Akron Hosts Central Michigan in Matinee Affair

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GAME NO. 11 - AKRON VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME NOTES (1/23)

Akron (4-6, 1-6 MAC) vs. Central Michigan (7-5, 5-3 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 23
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 2 p.m.

Series History: Central Michigan leads 26-16
Live Stream: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Television: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com
Radio: 640 WHLO AM (Bill Morgan - pxp)

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team will open a two-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 23, as the Zips welcome Central Michigan, the defending Mid-American Conference champions, to James A. Rhodes Arena. The 2 p.m. showdown with the Chippewas will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Central Michigan: Heather Oesterle (Michigan, 2004), Overall/CMU Record: 30-12 (Second Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall/Akron Record: 35-36 (Third Season)

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Central Michigan are meeting for the 43rd time in program history, with the Chippewas owning a 26-16 series edge. Central Michigan registered an 83-58 triumph over the Zips on Jan. 6, 2021, at McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan enters play this Saturday having lost its last three contests, including a 70-67 setback versus Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

Senior G Micaela Kelly headlines a quartet of Central Michigan players scoring in double figures averaging 23.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Contributing 17.7, 11.7 and 11.0 points, respectively, per night is sophomore G Molly Davis, senior F Kyra Bussell and senior G Maddy Watters. As a team, the Chippewas are registering 77.0 points, 36.3 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 7.2 steals and 2.0 blocks per outing.

Central Michigan is fourth in the NCAA in three pointers per game (10.5), while ranking fifth in three pointers made (126), sixth in triples attempted (361), ninth in free throw percentage (.802), 40th in turnovers per game (13.5) and 42nd in scoring offense (77.0). Individually, Kelly is rated seventh in field goals made (101) and total points (285), ninth in three pointers attempted (98), 10th in triples made (36), 11th in scoring (23.8), 16th in field goals attempted (214), 17th in three pointers per contest (3.00) and 40th in minutes played (430:57).

IN OUR LAST MEETING (MARCH 7, 2020 - AKRON, OHIO)
The University of Akron women's basketball team was unable to overcome a second-half comeback, as Central Michigan, the defending Mid-American Conference champions, rallied to post an 83-58 triumph over the Zips on Jan. 6 in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Senior F Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.), who surpassed the 500-point plateau for her Akron career with a first-quarter jumper, directed the Zips' attack with a team-high 16 points, while redshirt freshman G Emma Tecca (Tallmadge, Ohio) added 11 points off the bench, including connecting on a trio of three pointers.

Michaela Kelly highlighted four Chippewas registering double-figure scoring performances with a game-high 22-point effort. Joining Kelly in double-figures with 15, 13 and 11 points, respectively, was Kyra Bussell, Molly Davis and Maddy Watters.

Akron finished the afternoon shooting 39.3 percent from the floor, while Central Michigan connected on 46.9 percent of its attempts on the day.

The Chippewas outrebounded the Zips, 40-26, including a 10-4 edge on the offensive glass. Sparked by 11 points from Tecca and six courtesy of freshman Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario), Akron's bench outscored Central Michigan, 24-15.

Central Michigan was able to pull away in the second half capitalizing on a 54.3 percent shooting mark over the final 20 minutes, while converting Akron's turnovers into 21 points on the day.

The two sides battled through a back-and-forth first half, one that featured four ties and nine lead changes, as the Zips took a 33-32 advantage into the halftime intermission.

Dawson led Akron with 12 first-half points, while sophomore F Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) and Tecca added eight and six points, respectively.

The Zips shot 45.2 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, while the Chippewas connected at a 37.9-percent clip.

Akron opened the third quarter extending its lead to four, 36-32, with a three pointer by junior G Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (Solon, Ohio), before Central Michigan squared the contest at 36 at the 8:40 mark.

The Chippewas regained the advantage, 42-38, before a triple by Stewart with 5:56 cut the deficit to one, 42-41.

Central Michigan answered with a 7-0 run over the next 2:13 to assume a 49-41 lead as part of an overall 20-5 scoring surge to close quarter to maintain a 60-46 advantage.

The Chippewas continued their hot shooting over the final 10 minutes, making 10-of-17 shots (.588), en route to remaining unbeaten in league play with 83-58 victory.

LAST GAME
University of Akron women's basketball sophomore G Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) scored a career- and team-high 12 points in her first collegiate start, but the Zips were unable to overcome Bowling Green as the Falcons earned a 66-57 Mid-American Conference victory at the Stroh Center on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

Neitzel paced the Zips with a team-leading 12 points, including a pair of three pointers, while Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell and Emma Tecca added nine points apiece for Akron.

Elissa Brett and Madison Parker directed the offensive efforts for the Falcons netting a game-high 13 points apiece. Joining the duo with double-digit scoring performances with 11 and 10 points, respectively, was Kadie Hempfling and Lexi Fleming.

