Akron Women's Basketball Returns To Jar For Clash With Buffalo

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Akron (14-10, 5-8 MAC) vs. Buffalo (17-7, 9-4 MAC)
Saturday, Feb. 23
Akron, Ohio • James A. Rhodes Arena • 5:00 p.m.
Live Stats: GoZips.com
Watch: GoZips.com
Listen: GoZips.com

What's Ahead
The Zips are back in action at James A. Rhodes Arena on Saturday, Jan. 23, as the Akron women's basketball team is scheduled for its second match-up against Buffalo. The Zips host the Bulls at 5 p.m. in game two of an Akron basketball doubleheader with the Zips men's basketball team taking on Miami at 2 p.m.

Stop, Watch, and Listen
The Zips' radio broadcast will air on 1350 Fox Sports with Bill Morgan calling the action live from the JAR. You can also tune in and stream the game live on ESPN3, HERE, with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Jacki Windon (analyst) on the call.

Scouting the Bulls

Buffalo, coming off one of the best season's and program history, sits in third place in the MAC East division with a 9-4 league record and a 17-7 overall ledger. After making an appearance in the 2018 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen, the Bulls wrapped up non-conference play 8-3 before starting conference contests. Buffalo suffered a loss to Ohio (71-74 OT) as the MAC season tipped-off and went on to capture six straight victories. Since then, the Bulls have gone 3-3 over the last three weeks heading into its contest against Akron.

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 145 assists, and 71 steals while also grabbing 4.8 rebounds per contest. Dillard scored a season-high 43 points against Eastern Michigan, recorded 21 games over 20 points, and four double-doubles. In league play, Dillard averages 24.6 points per game while shooting 37.7-percent from the floor and 34.4-percent from long range. To go along with Dillard, the Bulls Summer Hemphill and Theresa Onwuka round out the Bulls top three scoring threats. Hemphill is averaging 14.8 points per contest in 16 games this season while owning a team-best 9.6 rebounds per game and 18 blocks. Onwuka is adding 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds per game and has totaled 40 assists.

In the NCAA, Dillard ranks first in free throws made (164), second in free throws attempted (210), fourth in total points (599), 17th in steals per game (2.96), and 20th in steals (71). As a unit, the Bulls rank in the top-50 best teams in the nation in eight categories, including free throws made (15th, 386), turnovers forced (33rd, 20.8), steals per game (29th, 10.4), turnover margin (22nd, 4.8), and free throw percentage (18th, 76.1%).

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 50th 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 22-27 overall heading into Saturday's contest. Akron last defeated Buffalo on March 2, 2016, in Akron and are 6-2 at home dating back to 2012.

Last Time Out
In its second game in four days, the Akron women's basketball team traveled to Buffalo, N.Y., to take on Buffalo that turned into an offensive shootout, but ultimately, fell to the Bulls, 91-72, in a Mid-American Conference East divisional showdown from inside Alumni Arena on Wednesday night.

It was an offensive battle from start to finish as the Zips and Bulls combined to connect on 60 field goals, however, Buffalo out-dueled the Akron offense. The Zips now stand 11-6 overall and 2-4 in MAC play, while the Bulls improved to 13-4 overall and 5-1 in league play.

Four Zips ended the contest in double-figures and as a team, Akron finished with a 48.2-percent clip from the floor (27-for-56), its second-highest shooting percentage of the season. The Zips also turned in nine triples (36.0-percent) and went 9-for-12 (75.0) from the charity stripe.

Redshirt senior Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) scored a team-high 17 points for Akron by way of 6-for-12 from the field, four three-pointers and nine points in the second quarter alone. Junior Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ohio) scored 11 of her 15 points in the first quarter opening the contest with the hot hand and added five rebounds. Freshman Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (Solon, Ohio) came on late in the contest en route to 13 points on the evening, which tied her season- and career-high. Junior point guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) rounded out the Zips double-digit scorers notching 12 points, two steals, a pair of rebounds, and an assist.

