Akron Women's Basketball Heads To Ohio To Take On Bobcats

Wednesday, February 6

Athens, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

Ohio

Akron Women's Basketball Heads To Ohio To Take On Bobcats

February 05 | Women's Basketball

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Akron vs. Ohio Game Notes (PDF)

Akron (12-7, 3-5 MAC) vs. Ohio (18-2, 7-2 MAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 6
Athens, Ohio. • Convocation. Center • 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats: GoZips.com
Watch: GoZips.com
Listen: GoZips.com

What's Ahead
The top team in the Mid-American Conference East Division, Ohio University, awaits the arrival of the Akron women's basketball as the Zips hit the road to Athens, Ohio. Akron and Ohio are scheduled to square off inside the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Feb. 6, with a 7 p.m. tip-off.

Stop, Watch, and Listen
The Zips' radio broadcast will air 1350 Fox Sports with Bill Morgan calling the action live from the M.A.C. Center. You can also tune in and stream the game live on ESPN3, HERE.

Scouting the Bobcats
The Ohio Bobcats are on pace to finish the 2018-19 season with its best record in program history after going 18-2 through the first 20 games of the season, including a 7-2 MAC record and a perfect 11-0 non-conference ledger. The Bobcats did not lose their first contest of the year until Jan. 9, against Central Michigan. The only other loss Ohio suffered was a 61-67 setback to Miami. At home in the Convo, the Bobcats are 9-2 including three of its seven MAC victories.

Ohio has a league-best five players scoring in double figures to pace the Bobcats offensive efforts, including Cierra Hooks, Erica Johnson, Amani Burke, Gabby Burris, and Dominque Doseck. Hooks, the reigning MAC Freshman of the Year, scores a team-high 16.9 points per game which ranks sixth in the conference. Additionally, owns a team-best 102 assists and 74 steals which also ranks fourth and first in the MAC, respectively. Freshman Erica Johnson is off to a strong start in her first season with the Bobcats scoring 13.9 points, grabbing 5.9 rebounds, and shooting 47-percent from the floor. Burke, an outside threat for the Bobcats scores 13.2 points per game while hitting 42.7 from long range. Burris and Doseck are scoring 12.7 and 12.2 points per game, respectively.

The Bobcats boast the top offense in the Mid-American Conference and 10th in the nation scoring 82.2 points per game. Ohio also owns the second-best shooting percentage (.461) and top three-point field goal percentage (.388) around the league. Ohio ranks in the top-50 in the NCAA in 12 statistical categories as a team.

Probable Starters
Ohio: Cierra Hooks, Amani Burke, Gabby Burris, Dominique Doseck, Olivia Bower.

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

Series History
Akron and Ohio met for the first time 42 years and one day ago in competition on Feb. 5, 1977. In the past 42 years, the Bobcats holds the advantage in the all-time series history, 42-19. A year ago, the Zips and Bobcats split the regular season series, 1-1, but Ohio won the rubber match between the two teams in the first round of the 2018 MAC Tournament.

Last Time Out
The University of Akron women's basketball team found themselves in an early hole trailing seven at halftime, 34-27, and despite a battle down the stretch by the Zips inching within one point in the third quarter, No. 5 Ohio ended No. 12 Akron's season with an 85-73 win over the Zips in the first round of the 2018 Mid-American Conference Tournament at the Convocation Center.

The Zips were led on the offensive end by redshirt junior Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) and sophomore Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.). Sefcik posted 19 points, hit five three-pointers, and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Reinoehl recorded a big game on the glass and pulled down 12 rebounds to go along with 17 points. Senior Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) added nine points while shooting 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.

As a unit, Akron thrived beyond the three-point arc shooting 47.1-percent (16-of-34) while shooting a combined 22-for-60 (36.7-percent) from the field and 86.7-percent (13-of-15) from the charity stripe. The Zips outrebounded the Bobcats by a tally of 42-to-40 and the Akron bench chipped in 23 points.

Coaches
Ohio: Bob Boldon, the 10th head coach in Ohio University women's basketball history, is in his sixth season at the helm of the Bobcats program. In his time at Ohio, Boldon has seen a plethora of success on the court including back-to-back MAC regular-season titles and its fourth postseason appearance in program history. Boldon owns a 118-59 overall record at Ohio.

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 Kent State, Akron Would...

Earn its 13th victory of the 2018-19 season.
Give the Zips their fourth MAC win and move to 4-5 in league play.
Be the 146th win during Mid-American Conference play.
Claim its 20th win over Ohio
Become the 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.

