MACtion Tips-Off For Akron Women's Basketball As Zips Host Central Michigan

Saturday, January 4

Akron, OH

2 PM

University of Akron

Central Michigan

MACtion Tips-Off For Akron Women's Basketball As Zips Host Central Michigan

January 03 | Women's Basketball

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Akron (7-4, 0-0 MAC) vs. Central Michigan (7-4, 0-0 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 4
Akron, Ohio • James A. Rhodes Arena • 2 p.m.
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What's Ahead
Happy New Year! As the calender flipped to 2020 and a new decade, the 2020 Mid-American Conference schedule comes along with it. The Akron women's basketball team opens up MAC play on Saturday, January 4, when the Zips host the defending MAC West divisional champions, Central Michigan. All action can be seen live at 2 p.m. at the JAR, on ESPN3 with Michael Reghi and Jacki Windon, or heard on Fox Sports 1350 with Bill Morgan.

Scouting the Chippewas
Through 11 non-conference contests, the Chippewas posted a 7-4 mark as Central Michigan prepared for MAC play. After opening the campaign 0-3 with losses to Green Bay (105-111), No. 9 Louisville (63-76), and Western Kentucky (58-93), the Chipps went on a run winning seven consecutive games defeating Dayton, Northeastern, Marist, Iona, South Dakota State, Oakland, and Bethune Cookman. In their final contest of 2019, CMU's win streak ended with a loss to UCF (58-64). A year ago, Central Michigan went 25-8 including a 15-3 league mark.

Three starters for the Chippewas pace the offensive attack for CMU, including the top scorer in the conference, Micaela Kelly. Kelly averages 23.6 points per game and is shooting lights out from the perimeter, 31-for-65 (47.7-percent). To go along with her scoring capabilities, Kelly has posted 44 rebounds, 40 assists, and 23 steals. Kyra Bussell, a junior forward, is the Chippewas leading rebounder averaging 7.6 per game while also scoring 14.2-percent, second-most on the squad. Freshman Molly Davis has made an impact in the CMU lineup in her first collegiate season scoring 12.4 points per match-up and tallying a team-best 50 assists.

In the NCAA, the Chippewas rank in the top-50 in six statistical categories, including 3-point field goals/game (11th), 3-point field goal percentage (17th), field goal percentage (25th), free throw percentage (35th), scoring offense (42nd), and 3-point field goals made (43rd).

Probable Starters
CMU: Micaela Kelly, Kyra Bussell, Molly Davis, Maddy Watters, Jahari Smith.

Akron: Shaunay Edmonds, Shayna Harmon, Alyssa Clay, Haliegh Reinoehl, Caitlin Vari.

Series History
In the all-time series between Akron and Central Michigan, the Chippewas hold a 24-16 record against the Zips since the inaugural meeting in 1982. Akron last defeated CMU in 2015 and last dropped the Chippewas at home in 2012.

Last Time Out
After a strong start and solid first quarter against the defending Mid-American Conference champions, Central Michigan took control of the game in the final 30 minutes as the Akron women's basketball team fell to the Chippewas, 94-71, in the 2018-19 MAC opener inside McGuirk Arena.

Akron now sits 9-3 overall and 0-1 in league play, while CMU improved to 10-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

The Zips turned in their second-best offensive effort of the season against the Chippewas hitting 47.5-percent (18-for-59) of their shots from the floor en route to their fourth-highest point total of the season (71). While Akron shot efficiently collectively, the squad struggled from distance shooting just 6-for-22 (27.3-percent), despite going 4-for-7 in the first quarter.

Eight of the 10 active players helped the Zips on the offensive end of the court, which was highlighted by three players in double-figures. Redshirt senior guard Megan Sefcik led all Akron scorers with 17 points, added five rebounds and a pair of steals. Junior point guard Shaunay Edmonds tallied a season-best 15 points and five steals to go along with three boards. Junior forward Caitlin Vari went on to post a career-best 14 points while grabbing five boards and notching two steals.

Coaches
Central Michigan: Heather Osterle, was named head coach of the Central Michigan women's basketball program ahead of the 2019-20 campaign. Osterle spent the past nine seasons on the Chippewas staff and was named associate head coach in 2012.

Akron: Melissa Jackson begins her second season at the helm of the Akron women's basketball program. In her debut season, Jackson led the Zips to a 16-15 overall record, a 7-11 MAC ledger, improved by seven wins overall and +4 in conference victories. Jackson's squad became just the eighth team in program history to win at least 16 games in a season.

Mid-American Conference Member
The Zips have been a member of the Mid-American Conference for the past 28 years after joining the league in 1992 from the North Star Conference.

With A Win Over Central Michigan, Akron Would...

Earn its eighth win of the 2019-20 season
Improve to 8-4 on the season and 1-0 in the MAC.
Capture a MAC season opener for the first time since 2014.
Extend its winning streak to four games.
Improves the Zips home record to 4-2.
Hand head coach Melissa Jackson her 24th career win.
Capture the Zips 476th program win.
End a five-game losing streak to CMU.

