Akron Hosts Bowling Green In First Home MAC Contest

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Akron vs. Bowling Green Game Notes (PDF)

Akron (10-3) vs. Bowling Green (7-6)
Saturday, Jan. 12
Akron, Ohio. • James A. Rhodes Arena • 2:00 p.m.
Live Stats: GoZips.com
Watch: GoZips.com
Listen: GoZips.com

What's Ahead
Mid-American Conference play returns James A. Rhodes Arena on Saturday, Jan. 12, as the Akron women's basketball team hosts East Division foe, Bowling Green. The Zips and Falcons are slated for a 2 p.m. tip.

Stop, Watch, and Listen
The Zips' radio broadcast will air on GoZips.com with Bill Morgan calling the action live from the James A. Rhodes Arena. You can also tune in to and stream the game live on ESPN+ HERE with Michael Reghi (Play-by-play) and Dave Bacon (Analyst) on the call from the JAR.

Scouting the Falcons
Under the direction of first-year head coach, Robyn Fralick, Bowling Green has recorded a 7-6 overall record through 13 games and opened MAC play 0-2. The Falcons posted a 7-4 non-conference ledger seeing a three-game win streak over Marshall (99-76), Robert Morris (61-60), and Loyola (88-74), along with four-straight W's to close out non-league play against Canisius (74-53), Detroit Mercy (79-73), Valparaiso (79-72), and Davis & Elkins (63-28). BG began MAC contests against two West Divisional opponents falling to both Western Michigan (82-84) and Ball State (70-77).

The improved Bowling Green offense from a year ago has four players scoring in double-figures including, Morgan McMillan, Andrea Cecil, Angela Perry, and Sydney Lambert. McMillan, a freshman guard is pacing the Falcons scoring 16.2 points per game, has made a team-high 47 three-pointers, and 32 free throws. Cecil, who shoots 47-percent from the floor and a team-best 43-percent from long range, is averaging 15.9 points per game along with a team second-best 5.1 rebounds per contest. Perry, a reserve for the Falcons, is efficient in the frontcourt shooting 63.8-percent from the floor en route to 12.7 points per game. Rounding out the quartet of double-digit scorers for Bowling Green is Lambert who posts 12.2 points per game and owns a team-best 59 assists.

As a team, the Falcons are fifth in the nation in three-point field goals per game (10.7), 16th in three-point field goals made (139), and 39th in three-point field goal percentage (.361).

Probable Starters
Bowling Green: Morgan McMillan, Andrea Cecil, Clare Glowniak, Sydney Lambert, Kadie Hempfling.

Akron: Shaunay Edmonds, Shayna Harmon, Megan Sefcik, Haliegh Reinoehl, Caitlin Vari.

Series History
The history between Akron and Bowling Green dates back to 1979 when the two programs met for the first time. Since then, the Zips and Falcons have since competed 61 times on the hardwood heading into the first of two games in the 2018-19 season. BG holds a 54-7 all-time series record against the Zips. Akron last defeated the Falcons in 2016.

Last Time Out
In the final road contest of the 2017-18 season, a strong offensive performance by Bowling Green earned the Falcons an 84-63 win over the University of Akron women's basketball team at the Stroh Center.

Leading the way for Akron offensively was forward Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) scoring 10 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Fredniqua Walker (Cleveland, Ohio) scored eight points in back-to-back contests matching her career-high in points, while guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) chipped in eight points, three steals, and an assist.

As a team, Akron shot 29.7-percent (19-of-64) from the floor for the contest while shooting a low 18.5 percent (5-for-27) from long distance. As Akron struggled to find any kind of offensive rhythm, Bowling Green flourished and shot 44.1-percent (30-for-68) from the field and 38.7-percent (12-of-31) from beyond the arc.

Coaches
Bowling Green: Robyn Fralick is in her first season at the helm of the Bowling Green women's basketball program after being hired in April of 2018. Prior to BG, Fralick spent 10 years at Ashland University including the previous three seasons as head coach. Fralick's winning percentage at AU is the best in NCAA history at any level (minimum of 100 games coached).

Akron: Melissa Jackson took 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.

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 Bowling Green, Akron Would...

Earn its 11th victory of the 2018-19 season.
Give the Zips their second MAC win of the 2018-19 year.
Secure back-to-back wins for the following a loss for the third time this season.
Claim back-to-back MAC wins.
Earn Akron a 2-1 record to open league play.
Be the 144th win during Mid-American Conference play.
Snap a four-game losing streak to the Falcons dating back to 2017.
Earn its first MAC home win of the season.
Extend its home winning streak to three games.

