Akron Begins Final Two Weeks Of Regular Season Traveling To Bowling Green

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Akron (15-10, 6-8 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (8-17, 1-13 MAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 27
Bowling Green, Ohio • Stroh Center • 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats: GoZips.com
Watch: GoZips.com
Listen: GoZips.com

What's Ahead
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.

Stop, Watch, and Listen
The Zips' radio broadcast will air on 1350 Fox Sports with Bill Morgan calling the action live from the Stroh Center. You can also tune in and stream the game live on ESPN+, HERE.

Scouting the Falcons
Under the direction of first-year head coach, Robyn Fralick, Bowling Green has recorded an 8-17 overall record through 25 games and stands 1-13 in MAC play. 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 play and dropped 10 straight contests inside league play. The Falcons first conference win came over Buffalo on Feb. 13, with a 78-72 victory over the Bulls. Since then, Bowling Green has again lost its last three contests entering into its match-up against Akron.

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. Cecil, who shoots 47-percent from the floor and a team-best 43-percent from long range, is averaging a team-best 15.6 points per game along with a team second-best 5.3 rebounds per contest. McMillan, a freshman guard, is the Falcons second-leading scorer and averages 13.8 points per game, has made a team-high 78 three-pointers out of her 110 made field goals, and shoots 88.9-percent from the free throw line (.889). Perry, a reserve for the Falcons, is efficient in the frontcourt shooting 52.3-percent from the floor en route to 10.5 points per game. Rounding out the quartet of double-digit scorers for Bowling Green is Lambert who posts 11.4 points per game and owns a team second-best 97 assists.

As a team, the Falcons are 18th in the nation in three-point field goals per game (8.9), 30th in three-point field goals made (223), and 39th in three-point field goal attempts (638), and 56th in three-point field goal percentage (.350).

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 62 times on the hardwood heading into the first of two games in the 2018-19 season. BG holds a 54-8 all-time series record against the Zips. Akron last defeated the Falcons twice in the same season in 2016.

Last Time Out
The Akron women's basketball team fended off a furious second-half rally by visiting Bowling Green and closed out the Falcons late in the fourth quarter for a 74-71 win Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena during the Zips league home opener

The Zips, who led by double digits for most of the first half, saw their lead cut to one point multiple times in the third and fourth quarters, but never surrendered the lead. A clutch layup by junior forward Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) and five clutch free throws in the final minute of the game by freshman guard Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (Solon, Ohio) sealed a key Mid-American Conference win.

Redshirt senior guard Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) tallied 12 of her 15 points after halftime by way of scoring from the perimeter, on drives to the basket and from the foul line. She received support from several teammates as junior guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) (16 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals), junior Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind.) (10 points, four three-pointers), Brown-Mitchell (career-best 13 points), and junior Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio) (career-high eight assists) all played key roles in the win.

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 16th victory of the 2018-19 season.
Give the Zips their seventh MAC win and move to 7-8 in league play.
Be the 149th win during Mid-American Conference play.
Become the just eighth team in Akron program history to win at least 16 games in a season and the seventh Zips squad to do so in the Division I era.
Win the season series against Bowling Green for just the third time in program history and first since 2016.
Earn its ninth win all-time against the Falcons.

