Akron Takes On Buffalo In Midweek MACtion

Wednesday, January 23

Buffalo, NY

7 PM

University of Akron

Buffalo

January 22 | Women's Basketball

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Akron (11-5, 2-3 MAC) vs. Buffalo (12-4, 4-1 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 23
Buffalo, N.Y. • Alumni Arena • 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats: GoZips.com
Watch: GoZips.com
Listen: GoZips.com

What's Ahead
The Akron women's basketball team closes out its two-game road trip and heads to Buffalo, N.Y. on Wednesday, Jan. 23. The Zips head east to take on Buffalo inside Alumni Arena at 7:00 p.m.

Stop, Watch, and Listen
The Zips' radio broadcast will air on F ox Sports 1350 WARF with Bill Morgan calling the action live from the Alumni Arena. You can also tune in to and stream the game live on ESPN3, HERE.

Scouting the Bulls
Buffalo, coming off one of the best season's and program history, sits tied for first place in the MAC East division with a 4-1 league record and a 12-4 overall ledger. After making an appearance in the 2018 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen, the Bulls wrapped up non-conference player 8-3 before starting conference contests. Buffalo suffered a loss to Ohio (71-74 OT) as the MAC season tipped-off and has since won four straight contests against Eastern Michigan (91-84), Miami (66-59), Ball State (77-65), and Western Michigan (61-59).

The Buffalo offense is led by the top-scorer in the MAC and second-leading scorer in the nation, Cierra Dillard. The Bulls senior guard is scoring 25 points per game, owns a team-best 86 assists, and 50 steals while also grabbing 5.1 rebounds per contest. Dillard scored a season-high 43 points against Eastern Michigan, recorded 14 games over 20 points, and a pair of double-doubles. In league play, Dillard averages 24.2 points per game while shooting 37.3-percent from the floor and 33.3-percent from long range. To go along with Dillard, the Bulls Summer Hemphill and Theresa Onwuka are each scoring in double figures. Hemphill is averaging 12.9 points per contest in eight games this season while owning a team-best 8.9 rebounds per game and 13 blocks. Onwuka is adding 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds.

In the NCAA, Dillard ranks second in free throws made (113), fifth in free throws attempted (142), sixth in total points (400), 17th in steals per game (3.13), and 23rd in steals (50). As a unit, the Bulls rank in the top-50 best teams in the nation in six categories, including free throws made (31st, 257), turnovers forced (32nd, 20.5), steals per game (38th, 10.6), turnover margin (40th, 4.0), and free throw percentage (44th, 74.5%).

Probable Starters
Buffalo: Cierra Dillard, Summer Hemphill, Theresa Onwuka, Hanna Hall, Adebola Adeyeye .

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

Series History
For the 49th time in program history, the Akron women's basketball team will meet Buffalo on the court in a head-to-head match-up. In the all-time series, the Zips trail the Bulls 22-26 overall heading into Wednesday's contest. Akron last defeated Buffalo on March 3, 2016, in Akron and last defeated the Bulls at Alumni Arena on Jan. 16, 2016. Dating back to 2009, the Zips are 6-4 when visiting Buffalo, N.Y. From Feb. 2011 to March of 2016, Akron defeated Buffalo in 10 straight contests.

Last Time Out
In its second match-up of the season, the University of Akron women's basketball team found themselves down by double-digits at halftime against MAC East-leading Buffalo and the deficit was too large to overcome as the Zips fell to the Bulls, 85-71, at Alumni Arena.

The Zips (8-17, 2-12 MAC) used a balanced scoring attack with eight of the nine Akron players to check into the game tallying points in the point column. Three of the Zips eight players to score posted double-digit scoring performances including Destiny Perkins (Indianapolis, Ind.) (17), Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (13), and Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) (12). Along with her team-leading 17 points, Perkins added five steals and four assists in 30 minutes of play. Edmonds pitched in four assists and three steals, while Burry grabbed seven rebounds and two steals

Coaches
Buffalo: Felisha Legette-Jack is amidst her seventh season as the head coach of the Buffalo women's basketball team. Legette-Jack has led the Bulls program to new heights leading Buffalo to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round in 2018. Since taking over the program, Legette-Jack owns a 131-80 record.

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 Buffalo, 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 3-3 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 23rd win over NIU.
Snap a two-game losing streak
Defeat Buffalo for the first time since 2016 and break a five game losing streak to the Bulls.