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 14th 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 24 of her last 31 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 14th in the nation averaging 3.26 triples per contest, rated 27th in three-point field goals made (62), 23rd in three-point field goals attempted (172), and 115th in three-point field goal percentage (.360).
As a unit, the Akron ranks 37th in three-point field goals made per game (8.1), 60th in three-point field goals made (156), 83rd in three-point field goal attempts (462), and 77th in three-point field goal percentage (.338).
The Akron offense has taken care of the ball well through its 19 games with just 276 turnovers which ranks 36nd in the nation and their 14.5 turnovers per game rank 81st.
As a team, the Zips rank 38th in the NCAA in free throw percentage at 74.1-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 12 of its 18 games
The Akron offense has made a minimum of five three-pointers in 18 of its 19 games including a season-high 12 triples on three different occasions.
Only seven teams have made more than 25 field goals in a contest through 19 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 642-550.
Akron has only entered the halftime intermission trailing its opponent seven times through 18 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 13 of its 19 games including a season-high 22.
Shayna Harmon dished out a career-high seven assists against Canisius.
Sefcik has made four three-pointers in nine games, at least one triple in 18 of 19 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 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 189 offensive rebounds through 19 games. Akron has turned their second chances into 179 points.
Caitlin Vari has grabbed a team-best 61 offensive boards, including a season-best eight against Canisius, at least two offensive caroms in 16 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 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.
In seven of the last eight games, the Zips have had at least three players score in double figures and in 13 of their 19 contests. Akron is 8-5 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.
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 7,554 minutes and have played in a combined 355 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 there 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.

Where They Rank in the MAC, as a team (as of 2/5)

Rated 9th in scoring (65.7 ppg)
Ranked fifth in scoring defense allowing just 63.8 points per contest.
Akron's +1.8 scoring margin is ranked eighth in the league.
Akron is rated ninth in field goal percentage (.397) and sixth in field goal percentage allowed (.399).
From long range, Akron ranks fourth in 3FG made per game (8.2) and fifth in 3FG% (.338).
Ranked fourth in free throw percentage (.742).
Rated fourth in rebounding defense (36.3), seventh in rebounding margin (-0.5), 9th in defensive rebounds (25.8 per game), and 10th in offensive rebounds (9.9)
The Zips 6.79 steals per contest are a league 10th-best.
Akron's 50 blocked shots (2.63 per/game) are fourth-best in the conference rankings.
Akron ranks ninth in turnover margin (0.63) and eighth assists/turnover ratio (0.92).

Where They Rank in the MAC, Individually (as of 2/5)

Megan Sefcik is rated fifth in scoring (17.1 pts/game).
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the seventh most boards per contest (7.2/game) and Caitlin Vari ranks 10th (6.6/game).
Sefcik ranks 10th in FG% (.415), 7th in 3FG% (.360), and 4th in 3FG made per game (3.3).
Shayna Harmon ranks 12th in assists (3.5 apg) and fifth in assist/turnover ratio (2.0).
Shaunay Edmonds ranks 10th in steals per game (1.9 per game) and Sefcik ranks 12th (1.7 per game).

Where They Rank in MAC Play, as a team (as of 2/5)

Rated ninth in scoring (67.0 ppg)
Ranked 11th in scoring defense allowing 74.3 points per contest.
Akron is rated ninth in field goal percentage (.405).
From long range, Akron ranks second in 3FG made per game (9.3) and third in 3FG% (.370).
Ranked third in free throw percentage (.739).
Fourth in rebounding defense (36.9).
Akron's 21 blocked shots (2.63 per/game) are seventh-best the conference rankings.
Akron ranks ninth in turnover margin (-2.13) and seventh assists/turnover ratio (0.88).

Where They Rank in MAC Play, Individually (as of 2/5)

Megan Sefcik is rated seventh in scoring (17.9 pts/game).
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the eighth most boards per contest (7.9/game) and Caitlin Vari ranks 10th (6.9/game).
Sefcik ranks 11th in FG% (.403), sixth in 3FG% (.342), and second in 3FG made per game (3.4), while Reinoehl rated 34rd (1.6/game).
Shayna Harmon ranks eighth in assists (4.1 apg) and first in assist/turnover ratio (4.1).
Edmonds is rated 11th in steals per game (1.9 per game) and Sefcik ranks 20th (1.4 per game).

Three for Three (pointers)
Redshirt senior Megan Sefcik has totaled 194 career made three-pointers over the course of the past four years. The Zips shooting guard needs six more triples to reach the 200 triple mark, which has only been accomplished by two others, Hannhah Plybon (313) and Taylor Ruper (269), in program history.

Newest member of the Club???
In the past 44 season's in Akron women's basketball history, the Zips have 13 players who have donned an Akron uniform that are members of the 1,000 point club dating back to 1979 when Casey O'Connor was the first Zip in program history to accomplish such feat. By year-end, there could be a new member to join the ranks as one of the top scorers in program history, Megan Sefcik. The redshirt senior needs 149 points to reach the 1,000 plateau.

Up Next
Akron returns to James A. Rhodes Arena for game one of a three-game homestand on Saturday, Feb. 9. The Zips host Western Michigan in a rematch with the Broncos at 5 p.m.