Akron Hits The Road To DeKalb, Ill. To Take On Northern Illinois

Sunday, January 20

DeKalb, Ill.

3 PM (2 PM CT)

University of Akron

Northern Illinois

Akron Hits The Road To DeKalb, Ill. To Take On Northern Illinois

January 18 | Women's Basketball

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Akron vs. Northern Illinois Game Notes (PDF)

Akron (11-4, 2-2 MAC) vs. Northern Illinois (10-6, 2-2 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 19
DeKalb, Ill. • Convocation Center • 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats: GoZips.com
Watch: GoZips.com
Listen: GoZips.com

What's Ahead
The Zips are back on the road for a two-game road swing starting in DeKalb, Ill., on Saturday, Jan. 19, against Northern Illinois. Akron and the Huskies are slated to tip-off at 2:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. CT) from inside the Convocation Center.

Stop, Watch, and Listen
The Zips' radio broadcast will air on GoZips.com with Bill Morgan calling the action live from the Convocation Center. You can also tune in to and stream the game live on ESPN3, HERE.

Scouting the Huskies
8-4 in its non-conference schedule and 2-2 during the first four Mid-American Conference contests leaves Northern Illinois with a 10-6 overall record through its first 16 games of the 2018-19 season. After defeating Miami 82-71 to begin conference action, the Huskies dropped two straight to Kent State (78-87) and Central Michigan (66-89) before most recently defeating Bowling Green, 66-52.

The Huskies currently have three active players averaging double-digits in the scoring column. Mikayla Voigt, NIU's leading scorer, is averaging 20.6 points per game, owns a team-best 23 steals, team third-best 41 assists, and is shooting .460 from the field and .411 from long range. The senior guard scored a season-best 52 points against Western Illinois and 26 points against the Golden Flashes. Gabby Nikitinaite, a member of the Huskies backcourt, averages 12.8 points per game, has recorded 48 assists, and shoots 93.2-percent (41-for-44) from the charity stripe. Against MAC opponents, Nikitinaite has scored 16, 18, 12, and 11 points, respectively. Myia Starks rounds out the Huskies top three scoring threats as she posts 11.4 points per game and a team-high 51 assists.

NIU's high-powered offense is scoring 80.0 points per game and has scored a total of 1,293 points on the season, which ranks as the second-best offense in the Mid-American Conference and 16th-best in the nation. However, the Huskies defense allows a league-worst 73.3 points per game and is allowing its opposition to shoot 40.9-percent from the floor, the second highest opposition shooting percentage in the MAC. In the NCAA, Voigt ranks seventh in three-point field goals made (58) and eighth in three-point field goals made per game (3.63).

Probable Starters
Northern Illinois: Mikayla Voigt, Myia Starks, Ally May, Riley Blackwell, Gabby Nikitinaite.

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

Series History
Since the first meeting between the Akron women's basketball team and Northern Illinois, the Huskies have claimed the all-time series advantage, 21-11, over the Zips. Akron and NIU have split the last two meetings with the Zips last defeating the Huskies in DeKalb, Ill., on Jan. 18, 2017. Akron holds a 5-1 record inside the Convocation over the last eight seasons dating back to 2011.

Last Time Out
A cold-shooting effort for Akron resulted in an 84-61 loss to the visiting Mid-American Conference West division opponent, Northern Illinois, in MAC women's basketball action Wednesday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Destiny Perkins (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the Zips with 16 points, including 10 points in the fourth quarter, while shooting guard Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind.) added 15, with nine points from long range.

Akron shot 34.7-percent (25-of-72) for the game, including just 9-of-39 (23-percent) in the first half while shooting a low 27.6 percent from beyond the arc.

However, the Zips could hardly miss in the fourth quarter hitting 13-of-19 attempts (68.4-percent) in the last 10 minutes. In the final stanza, Akron outscored NIU, 30-16, and trimmed the Huskies lead from plus-35 (68-33) to as little as plus-23 (77-54), before ultimately falling 84-61.

Coaches
Northern Illinois: Lisa Carlson is in her fourth season roaming the sidelines as head coach of the Northern Illinois women's basketball program. At NIU, Carlson has earned a 57-52 record while owning a 241-215 career record in her 16 years of coaching.

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 Northern Illinois, Akron Would...

Earn its 12th victory of the 2018-19 season.
Give the Zips their third MAC win of the 2018-19 year.
Earn Akron a 3-2 record to open league play.
Be the 145th win during Mid-American Conference play.
Become the 18th Akron team to capture at least 12 wins in a season and the 15th team in the Division I era.
Claim its 12th win over NIU.
Rebound following a loss with a win for the fourth time this season.