Scouting The Zips
Under the direction of second-year head coach, Melissa Jackson, the Akron women's basketball team recorded a 7-4 non-conference record to begin the first half of the 2019-20 campaign. Since Jackson took over ahead of 2018-19, the Zips are 23-19.

Akron's roster is made up of 14 student-athletes including a core senior class of Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind.), Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio), Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.), and Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) who are key contributors for the Zips

Making an impact on the court for the Zips along with the five seniors is junior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W. Va.), sophomore Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio), freshman Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.), and freshman Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio).

The most experienced group inside the 12 Mid-American Conference teams, the Akron senior class is playing a large role in the Zips on-court success. Senior captain Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) is averaging a team-best 14.3 points, 7.0 rebounds per game, and 32 offensive rebounds. Running the backcourt for the Zips is Edmonds who is averaging 9.6 points 2.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per match-up, along with Harmon who is scoring 7.5 points per contest 29.0 minutes of action. Co-captain, Vari, has made her mark Akron's frontcourt averaging 6.5 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per outing.

Dawson, in her first season with Akron, earned a starting spot three games into the campaign and has since averaged 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, is shooting 46.8-percent from the floor and is tied for a team-best 25 steals and 25 assists.

In her second season, Miller has played a large role off the bench for Akron. Averaging 18 minutes per game, the Zips guard scores 3.2 points and 1.9 assists per contest. Martindale and Brewer have played a combined 262 minutes through 11 games with Martindale posting a team-best 44.1-percent three-point field goal percentage and Brewer has pulled down 11 offensive rebounds and scored 33 points.