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 11th 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 3.25 triples per contest, rated 24th in three-point field goals made (52), 26th in three-point field goals attempted (143), and 29th in three-point field goals made (52.)
As a unit, the Akron ranks 36th in three-point field goals made per game (8.3), 60th in three-point field goals made (132), 82nd in three-point field goal attempts (395), and 93rd in three-point field goal percentage (.334).
The Akron offense has taken care of the ball well through its first 16 games with just 225 turnovers which ranks 25th in the nation and their 14.1 turnovers per game rank 51st.
As a team, the Zips rank 59th 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.
The Zips defense has limited the opposition to 65 points or less in 11 of its 16 games
The Akron offense has made a minimum of five three-pointers in 15 of its 16 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 16 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 576-475.
Akron has only entered the halftime intermission trailing its opponent five times through 16 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 16 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 16 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 162 offensive rebounds through 16 games. Akron has turned their second chances into 153 points.
Caitlin Vari has grabbed a team-best 50 offensive boards, including a season-best eight against Canisius, has at least two offensive caroms in 14 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 120 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.
Haleigh Reinoehl tied a career-high in rebounds against Eastern Michigan with 14 boards.
In five of the last six games, the Zips have had at least three players score in double figures and in 10 of their 16 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.
Haliegh Reinoehl eclipsed the 500th career point mark against Northern Illinois. In her first shot attempt of the game, the Zips junior knocked down a three-pointer to hit 500 points exactly.
Akron tied its season-best shooting performance from long range against the Huskies, .478. The Zips also shot 47.8-percent from distance against Oakland.

Where They Rank in the MAC, as a team (as of 1/22)

Rated 10th in scoring (65.5 ppg)
Ranked third in scoring defense allowing just 61.6 points per contest.
Akron's +3.9 scoring margin is ranked eighth in the league.
Akron is rated eighth in field goal percentage (.396) and fifth in field goal percentage allowed (.389).
From long range, Akron ranks fourth in 3FG made per game (8.3) and fifth in 3FG% (.334).
Ranked sixth in free throw percentage (.738).
Rated 9th in rebounding offense (36.6), third in rebounding defense (36.6), eighth in rebounding margin (0.0). and fourth in defensive rebounds (26.7 per game), and fifth in defensive rebounds (26.4)
The Zips 7.13 steals per contest are a league ninth-best.
Akron's 40 blocked shots (2.50 per/game) are sixth-best the conference rankings.
Akron ranks eighth in turnover margin (1.44) and seventh assists/turnover ratio (0.95).

Where They Rank in the MAC, Individually (as of 1/22)

Megan Sefcik is rated sixth in scoring (16.8 pts/game), Haliegh Reinoehl is rated 37th (9.6 pts/game), and Caitlin Vari is ranked 50th (7.4 pts/game).
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the eighth most boards per contest (7.1/game) and Caitlin Vari ranks 10th (6.4/game).
Sefcik ranks 10th in FG% (.423), 6th in 3FG% (.364), 4th in 3FG made per game (3.3), while Reinoehl is rated 31st (1.3 per/game) and Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell ranks 37th (1.1 per/game)
Shayna Harmon ranks 13th in assists (3.3 apg) and eighth in assist/turnover ratio (1.6).
Sefcik ranks 12th in steals per game (1.8 per game).

Where They Rank in MAC Pay, As A Team (as of 1/22)l

Rated seventh in scoring (67.2 ppg)
Ranked 10th in scoring defense allowing 73.2 points per contest.
Akron is rated 10th in field goal percentage (.404).
From long range, Akron ranks second in 3FG made per game (10.0) and third in 3FG% (.376).
Ranked fifth in free throw percentage (.725).
Rated 11th in rebounding offense (33.6) and fifth in rebounding defense (38.0).
Akron's 11 blocked shots (2.20 per/game) are seventh-best the conference rankings.
Akron ranks eighth in turnover margin (-1.20) and sixth assists/turnover ratio (0.94).

Where They Rank in MAC Play, Individually (as of 1/22)

Megan Sefcik is rated sixth in scoring (18.8 pts/game), Shaunay Edmonds ranked 27th (11.2 pts/game), Haliegh Reinoehl is rated 34th (10.2 pts/game), and Caitlin Vari ranked 48th (8.0 pts/game).
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the ninth most boards per contest (8.0/game), Caitlin Vari ranks 14th (6.4/game), and Megan Sefcik is rated 24th (5.0/game)
Sefcik ranks 13th in FG% (.419), 3rd in 3FG% (.340), and first in 3FG made per game (3.4), while Alyssa Clay is rated 12th (2.0 per/game), Reinoehl rated 33rd (1.6/game), and Edmonds ranks 29th (1.4 per/game).
Shayna Harmon ranks 11th in assists (3.6 apg) and first in assist/turnover ratio (3.0).
Edmonds is rated 10th in steals per game (2.2 per game) and Sefcik ranks 18th (1.6 per game).

Up Next
The Zips return home to James A. Rhodes Arena for its third home Mid-American game of the league schedule on Saturday, Jan. 26. The Akron women's basketball team hosts Toledo in a MAC East vs. West showdown at 2 p.m.