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 10th 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 22 of her last 29 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 17th in the nation averaging 3.27 triples per contest, rated 24th in three-point field goals made (49), and 28th in three-point field goals attempted (134).
As a unit, the Akron ranks 41st in three-point field goals made per game (8.1), 66th in three-point field goals made (121), and 69th in three-point field goal attempts (372).
The Akron offense has taken care of the ball well through its first 15 games with just 207 turnovers which ranks 21st in the nation and their 13.8 turnovers per game rank 34th.
As a team, the Zips rank 62nd in the NCAA in free throw percentage at 73.5-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 3 points to hit the 500 point mark.
The Zips defense has limited the opposition to 65 points or less in 11 of its 15 games
The Akron offense has made a minimum of five three-pointers in 14 of its 15 games including a season-high 12 triples on three different occasions.
Only five teams have made more than 25 field goals in a contest through 15 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 543-439.
Akron has only entered the halftime intermission trailing its opponent four times through 14 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 11 of its 15 games including a season-high 22.
Shayna Harmon dished out a career-high seven assists against Canisius.
Sefcik has made four three-pointers in seven games and at least one triple in 15 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.
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 153 offensive rebounds through 15 games. Akron has turned their second chances into 147 points.
Caitlin Vari has grabbed a team-best 44 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 then 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 129 more rebounds to join the top-ten all-time career rebounder's in program history.
Akron saw five players score in double figures against Bowling Green. It was the first time five Zips scored double digits in a game since 2015-16.
Shayna Harmon recorded a career-best eight assists against the Falcons.
The Zips snapped a four-game win streak against Bowling Green with their 74-71 win.
Haliegh Reinoehl tied a career-high in rebounds against Eastern Michigan with 14 boards.
In the last five games, the Zips have had at least three players score in double figures and in 10 of their 15 contests. Akron is 7-3 in those games.
The Zips 2-1 MAC record through the first three games of league play was the first time Akron was above .500 in the MAC since the 2015-16 season.

Where They Rank in the MAC, As A Team (as of 1/18)

Rated 10th in scoring (65.9 ppg)
Ranked fifth in scoring defense allowing just 61.0 points per contest.
Akron's +4.9 scoring margin is ranked eighth in the league.
Akron is rated ninth in field goal percentage (.397) and fourth in field goal percentage allowed (.388).
From long range, Akron ranks fourth in 3FG made per game (8.1) and sixth in 3FG% (.325).
Ranked sixth in free throw percentage (.735).
The Zips 7.40 steals per contest are a league ninth-best.
Akron's 39 blocked shots (2.60 per/game) are fourth-best the conference rankings.
Rated 9th in rebounding offense (36.9), third in rebounding defense (36.2), eighth in rebounding margin (0.7). and fourth in defensive rebounds (26.7 per game).
Akron ranks eighth in turnover margin (1.87) and seventh assists/turnover ratio (0.96).

Where They Rank in the MAC, Individually (as of 1/18)

Megan Sefcik is rated sixth in scoring (16.6 pts/game), Haliegh Reinoehl is rated 36th (9.5 pts/game), and Shayna Harmon ranked 46th (7.6 pts/game).
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the eighth most boards per contest (7.0/game) and Caitlin Vari ranks 12th (6.1/game).
Sefcik ranks 12th in FG% (.422), 6th in 3FG% (.366), 4th in 3FG made per game (3.3), while Reinoehl is rated 35th (1.1 per/game) and Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell ranks 36th (1.1 per/game)
Shayna Harmon ranks 14th in assists (3.32apg) and ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.5).
Sefcik ranks 11th in steals per game (1.9 per game).

Where They Rank in MAC Play, As A Team (as of 1/18)

Rated seventh in scoring (69.3 ppg)
Ranked seventh in scoring defense allowing 74.0 points per contest.
Akron is rated eighth in field goal percentage (.411).
From long range, Akron ranks first in 3FG made per game (9.8) and fifth in 3FG% (.355).
Ranked fifth in free throw percentage (.710).
Akron's 10 blocked shots (2.50 per/game) are fifth-best the conference rankings.
Rated 10th in rebounding offense (34.3) and third in rebounding defense (37.0).
Akron ranks sixth in turnover margin (-0.25) and fourth assists/turnover ratio (0.98).

Where They Rank in MAC Play, Individually (as of 1/18)

Megan Sefcik is rated seventh in scoring (18.5 pts/game), Shaunay Edmonds ranked 25th (12.3 pts/game), Haliegh Reinoehl is rated 37th (10.3 pts/game), and Caitlin Vari ranked 49th (8.0 pts/game).
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the ninth most boards per contest (8.0/game), Megan Sefcik is rated 19th (5.8/gam) and Caitlin Vari ranks 26th (5.3/game).
Sefcik ranks 14th in FG% (.414), 8th in 3FG% (.341), second in 3FG made per game (3.5), while Alyssa Clay is rated 14th (2.0 per/game), Edmonds ranks 25th (1.5 per/game), and Reinoehl rated 32nd (1.3/game).
Shayna Harmon ranks 13th in assists (3.5 apg) and second in assist/turnover ratio (2.8).
Edmonds is rated fourth in steals per game (2.5 per game) and Sefcik ranks 16th (1.8 per game).

Up Next
The Akron women's basketball team heads east to Buffalo, N.Y., on Wednesday, Jan. 23 to take on MAC East opponent, Buffalo. The Zips and Bulls are slated to square off at 7 p.m. inside Alumni Arena.