Zips Tidbits

The 2019-20 season marks the 46th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
Junior Jordyn Dawson and two freshmen, Rachel Martindale and Lonasia Brewer, made their respective collegiate debuts against St. Bonaventure. Martindale played 15 minutes and scored two points while Brewers saw more minutes of action.
Dawson provided a big spark for the Zips in her Akron debut. JD scored 10 points, grabbed five rebounds, and was +25 in +/- when on the court.
Akron picked up its first victory of the season against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, 63-54. The win marked the sixth time since 2012-13 that Akron captured a win in the season opener.
Shaunay Edmonds recorded the first double-double of her career scoring 20 points and tallying a career-high 10 steals, including 5 steals in the fourth quarter alone.
Haliegh Reineohl posted her team-leading 25th career double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds).
Forward Caitlin Vari eclipsed the 500 career point mark against St. Bonaventure with her 13 point effort.
In the fourth quarter against St. Bonaventure, Akron outscored the Bonnies 20-4 and scored 17 unanswered points in the final six minutes of the game.
The Zips went to the free-throw line 31 times against St. Bonaventure and connected on 25 attempts. Akron fell two made free throws shy of tying the 10th most free throws made in a single-game.
Defensively, UA limited St. Bonaventure to a game-low four points in the quarter as the Bonnies shot 1-for-13, committed seven turnovers, and Edmonds single-handedly ripped five steals.
Jordyn Dawson registered her first career double-double in an Akron uniform against Fort Wayne while Haliegh Reinoehl notched back-to-back double-doubles to start the season.
UA grabbed a season-high 41 team rebounds, including 14 offensive boards. Dawson and Reinoehl accounted for 24 of the Zips rebounds.
Against the Mastodons, UA scored 34 points in the paint, 20 points in the paint, and the Zips contributed 23 points.
The Zips led for 30:40 of the game against Purdue Fort Wayne and led by as many as +11.
Akron captured two straight wins to begin the season in back-to-back campaigns.
Against Michigan, four Akron players scored in double figures including Haliegh Reinoehl (14), Jordyn Dawson (13), Shayna Harmon (13), Rachel Martindale (12).
Martindale scored a career-high 12 points and knocked down four triples against UM.
As a team, UA shot a season-high 45.9-percent from the floor and 40.7-percent from long range.
The Zips led then No. 24 Michigan for a total of 2:43 and led by as many as four.
UA outscored the Wolverines 22-16 in the second quarter and 24-14 in the third quarter.
Akron earned its third win of the season against YSU as the Zips rolled to a 91-62 victory.
In the 40 minute contest, the Zips led for a season-high 39:18 and led by as many as +34.
From distance, Akron shot a season-best .407 against the Penguins.
In the plus/minus category, all five starters against YSU, Reineohl, Vari, Dawson, Harmon, and Edmonds, were all +25 or high, including a game-high +31 by Vari.
All 12 players who checked into the contest against YSU recorded at least one point.
Freshman guard Molly Neitzel scored the first three points of her career while Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell matched her career-high with 13 points.
Against Detroit, the Zips recorded a season-high 20 assists, including a game- and season-high five by Shaunay Edmonds.
In the third quarter alone, Edmonds scored or assisted on six of the Zips 10 field goals en route to six points, four assists, and two steals. Haliegh Reinoehl added five points with four rebounds and Shayna Harmon scored five points, two rebounds, and two assists to help lead the Zips to a +11 advantage (25-14).
Akron led for 33 of the 40 minute contest against Cleveland State before a late push by the Vikings earned CSU the win.
The backcourt duo of Haliegh Reineohl and Caitlin Vari scored a combined 30 of the Zips 62 points. Reineohl notched her third double-double (16 pts, 10 reb) and led the Zips in scoring for the fourth time in 2019-20, while Vari scored 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting.
Junior Jordyn Dawson scored seven of her nine points in the fourth quarter against CSU while Shayna Harmon posted a season-high seven rebounds, team-high four assists, made eight free throws, and tallied three steals.
The Zips two best quarters offensively against CSU came in the second and fourth periods where UA shot a combined 13-for-30 and tallied 36 of its 62 total points.
Against Duquesne, Kendall Miller played a career-high 31 minutes and tied a career-mark five assists.
Freshman Rachel Martindale matched her career-high 12 points against the Dukes, went a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, 3-for-3 from long range, and 1-for-1 from the free-throw line.
Against Butler, Jordyn Dawson scored 10 of the Zips 13 third-quarter points.
Lonasia Brewer scored a career-high eight points against the Bulldogs while Dawson matched a season-high 18 points.
Senior Haliegh Reinoehl scored a season-high 22 points against NC A&T, which fell one point shy of her career-best 23 points.
Senior guard Shayna Harmon turned in 12 points against the Aggies going a perfect 4-for-4 from long range.
The Zips defense forced 23 turnovers by the NC A&T offense while the Akron offense assisted on 17 of its 24 made field goals.
Akron went 2-0 at the 2019 Puerto Rico Classic defeating Denver and Morgan State. The Zips are 4-0 went participating in December holiday tournaments in the past two seasons and collected a three-game win streak (2019) and four-game win streak (2018) to close out the past two non-conference schedules.
Against the Pioneers, senior Haligh Reinoehl recorded a career day scoring 26 points while senior Caitlin Vari grabbed a career-best 17 rebounds.
The Zips led by just one point heading into the fourth quarter against Denver before scoring a season-high 34 points and shot 91.6-percent from the floor in the final 10 minutes of play to defeat DU by +16.
Akron set season-highs in points in the paint (50 ) and points off turnovers (34) while tying season-high numbers in points scored (88) and assists (21).
In two games, 11 players who checked into the game scored a minimum of one point in the contests against YSU and Detroit. A season-high 12 players scored in the Zips win against the Penguins.
The Zips have had four players score in double figures in four of its eleven games while a minimum of two Akron players have notched double digits in the scoring column in 10 of 11 contests and a season-best five Zips tallied double figures against YSU.
The Zips in the NCAA (stats as of 1/2):
Turnovers: Fewest turnovers (45th, 160), turnovers per game (69th, 14.4), turnover margin (72nd, 3.45), assist/turnover ratio (124th, 0.89).
Free Throws: free-throw percentage (145th, .697).
Scoring: scoring margin (154th, +4.4), scoring offense (131st, 68.5),
Defense: blocked shots per game (149th, 3.5), fewest fouls (63rd, 180), steals per game (124th, 9.0),
Zips players in the NCAA (stats as of 1/2):
Haliegh Reinoehl - 235th rebounds per game (7.0), 236th field goal percentage (41.7), 229th points per game (14.3).
Jordyn Dawson - 106th steals per game (2.19).
Shaunay Edmonds - 106th steals per game (2.19).
Team Game-Highs: Points (91, YSU), field goals made (33, YSU), three-pointers (12), free throws made (25, SBU), rebounds (46, NC A&T), assists (21, Denver.), steals (12, SBU, CSU), blocks (7, Det.)
Individual Game-Highs: Points (26, Reinoehl), field goals made (10 Reinoehl), three-pointers (4, Martindale), free throws made (8, Harmon), rebounds (17, Vari), assists (6 Edmonds), steals (10, Edmonds).

Took Care Of Business
The Akron women's basketball team went on a business trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and took care of business as the Zips went a perfect 2-0 at the 2019 Puerto Rico Classic. UA downed Denver (88-72) and Morgan State (52-45) and is one of two teams to go undefeated in the holiday tournament.

The Zips captain, Haliegh Reinoehl, turned in her best stretch of the season in Puerto Rico en route to earning the MAC East Player of the Year. UA's forward averaged 20.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 47.9-percent from the floor and 76.9-percent from the free-throw line.

On day one of the 2019 Puerto Rico Classic, Reinoehl recorded a career day scoring 26 points, shot 62.5-percent from the floor, knocked down three three-pointers, recorded a season-high four assists, and three rebounds.

To close out the Classic and the 2019 non-conference schedule, Reinoehl again led the Zips to a win scoring a team-high 13 points.

Up Next
Mid-American Conference play continues inside James A. Rhodes Arena as the Akron women's basketball team host Western Michigan. The Zips and Broncos are scheduled for a head-to-head showdown on Wednesday, January 8, at 7 p.m.