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 20th 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 37 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 18th in the nation averaging 3.16 triples per contest, rated 24th in three-point field goals made (79), 24th in three-point field goals attempted (215), and 102nd in three-point field goal percentage (.367).
As a unit, the Akron ranks 45th in three-point field goals made per game (8.0), 59th in three-point field goals made (200), 70th in three-point field goal attempts (590), and 72nd in three-point field goal percentage (.339).
The Akron offense has taken care of the ball well through its 24 games with just 354 turnovers which ranks 42nd in the nation and their 14.2 turnovers per game rank 69th.
As a team, the Zips rank 56th in the NCAA in free throw percentage at 73.7-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 15 of its 25 games
The Akron offense has made a minimum of five three-pointers in 24 of its 25 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 25 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 25 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 17 of its 25 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 24 of 25 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 236 offensive rebounds through 25 games. Akron has turned their second chances into 213 points.
Caitlin Vari has grabbed a team-best 77 offensive boards, including a season-best eight against Canisius, at least two offensive caroms in 20 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 25 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 8,435 minutes and have played in a combined 3,721 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.
Caitlin Vari bested her career-high in scoring against Western Michigan turning in a 15 point performance.
In 12 of the last 13 games, the Zips have had at least three players score in double figures and in 18 of their 25 contests overall. Akron is 11-7 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-doubles 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.
The frontcourt dynamic duo of Haliegh Reinoehl and Caitlin Vari scored a combined 34 points and 27 rebounds against Buffalo. The pair also each recorded a double-double in the ballgame. It was Reinoehl's fifth of the season and Vari's fourth, while also the first time Reinoehl and Vari recorded a double-double in the same contest.
Akron defeated the Bulls for the first time since 2016 ending a six-game losing skid against Buffalo.
Haliegh Reinoehl recorded a new career-high in scoring after her 23 point performance in the win against Buffalo.
The Zips became 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.
Akron's defense held Buffalo's Cierra Dillard, the MAC's leading scorer and the second leading scorer in the nation, to 3-for-22 shooting from the floor and six turnovers.
The Zips defense forced 21 Buffalo turnovers, which are the third most in a single-game by the Akron D.

Where They Rank in the MAC, as a team (as of 2/26)

Rated seventh in scoring (66.8 ppg)
Ranked fifth in scoring defense allowing just 64.8 points per contest.
Akron's +1.9 scoring margin is ranked eighth in the league.
Akron is rated ninth in field goal percentage (.406) and sixth in field goal percentage allowed (.397).
From long range, Akron ranks fourth in 3FG made per game (8.0) and fourth in 3FG% (.339).
Ranked sixth in free throw percentage (.737).
Rated fourth in rebounding defense (37.3), sixth in defensive rebounds (26.1 per game), and 10th in offensive rebounds (9.4)
The Zips 6.68 steals per contest are a league tenth-best.
Akron's 72 blocked shots (2.88 per/game) are fourth-best in the conference rankings.
Akron ranks eighth in turnover margin (0.88) and sixth assists/turnover ratio (0.95).

Where They Rank in the MAC, Individually (as of 2/26)

Megan Sefcik is rated sixth in scoring (16.8 pts/game).
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the eighth most boards per contest (7.8/game) and Caitlin Vari ranks 10th (7.0/game).
Sefcik ranks 11th in FG% (.413), 20th in 3FG% (.367), and second in 3FG made per game (3.2).
Shayna Harmon ranks 11th in assists (3.9 apg) and second in assist/turnover ratio (2.1).
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 2/26)

Rated fifth in scoring (68.4 ppg)
Akron is rated fifth in field goal percentage (.417).
From long range, Akron ranks second in 3FG made per game (8.4) and first in 3FG% (.360).
Ranked sixth in free throw percentage (.731).
Eighth in rebounding defense (38.4).
Akron's 43 blocked shots (3.15 per/game) are fourth-best the conference rankings.
The Zips are ranked seventh in assists averaging 13.36 dimes per game
Akron ranks seventh in turnover margin (-0.50) and sixth assists/turnover ratio (0.94).

Where They Rank in MAC Play, Individually (as of 2/26)

Megan Sefcik is rated seventh in scoring (17.6 pts/game) and Haliegh Reinoehl ranks 24th (11.9 pts/game).
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the seventh most boards per contest (8.6/game) and Caitlin Vari ranks eighth (7.5/game).
Sefcik ranks 11th in FG% (.404), 18th in 3FG% (.361), and second in 3FG made per game (3.1), while Alyssa Clay ranks first in 3FG% (.568) and 22nd in three-pointers made per game (1.5).
Shayna Harmon ranks sixth in assists (4.6 apg) and first in assist/turnover ratio (3.0).
Edmonds is rated 18th in steals per game (1.4 per game) and Sefcik ranks 13th (1.6 per game).
Vari stands fourth overall in blocked shots (1.3 per game).

Up Next
Akron returns home for its final two home contests of the 2018-19 regular season with three games remaining in the campaign. The Zips welcome in Ohio to James A. Rhodes Arena on Saturday, March 2, at 5 p.m. The Akron women's basketball is game two of the final Akron Zips basketball doubleheader of the season.

Akron Begins Final Two Weeks Of Regular Season Traveling To Bowling Green

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 Begins Final Two Weeks Of Regular Season Traveling To Bowling Green

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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