Rivalry Week Round Two Vs. Kent State Awaits Akron On Senior Night

Wednesday, March 6

Akron, Ohio

7 PM

University of Akron

Kent State University

Tickets

Rivalry Week Round Two Vs. Kent State Awaits Akron On Senior Night

March 05 | Women's Basketball

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Akron vs. Kent State Game Notes (PDF)

Akron (16-11, 7-9 MAC) vs. Kent State (16-11, 9-7 MAC)
Wednesday, March 6
Akron, Ohio • James A. Rhodes Arena • 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats: GoZips.com
Watch: GoZips.com
Listen: GoZips.com

What's Ahead
One final home game at James A. Rhodes Arena for the 2018-19 regular season is on tap for the Akron women's basketball team. On Wednesday, March 6, the Zips host cross-town rival Kent State for part two of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge at 7 p.m. The game will also represent Senior Day for the Zips where Akron will honor Megan Sefcik and Fredniqua Walker prior to the start of the contest.

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 ESPN+, HERE, with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Jacki Windon (analyst) on the call.

Scouting the Golden Flashes
Kent State enters rivalry week round two ahead of the Zips in the MAC East standings by two games sitting in fourth place with a 9-7 conference ledger and a 16-11 overall record. After winning its first three MAC contests to begin league play with victories over Eastern Michigan (71-64), Northern Illinois (87-78), and Toledo (58-47), the Golden Flashes dropped four straight. Since its first meeting with Akron, Kent State has since gone 6-3 heading into the final two games of the regular season. Prior to the start of MAC play, KSU claimed seven non-conference wins. When playing on the road, the Golden Flashes 6-8 overall and 3-5 in MAC play.

Kent State's trio of Megan Carter, Asiah Dingle, and Lindsey Thall pace the Golden Flashes offense averaging double-digits in the scoring column in a combined 2,408 minutes of action. Carter leads Kent State in points (16.1/game), ranks third in assists (63), grabs 4.3 rebounds per game, and shoots 39.8-percent from the floor. Dingle, who averages 12.6 points per contest, dishes out 2.5 assists per game, and has ripped 53 steals on the season. Thall, a freshman making an impact in the frontcourt for the Flashes, is scoring 10.2 points per contest, reels in 5.0 rebounds per match-up, and owns a team-high and league second-best 41 blocks. Despite their strong scoring efforts, Carter and Dingle also own the most turnovers on the Golden Flashes squad, 177.

Defensively, the Golden Flashes are one of the most sound teams in the league as KSU boasts the third-best scoring defense allowing just 61.9 points per game and the number two percent defense allowing its opposition to shoot just .381 from the floor.

Probable Starters
Kent State: Megan Carter, Asiah Dingle, Lindsey Thall, Ali Poole, Alexa Golden

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

Series History
Since the first meeting between Akron and Kent State in 1975, the Golden Flashes own the overall all-time series advantage over the Zips, 52-16. However, in the last seven seasons, Akron holds a 10-5 ledger against Kent State in its last 15 meetings dating back to 2012, which also included eight straight victories over KSU. The Zips have picked up six wins over the Golden Flashes inside the JAR in the past seven seasons.

Last Time Out
In part one of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge, Kent State picks up half a point in the standings for the Golden Flashes after defeating the Akron women's basketball team, 73-58, inside the M.A.C Center in Kent, Ohio.

After the Akron offense started the contest firing on all cylinders shooting 61.5-percent from the field, the Zips cooled down as the game went on and ended the match-up shooting 32.3-percent (20-for-62) from the floor and went just 5-for-21 from long range. The Zips got a lot of offensive production from the free throw line making 13-of-16 at the charity stripe, in the interior scoring 28 of its 58 points in the paint, and scoring 10 points off second-chance opportunities courtesy of 12 offensive rebounds.

As a team, the Zips had three players score in double-figures, including juniors Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.), and redshirt senior Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio). Akron's point guard, Edmonds, tallied a team-high 15 points, including nine points in the first quarter. Reinoehl notched her 12th double-digit scoring performance with 12 points while adding six rebounds, and one steal. Sefcik, the Zips leading scorer, was held to just 10 points and 3-of-16 shooting and without a three-pointer for the first time in 2018-19 and the first time in 21 games dating back to last season.

On the glass, junior Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds, including seven boards on the offensive end. Junior guard Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio) again led the squad in assists dropping six dimes in the contest.

Coaches
Kent State: Todd Starkey, the sixth head coach in Kent State women's basketball history, is in his third season at the helm of the Golden Flashes program. In his time at Kent State, was named the 2017 MAC Coach of the Year, won a MAC East title, and has earned a 47-43 record through two and half seasons.

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 17th victory of the 2018-19 season.
Give the Zips their eighth MAC win and move to 8-9 in league play.
Be the 150th win during Mid-American Conference play.
Become the just seventh team in Akron program history to win at least 17 games in a season and the sixth Zips squad to do so in the Division I era.
Tie the season series against Kent State
Claim its 17th win over the Golden Flashes.
Secure a home contest in round one of the 2019 MAC Tournament.

If The MAC Tournament Started Today
The Akron women's basketball team currently sits in eighth place overall in the Mid-American Conference standings heading into the final week of regular season competition. However, the Zips official seeding is up in the air as the team heads down the final stretch of the season.

With one more win over the course of the next two games or a loss by Eastern Michigan during its upcoming two contests, the Akron women's basketball team would clinch a home contest for the first round of the 2019 Mid-American Conference Tournament. Prior to the final two games of the regular season, the Zips could head into the postseason as high as the seventh seed or as low as the ninth seed.

Newest member of the Club???
In the past 44 seasons' in Akron women's basketball history, the Zips have 14 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 15 points to reach the 1,000 point milestone.