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.
The starting five of Shaunay Edmonds, Shayna Harmon, Megan Sefcik, Haliegh Reinoehl, and Caitlin Vari made their ninth start together as a group dating back to 2017-18
Brown-Mitchell began her Akron career scoring 7 points and pulling down 6 rebounds.
Dating back to 2017-18, Sefcik has scored in double-figures in 21 of her last 28 games played in.
Sefcik fell one point shy of tying her career-high in scoring during a season opener with her 18 points after scoring 19 last year.
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.
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.
The Zips 3-0 record to open the season was the best start since 2014-15 when the Akron squad went 8-0.
Akron has outscored six of its 13 opponents by double-digits (+13 vs. NC A&T, +20 vs. Oak, +17 vs. NKU, +17 vs. JSU, +19 vs. MU, +13 vs. WMU). The last time Akron won three straight games by 10+points was 2015-16.
Megan Sefcik ranks 23rd in the nation averaging 3.15 triples per contest and rated 38th in three-point field goals made (41).
The Akron offense has taken care of the ball well through its first 13 games with just 182 turnovers which ranks 20th in the nation.
As a team, the Zips rank 55th in the NCAA in free throw percentage at 73.8-percent.
Caitlin Vari registered the first double-double of her career against Youngstown (10 points, 10 rebounds).
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.
Shayna Harmon accounted for all seven of the Zips third-quarter points against the Penguins.
Haliegh Reinoehl needs 23 points to hit the 500 point mark.
The Zips defense has limited the opposition to 65 points or less in 11 of its 13 games
The Akron offense has made a minimum of five three-pointers in 12 of its 13 games.
Only one team has made more than 25 field goals in a contest through 13 games against the Akron defense.
The Akron Zips are 5-1 when playing in their annual Education Day game.
Kendall Miller dished out a season and career-best five assists against the Bonnies.
Shayna Harmon poured in a career-high 21 points against St. Bonaventure to lead Akron to victory.
The Zips have taken advantage of the first and fourth quarter getting off to a fast start and closing out games strong. In both periods combined, Akron has outscored the opposition 465-375.
Akron has only entered the halftime intermission trailing its opponent four times through 13 games.
Colleen Neitzel led the Zips in scoring with nine points against Butler. The freshman connected on three field goals that all came from beyond the arc for a single-game career-best.
The Zips have posted six contests where at least nine players scored at least one point (Oakland, YSU, EKU, Butler, JSU, UTEP), and one contest where all active players were in the scoring column (vs. NKU, vs. Malone).
Akron has connected on double-digit free throws in nine of its 13 games including a season-high 22.
Shayna Harmon dished out a career-high seven assists against Canisius.
Sefcik has made four three-pointers in six games and at least one triple in 12 games for the Zips in 2018-19.
In her season debut, Fredniqua Walker registered a season- and tied a career-best eight points against Jackson State after returning from injury.
Prior to the 2018-19 season, Shayna Harmon scored in double-figures in just two games. She has already notched double figures in five games this year.
The .508 shooting percentage against Northern Kentucky is the highest single-game percentage in the past two seasons.
In eight games, Akron has seen at least three players scoring in double-figures. The Zips are 6-2 in those contests.
Against Malone, Neitzel dished out a career-best five assists to lead the Zips while Kendall Miller scored a career-high nine points against the Pioneers.
The Zips have reeled in 137 offensive rebounds through 13 games. Akron has turned their second chances into 126 points.
Caitlin Vari has grabbed a team-best 43 offensive boards, including a season-best eight against Canisius, has at least two offensive caroms in 13 games and has recorded a team-high in offensive rebounds in 11 games.
Despite the loss against Central Michigan, Akron scored its fourth-most points in a game this season, recorded its third-best field goal percentage of the year, and three players scored in double-figures.
Akron posted four players in double-figures against Western Michigan for the first time this season.
Megan Sefcik recorded her first career double-double against the Broncos scoring 15 points and grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds.
Alyssa Clay played her best game of the season against Western Michigan scoring 11 points including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. It was the sixth time in her career making three or more three-pointers in a single-game.
Haliegh Reinoehl eclipsed the 500 career rebounds mark in their win against Western Michigan. She needs just 136 more rebounds to join the top-ten all-time career rebounders in program history.

Where They Rank in the MAC, as a team (as of 1/11)

Rated 10th in scoring (66.2 ppg)
Ranked second in scoring defense allowing just 59.4 points per contest.
Akron's +6.9 scoring margin is ranked eighth in the league.
Akron is rated ninth in field goal percentage (.399) and third in field goal percentage allowed (.378).
From long range, Akron ranks eighth in 3FG made per game (7.7) and eighth in 3FG% (.321).
Ranked sixth in free throw percentage (.738).
The Zips 8.00 steals per contest are a league fifth-best.
Akron's 30 blocked shots (2.60 per/game) are sixth-best the conference rankings.
Rated 9th in rebounding offense (37.5), third in rebounding defense (35.3), sixth in rebounding margin (2.2). and fourth in defensive rebounds (27.1 per game).
Akron ranks sixth in turnover margin (2.0) and eighth assists/turnover ratio (0.90).

Where They Rank in the MAC, Individually (as of 1/11)

Megan Sefcik is rated sixth in scoring (16.5 pts/game), Haliegh Reinoehl is rated 38th (9.4 pts/game), and Shayna Harmon ranked 42nd (8.2 pts/game).
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the 10th most boards per contest (6.5/game) and Caitlin Vari ranks 9th (6.8/game).
Sefcik ranks 12th in FG% (.426), 7th in 3FG% (.366), 4th in 3FG made per game (3.1), while Reinoehl is rated 36th (1.2 per/game) and Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell ranks 37th (1.1 per/game)
Shayna Harmon ranks 17th in assists (3.0 apg).
Sefcik ranks 15th in steals per game (1.8 per game).

Up Next
The Akron women's basketball team wraps up its two-game homestand on Wednesday, Jan. 16 when the Zips host Eastern Michigan in cross-divisional MACtion. Akron and the Eagles are slated for a 7 p.m. tip with all the action on ESPN+ or heard live on 1350 AM with Bill Morgan.

Akron Hosts Bowling Green In First Home MAC Contest

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell

Alyssa Clay

Shaunay Edmonds

Shayna Harmon

Kendall Miller

Colleen Neitzel

Haliegh Reinoehl

Megan Sefcik

Caitlin Vari

Fredniqua Walker

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Hosts Bowling Green In First Home MAC Contest

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell

Alyssa Clay

Shaunay Edmonds

Shayna Harmon

Kendall Miller

Colleen Neitzel

Haliegh Reinoehl

Megan Sefcik

Caitlin Vari

Fredniqua Walker

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