross.
Akron: Shaunay Edmonds, Destiny Perkins, Shayna Harmon, Haliegh Reinoehl, Greta Burry.Â
Series History
Akron and Kent State have clashed on the hardwood 65 times in program history with the Golden Flashes holding a 49-16 advantage in the all-time series history against the Zips. Akron has seen recent success against its cross-town rivals winning 10 of the last 13 contests between the two schools dating back to 2012, including a 4-1 record at the M.A.C Center since 2013. Â
The Last Meeting
In a classic rivalry battle between the University of Akron women's basketball team and its cross-town foe Kent State University, the Zips earned their first win in Mid-American Conference play defeating their rivals, the Golden Flashes, 75-60, on Jan. 27 at James A. Rhodes Arena in part one of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Wagon Wheel Challenge.
Freshman guard Destiny Perkins (Indianapolis, Ind.) led all Akron players with 19 points, a career-best eight rebounds, four assists, and ripped two steals for an all-around performance. Perkins counterpart, sophomore guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) chipped in 15 points and an impressive career-best nine assists. Combined the Akron point guard duo shot 13-of-29 and dished out 13 assists and took away four steals. Rounding out the double-digit scorers was senior Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) and sophomore Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio).
Mid-American Conference Member
The Zips have been a member of the Mid-American Conference for the past 26 years after joining the league in 1992 from the North Star Conference.
Coaches Â
Kent State: Todd Starkey is in his second season running the Kent State women's basketball program since taking over in 2016. Last year, Starkey was named the MAC Coach of the Year, has compiled a 30-29 record in his two seasons, and won the program's first MAC East division title since 2005.Â
Akron: Jodi Kest, the all-time winningest coach in program history, is in her 12th-season in charge of the Zips program. The longest-tenured coach in the Mid-American Conference holds an all-time record of 178-192 (.481) at Akron and a 403-345 (.539) in her 25 years as a head coach
With A Win Over Kent State, The Zips Would
- Earn their ninth win of the 2017-18 season.
- Claim its third MAC win.Â
- Earn a whole point for Akron in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Orthopaedic Challenge.
- Move up to fifth in the MAC East coupled with a Bowling Green loss to Buffalo.
2017-18 Zip BreakdownÂ
Under the guidance of Kest, the Zips have 13 young and talented players eager to make an impact in 2017-18 highlighted by returning starters, sophomore guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.), sophomore forward Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.), and sophomore forward Caitlin Vari (Revere, Ohio), along with the veteran presence of senior forward Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio), senior guard Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.), and redshirt junior guard Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio).
Edmonds has taken on the role as the team's facilitator and floor general, while also having the ability to score the ball. Through 26 games, Edmonds is averaging 11.5 points, a team-high 4.3 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. The Zips' point guard scored a season- and career-best 27 points against Eastern Michigan, set a new career mark with nine assists against Kent State, and posted a career-best six steals against Harvard.
Reinoehl has become a staple in the Zips starting five since midway through her freshman season, starting the last 39 contests dating back to last year for Akron. Reinoehl recorded a career-best game against Southeastern Louisiana (21 pts/11 reb) and has since recorded three more double-double's against SIU Edwardsville (11 pts/10 reb), versus Central Michigan (15 pts/11 reb), and in a win at Eastern Michigan (15 pts/14 reb). The forward is the team's fourth-leading scorer, 7.5 points per game and leads the squad in rebounding with 228 total rebounds, 8.8 per contest.
Sefcik is having a career year in her junior season en route to leading the team in scoring with 12.9 points per game while making 3.3 triples per contest. The Zips' guard broke the Akron single-game three-point record with 10 triples against Ohio Christian, while also tying the MAC record.Â
Burry, the Zip with the most playing experience on the roster, is the centerfold of the squad. In 397 minutes of play and 16 starts, Burry is averaging 5.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per tilt. Burry grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds against SLU and scored a season-best 14 points against EKU.
Vari, a member of the Zips frontcourt, has seen 495 minutes of action and started 10 of the last 11 contests. Vari grabs 5.4 rebounds per contest, including a team second-best 42 offensive rebounds. In addition to the rebounding, Vari averages 6.2 points per contest.
Sophomores Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio) have seen a significant bump in playing time in year two. Harmon has started 18 contests and owns the third-most assists on the squad (49). Clay has seen 534 minutes of action through 26 contests, including her first career starts while stepping in for Harmon due to injury. Clay owns the teams second-best shooting percentage from beyond the arc (.365, 42-of-115), which is highlighted by a career night against Bowling Green scoring 22 points and hitting 6-of-8 triples.Â
Freshmen Kynnedy Azubike (Columbus, Ohio), Sarah Leyendecker (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) and Destiny Perkins (Indianapolis, Ind.) made their collegiate debuts for the Zips three games into the season and have combined to score 374 points. Perkins has taken over the backup point guard role and had a career-night against Miami scoring a career-high 21 points and career-best 5 steals against the RedHawks.Â
Kest named Burry, Sefcik, and Reinoehl as the 2017-18 season captains.
Up Next
The Zips take their final road trip of the 2017-18 regular season on Feb. 28, traveling to Bowling Green, Ohio, for one final match-up with the Falcons in attempts to even up the season series. Akron and Bowling Green are slated to tip off at 7 p.m. inside the Stroh Center.Â