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 22nd 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 30 of her last 39 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 27 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 19th in the nation averaging 3.15 triples per contest, rated 23rd in three-point field goals made (85), 20th in three-point field goals attempted (233), 101st in three-point field goal percentage (.365), and 90th in points per game (17.0).
Shayna Harmon's 2.17 assist/turnover ratio ranks 45th in the NCAA.
As a unit, the Akron ranks 48th in three-point field goals made per game (8.0), 61st in three-point field goals made (215), 76th in three-point field goal attempts (635), and 70th in three-point field goal percentage (.339).
The Akron offense has taken care of the ball well through its 27 games with just 370 turnovers which ranks 26th in the nation and their 13.7 turnovers per game rank 56th.
As a team, the Zips rank 43rd in the NCAA in free throw percentage at 74.3-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 27 games
The Akron offense has made a minimum of five three-pointers in 26 of its 27 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 27 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 940-846. In the fourth quarter alone, the Zips have outscored its opponents, 561-512.
Akron has only entered the halftime intermission trailing its opponent 13 times through 27 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 19 of its 27 games including a season-high 24.
Shayna Harmon dished out a career-high seven assists against Canisius.
Sefcik has made four three-pointers in 11 games, at least one triple in 26 of 27 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 seven 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 253 offensive rebounds through 27 games. Akron has turned their second chances into 222 points.
Caitlin Vari has grabbed a team-best 80 offensive boards, including a season-best eight against Canisius, at least two offensive caroms in 21 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 10 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.
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 8,734 minutes and have played in a combined 3,731 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 then 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 then 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 14 of the last 15 games, the Zips have had at least three players score in double figures and in 20 of their 27 contests overall. Akron is 12-8 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.
Shaunay Edmonds scored a career-high 33 points against Bowling Green.
The Akron offense scored 61 second-half points to lead the Zips to the win over the Falcons.
Ball control and quick hands. On the offensive side of the ball, Akron turned the ball over just four times on offense while the Zips defense recorded 16 steals and forced 21 turnovers against BG.
The Zips scored a season-high 37 points in the fourth quarter against the Falcons.
Akron swept Bowling Green in the season series for just the third time in program history and the first time since 2016. The Akron team also became 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.
From the charity stripe, Akron knocked down a season-high 24 free throws.
Megan Sefcik needs 15 points to reach the 1,000 point milestone. To complete the career mark in the final two games of the regular season, the redshirt senior needs to average at least 7.5 points per game.
In the Zips last seven contests, Akron has outscored its opponent in the fourth quarter in six times.
In the past two fourth quarters alone vs. Ohio and Bowling Green, Akron has scored a combined 71 points.
Tale of two halves. Akron shot 25.1-percent from the floor in the first half against Ohio before turning in a 54.8-percent clip in the second half, including a season-best 73.3-percent in the fourth quarter.

Where They Rank in the MAC, as a team (as of 3/5)

Rated seventh in scoring (67.5 ppg)
Ranked seventh in scoring defense allowing just 65.7 points per contest.
Akron's +1.8 scoring margin is ranked eighth in the league.
Akron is rated ninth in field goal percentage (.405) and seventh in field goal percentage allowed (.399).
From long range, Akron ranks fourth in 3FG made per game (8.0) and fourth in 3FG% (.339).
Ranked fourth in free throw percentage (.743).
Rated fifth in rebounding defense (37.7), fifth in defensive rebounds (26.2 per game), and 10th in offensive rebounds (9.4)
The Zips 6.81 steals per contest are a league 10th-best.
Akron's 77 blocked shots (2.85 per/game) are fourth-best in the conference rankings.
Akron ranks eighth in turnover margin (1.26) and fifth assists/turnover ratio (0.96).

Where They Rank in the MAC, Individually (as of 3/5)

Megan Sefcik is rated sixth in scoring (17.0 pts/game) and Shaunay Edmonds is ranked 21st (11.9 pts/game
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the seventh most boards per contest (7.8/game) and Caitlin Vari ranks eighth (7.0/game).
Sefcik ranks eighth in FG% (.417), sixth in 3FG% (.365), and third in 3FG made per game (3.1).
Shayna Harmon ranks 11th in assists (3.9 apg) and second in assist/turnover ratio (2.2).
Shaunay Edmonds ranks 15th in steals per game (1.6 per game) and Sefcik ranks 10th (1.8 per game).

Where They Rank in MAC Play, as a team (as of 3/5)

Rated fourth in scoring (69.4 ppg)
Akron is rated fifth in field goal percentage (.413).
From long range, Akron ranks third in 3FG made per game (8.4) and second in 3FG% (.357).
Ranked fourth in free throw percentage (.742).
10th in rebounding defense (38.9).
Akron's 48 blocked shots (3.13 per/game) are fifth-best the conference rankings.
The Zips are ranked seventh in assists averaging 13.06 dimes per game
Akron ranks sixth in turnover margin (0.31) and sixth assists/turnover ratio (0.98).

Where They Rank in MAC Play, Individually (as of 3/5)

Megan Sefcik is rated seventh in scoring (17.3 pts/game) and Shaunay Edmonds ranks 22nd (12.6 pts/game).
In the rebounding category, Reinoehl has the seventh most boards per contest (8.5/game) and Caitlin Vari ranks eighth (7.4/game).
Sefcik ranks ninth in FG% (.412), seventh in 3FG% (.357), and third in 3FG made per game (3.1).
Shayna Harmon ranks seventh in assists (4.4 apg) and first in assist/turnover ratio (3.2).
Edmonds is rated 17th in steals per game (1.4 per game) and Sefcik ranks 12th (1.7 per game).
Vari stands fourth overall in blocked shots (1.3 per game).