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 135-83 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 15th victory of the 2018-19 season.
Give the Zips their sixth MAC win and move to 6-8 in league play.
Be the 148th win during Mid-American Conference play.
Become the eighth team in Akron program history to win at least 15 games and the sixth Zips squad to do so in the Division I era.
Tie up the season series between the Zips and Bulls.
Win its 23rd contest against Buffalo.
Break a two-game losing streak overall and a six-game losing skid against 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 19th 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 28 of her last 36 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 seven of its 22 opponents by double-digits (+13 vs. NC A&T, +20 vs. Oak, +17 vs. NKU, +17 vs. JSU, +19 vs. MU, +13 vs. WMU, +30 vs. Ball St.). The last time Akron won three straight games by 10+points was 2015-16. The 30-point margin of victory over BSU was the largest of the season for Akron.
Megan Sefcik ranks 16th in the nation averaging 3.21 triples per contest, rated 21st in three-point field goals made (77), 23rd in three-point field goals attempted (206), and 93rd in three-point field goal percentage (.374).
As a unit, the Akron ranks 43rd in three-point field goals made per game (8.1), 52nd in three-point field goals made (195), 66th in three-point field goal attempts (571), and 70th in three-point field goal percentage (.342).
The Akron offense has taken care of the ball well through its 24 games with just 335 turnovers which ranks 39th in the nation and their 14.0 turnovers per game rank 61st.
As a team, the Zips rank 53rd in the NCAA in free throw percentage at 73.9-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 14 of its 24 games
The Akron offense has made a minimum of five three-pointers in 23 of its 24 games including a season-high 12 triples on three different occasions.
Only eight teams have made more than 25 field goals in a contest through 24 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 804-736.
Akron has only entered the halftime intermission trailing its opponent 11 times through 24 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 seven contests where at least nine players scored at least one point (Oakland, YSU, EKU, Butler, JSU, UTEP. Ball St.), 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 16 of its 23 games including a season-high 22.
Shayna Harmon dished out a career-high seven assists against Canisius.
Sefcik has made four three-pointers in 10 games, at least one triple in 23 of 24 games, and a single-game season-high of six netted triples against Northern Kentucky and Toledo.
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 notched double figures in six 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 215 offensive rebounds through 23 games. Akron has turned their second chances into 204 points.
Caitlin Vari has grabbed a team-best 68 offensive boards, including a season-best eight against Canisius, at least two offensive caroms in 18 games, and recorded a team-high in offensive rebounds in 12 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 then 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 108 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.
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 then season-best shooting performance from long range against the Huskies, .478. The Zips also shot 47.8-percent from distance against Oakland.
The Zips defense limited the second-best offense in the MAC to 35.3-percent shooting from the floor, 33.3-percent from three-point range, and its then- fourth-lowest scoring total of the season.
Akron's 48.2-percent shooting percentage against Buffalo is the second-highest shooting percentage of the season to date.
Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell tied a season- and career-high point total against Buffalo (13).
In the fourth quarter, Brown-Mitchell and Kendall Miller combined to scored 14 of the Zips 17 fourth quarter points versus Buffalo.
In their career's, the junior class of Alyssa Clay, Shaunay Edmonds, Shayna Harmon, Haliegh Reinoehl, and Caitlin Vari have combined to play 8,287 minutes and have played in a combined 3,716 games since their freshman seasons.
Akron overcame a 12-point deficit against Toledo and defeated the Rockets, 70-64, their largest deficit of the season.
The Zips scored 17 points in the overtime period vs. Toledo, which almost equaled their point total in the entire first half (21).
Megan Sefcik scored 25 of her season-high 29 points against Toledo in the second half and overtime period and connected on a season-best six three-pointers for the second time this season.
Akron's 70 points against the Rockets were tied for the third-most points given up by UT all season.
After trailing on the glass in the first half, the Zips ended the game with a 35-34 rebound advantage over UT.
Shaunay Edmonds and Shayna Harmon combined to dish out 13 of the Zips 18 assists, which occurred on 81-percent of the Zips made field goals.
Akron recorded its highest three-point shooting percentage of the season against Ohio (52.4-percent).
Alyssa Clay went off against the Bobcats playing the best game of her career scoring a career-best 25 points, shot 9-of-14 from the floor, 5-of-6 from long range, and 2-for-4 from the free throw line. Her five triples against OU are the second-most Clay has connected on in a single game (6 vs. BG, 1/13/18).
Shaunay Edmonds scored a season-high 24 points in game two against Western Michigan. She fell three points shy of her career-high 27 points set last season.
The Akron offense turned the ball over a season-low seven times against Western Michigan. This is the first time a Zips team has recorded less than eight turnovers in a game since 2015-16 when Akron tallied just five turnovers against Bowling Green (3/5/16).
The Zips completed Akron's first season sweep of Western Michigan since 2011.
The 2018-19 Zips squad is 15th team in Akron program history to win at least 13 games and the 12th Zips squad to do so in the Division I era.
Against the Broncos, Haliegh Reinoehl recorded her third double-double of the season, all of which have come in Mid-American Conference play.
Caitlin Vari bested her career-high in scoring against Western Michigan turning in a 15 point performance.
In 11 of the last 12 games, the Zips have had at least three players score in double figures and in 17 of their 23 contests overall. Akron is 10-7 in those games.
Become the 13th team in Akron program history to win at least 14 games and the 11th Zips squad to do so in the Division I era.
Akron notched six names in the scoring column against Ball State.
The 91-point outing against Ball State represented the highest point total of the season for Akron.
The 30-point margin of victory against Ball State was the largest of the season for Akron.
The contest also marked the first time Akron defeated a conference opponent by 30+ since the 2012-13 season when Akron defeated Kent State by +35 (93-58).
Caitlin Vari set a season-high and tied her career-high 16 rebounds against the Cardinals.
The Zips +17 advantage in the first quarter against Ball State was the largest point differential in a quarter for Akron this season.
In a dominant defensive performance, the Zips held the Cardinals to just three points in the first quarter. Akron also held North Carolina A&T to 3 points in the third quarter in the first game of the season.
The Zips scored a season-high 40 points inside the paint against Ball State.
The starting five of Edmonds, Harmon, Sefcik, Reinoehl, and Vari scored 66 of the Zips 91 points vs. Ball State.
Against Miami, the 50-percent of the Zips offense came from inside the paint (30 points).
Haliegh Reinoehl notched her fourth double-double of the season after her 12 point-11 rebound effort against Miami. All four double-double's have come within MAC play.
Megan Sefcik played back-to-back 40-minute games against the Miami and Eastern Michigan. Against Miami was the first time the redshirt senior played a full 40 minute contest in her career.
In just over six-minute time span (7:47-1:31) in the fourth quarter against EMU, Sefcik went on to score 11 of Akron's 13 points to bring Akron back within a single-digit deficit and keep the Zips within reach of the Eagles.
Sefcik scored 11 of her 27 points against EMU in the fourth quarter alone.
The Zips starting five of Edmonds, Harmon, Sefcik, Reinoehl, and Vari scored all 60 points for Akron against Eastern Michigan.

