The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
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Western Michigan
Akron Women's Basketball Hosts Western Michigan In Game Two Of MAC Play
January 07 | Women's Basketball
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Akron vs. Western Michigan Gamenotes (PDF)
Akron (7-5, 0-1 MAC) vs. Western Michigan (8-4, 1-0 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 8
Akron, Ohio • James A. Rhodes Arena • 7 p.m.
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Watch:Â GoZips.comÂ
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What's Ahead
The first week of Mid-American Conference play continues as the Akron women's basketball team hosts MAC West opponent Western Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 8. All action between the Zips and Broncos can be seen live at 7 p.m. at the JAR, on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jacki Windon, or heard on Fox Sports 1350 with Bill Morgan.Â
Scouting the Broncos
Heading into its contest at Akron, Western Michigan enters with an 8-4 overall record and is coming off its first MAC win of the season (1-0). In 11 non-conference games, the Broncos finished 7-4 after defeating Kentucky State (80-41), Detroit (82-67), New Mexico State (79-76), UIC (80-52), Chicago State (90-69), Denver (79-70), and Loyola Chicago (70-60). In the MAC season opener, the Broncos downed Toledo 84-72 in Kalamazoo.Â
Four starters for the Chippewas direct the Broncos offense as Jordyn Walker, Breanna Mobley, Leighah-Amori Wool, and Kamrin Reed all are averaging double-figures in WMU's first 12 contests. Walker, the Broncos leading scorer, is averaging 16.5 points while shooting 44-percent from the floor and is tied for a team-best 28 steals on the defensive side of the ball. After missing the 2018-19 campaign, Mobley has returned to the WMU lineup and is averaging a double-double scoring 13.5 points and pulling in 10.6 rebounds per game, which also ranks first in the MAC. In 12 starts and 377 minutes of action, Wool is scoring 12.4 points per game while adding 7.3 rebounds and 38 assists. Reed, a senior guard, averages just above 10 points (10.3) and shoots a team-best 32.9-percent from long range.
In the NCAA, the Broncos rank in the top-50 in three statistical categories, including 12th fewest turnovers (161), 40th in fewest fouls (195), and 41st in turnover margin (4.36). Individually, Mobley ranks first in the country in offensive rebounds grabbing 5.2 per contest and 10th in double-doubles recording eight on the season.Â
Probable Starters
WMU: Leighah-Amori Wool, Jordan Walker, Kamrin Reed, Breanna Mobley, Chelayne Bailey.
Akron: Shaunay Edmonds, Shayna Harmon, Alyssa Clay, Haliegh Reinoehl, Caitlin Vari.Â
Series History
In the all-time series between Akron and Western Michigan, the Broncos hold a 31-12 record against the Zips since the inaugural meeting in 1993. The Zips are currently on a two-game win streak against the Broncos defeating WMU twice in 2018-19. Akron looks to win three straight over WMU for the first time since Akron won four straight from 2010-12.Â
Last Time Out
Behind a three-headed offensive attack, a low turnover count and solid defense, the Akron women's basketball team battled its way to a 69-62 Mid-American Conference win over visiting Western Michigan at James A. Rhodes Arena.
With the win over Western Michigan, Akron improves to 13-8 overall and 4-6 inside Mid-American Conference play. The Zips completed Akron's first season sweep of Western Michigan since 2011 and became 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.
Junior guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) led the Zips with a season-high 24 points, while junior forward Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) notched a career-high 15 points and nine rebounds and junior forward Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) recorded her third double-double of the season - all in Mid-American Conference play - finishing with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Akron's offense was efficient in the contest as the Zips turned in just seven turnovers, a season-low and the least amount of turnovers in a game by an Akron team since the 2015-16 season. The Zips recorded an assist on 12 of their 26 made field goals with junior Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio) dropped a team-best five dimes.Â
CoachesÂ
Western Michigan: Shane Clipfell, the sixth head coach in Western Michigan women's basketball program history, is in his seventh season at the helm of th Broncos. Clipfell has led WMU to a 116-118 mark and 67-75 record inside the MAC.Â
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. Â
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 8-5 on the season and 1-1 in the MAC.Â
- Improves the Zips home record to 4-3.Â
- Hand head coach Melissa Jackson her 25th career win.Â
- Capture the Zips 476th program win.
- Win three straight games against WMU.
Top 175 In the Nation
The Zips currently hold the seventh-best Ranking Percentage Index inside the Mid-American Conference and are ranked inside the top-175 in the NCAA coming in with an RPI of 158 (as of 1/7).Â
Score By Periods
The Zips are outscoring its opponents 826-785 on the year. While the Zips are +3.4 on the year, the Zips are the most efficient in the second and fourth quarters outscoring its opponents 450-375 including a season-best +39 (234-195) in the fourth quarter alone. Akron has outscored its opponent four times in the first quarter, eight times in the second quarter, five times in the third quarter, and a season-high nine times in the fourth period.Â
Score by Periods   1st   2nd   3rd   4th
AKRONÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 185Â Â Â 216Â Â Â 194Â Â Â 234
OPPONENTSÂ Â Â Â Â Â 223Â Â Â 180Â Â Â 187Â Â Â 195
Up Next
Akron is slated for its first road test of the 2019-20 Mid-American Conference schedule as the Zips head to Bowling Green, Ohio to take on the Falcons. Akron and Bowling Green are scheduled to tip off at 2 p.m. inside the Stroh Center on Saturday, Jan. 11.Â
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