Where They Rank in the MAC, as a team (as of 2/22)

Rated eighth in scoring (66.6 ppg)
Ranked fifth in scoring defense allowing just 65.1 points per contest.
Akron's +1.5 scoring margin is ranked eighth in the league.
Akron is rated ninth in field goal percentage (.407) and seventh in field goal percentage allowed (.402).
From long range, Akron ranks fourth in 3FG made per game (8.1) and fourth in 3FG% (.342).
Ranked sixth in free throw percentage (.739).
Rated fourth in rebounding defense (37.0), eighth in defensive rebounds (26.0 per game), and 10th in offensive rebounds (9.3)
The Zips 6.63 steals per contest are a league 10th-best.
Akron's 70 blocked shots (2.92 per/game) are third-best in the conference rankings.
Akron ranks eighth in turnover margin (0.83) and seventh assists/turnover ratio (0.95).

Where They Rank in the MAC, Individually (as of 2/22)

Megan Sefcik is rated sixth in scoring (17.1 pts/game).
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the eighth most boards per contest (7.6/game) and Caitlin Vari ranks 10th (6.8/game).
Sefcik ranks 10th in FG% (.423), 17th in 3FG% (.374), 4th in 3FG made per game (3.2), and 2nd in free throw% (.906)
Shayna Harmon ranks 11th in assists (3.8 apg) and second in assist/turnover ratio (2.2).
Shaunay Edmonds ranks 16th in steals per game (1.6 per game) and Sefcik ranks 11th (1.8 per game).

Where They Rank in MAC Pay, as a team (as of 2/22)

Rated sixth in scoring (68.1 ppg)
Akron is rated fifth in field goal percentage (.420).
From long range, Akron ranks second in 3FG made per game (8.7) and first in 3FG% (.366).
Ranked sixth in free throw percentage (.734).
Sixth in rebounding defense (37.8).
Akron's 41 blocked shots (3.15 per/game) are third-best the conference rankings.
Akron ranks seventh in turnover margin (-0.69) and sixth assists/turnover ratio (0.95).

Where They Rank in MAC Play, Individually (as of 2/22)

Megan Sefcik is rated sixth in scoring (17.6 pts/game).
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the seventh most boards per contest (8.3/game) and Caitlin Vari ranks 11th (7.0/game).
Sefcik ranks 11th in FG% (.422), 16th in 3FG% (.372), third in 3FG made per game (3.2), and second in free throw percentage (.912), while Alyssa Clay ranks first in 3FG% (.571) and 23rd in three-pointers made per game (1.5).
Shayna Harmon ranks fifth in assists (4.4 apg) and first in assist/turnover ratio (3.6).
Edmonds is rated 18th in steals per game (1.5 per game) and Sefcik ranks 13th (1.7 per game).

Up Next
Four games remain in the 2018-19 women's basketball regular season as the Akron women's basketball team is scheduled for two road and two home games to close out the season. The Zips begin the final stretch of the season on the road against Bowling Green in its second match-up with the MAC East divisional opponent on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m.

Akron Women's Basketball Returns To Jar For Clash With Buffalo

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 Women's Basketball Returns To Jar For Clash With Buffalo

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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