The two sides registered nearly identical 40-minute shooting marks with the Falcons attempting one more field goal in the contest. Akron finished the evening shooting just under 38 percent (.379) from the field and connected on seven three pointers. Conversely, Bowling Green was under its season average with a 37.3-percent shooting mark.

The Falcons earned a 42-34 edge in rebounding, including a 12-7 margin on the offensive glass. The Zips limited the damage holding Bowling Green to only a pair of second-chance points on the evening. Akron posted advantages in the game in assists (14-13), blocks (4-2) and second-chance points (7-2), while points in the paint were even at 28 points per team.

The close of the opening quarter and start of the second ultimately may have proven to be the deciding stretch in the tilt. During a span of more than six minutes (6:17), Bowling Green held the Zips without a field goal, as part of an overall 16-2 run, to extend a 12-10 lead to a 28-12 advantage with 6:20 left before halftime.

Jordyn Dawson broke the scoring drought converting a lay-up at the 6:04 mark of the second quarter to begin a 7-0 run for Akron that brought the Zips within nine, 28-19, following a pair of made free throws from Molly Neitzel. Akron continued to chip away at the deficit and entered the halftime intermission trailing Bowling Green, 38-25.

Molly Neitzel paced the Zips' attack in the opening 20 minutes with a team-high nine points.

Akron opened the second half on an 8-3 run to move to within eight, 41-33, following a lay-up by junior G Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) at the 5:58 mark of the third quarter. Fueling the surge was a three pointer from Molly Neitzel and baskets from Lonasia Brewer and Miller.

The two sides seemingly exchanged points over the remainder of the quarter with the Falcons assuming a 51-40 lead heading into the final period.

Bowling Green began the final quarter on a 9-2 run to take its largest lead of the evening, 60-42, with 4:47 left on the clock. The Zips continued to battle outscoring the Falcons down the stretch, 15-6, but Bowling Green held on to secure the triumph.

ZIP TIDBITS
• After playing four of its last five Mid-American Conference games on the road, Akron returns to James A. Rhodes Arena for two straight home games and three of four overall starting on Saturday, Jan. 23, versus Central Michigan.
• A year ago, the Zips battled Central Michigan down to the wire in their home showdown before falling by a count of 77-72. Jordyn Dawson turned in a 25-point and seven-rebound effort against the Chippewas. As a team, Akron connected on 44.6 percent of its attempts in the contest, including making six three pointers.
• The last two home encounters with Central Michigan have been decided by a total of 14 points.
• Akron is in search of its first home victory over the Chippewas since posting a 97-87 triumph on Feb. 4, 2012. A 19-point, 11-rebound effort from Sina King, the 2015 MAC Player of the Year, led five Zips scoring in double figures that afternoon. She was joined with double-figure efforts of 16, 16, 16 and 13 points, respectively, from Kacie Cassell, Taylor Ruper, Ti'eshia Stubbs and Carly Young.
• Jordyn Dawson surpassed the 500-point plateau for her Akron career with a first-quarter jumper at Central Michigan on Jan. 6. Dawson has recorded 557 points, 283 rebounds and 106 career assists as a Zip.
• Akron connected on a season-best 88.9 percent of its attempts at the charity stripe against Central Michigan hitting 8-of-9 attempts. The Zips are rated fourth in the MAC in free throw percentage making 72.13 percent of their attempts.
• Jordyn Dawson owns Akron season-best single-game marks in points (30 vs. Miami), field goals made (11 vs. Miami), field goals attempted (19 at Central Michigan/at Buffalo), rebounds (12 vs. Bluefield State), assists (6 vs. Ball State/Miami) and steals (4 vs. Bluefield State/Miami).
• Emma Tecca has made 52.9 percent of her three-pointers for her career having connected on 18-of-34 attempts from beyond the arc this season, good for the fourth-best mark in the NCAA.
• Akron owns a 25-14 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 4-2 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 20-12 mark, including a 4-0 ledger this season.
• Emma Tecca, Molly Neitzel and sophomore G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) have led the efforts of the Zips' reserves this season averaging 6.6, 4.8 and 4.0 points, respectively. The Akron bench is shooting nearly 38 percent (.377) from the field and at a .339 clip beyond the arc this season. Redshirt freshman G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) , Tecca and Neitzel are all connecting on 40 percent or better of their attempts as the trio owns field goal percentages of .529, .432 and .409, respectively.
• Eight different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Jordyn Dawson tallying 10 or more points in eight contests this year. She is joined by Lonasia Brewer (7), Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (2), junior G Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) (2), Colleen Neitzel (2), Molly Neitzel (2), Emma Tecca (2) and Rachel Martindale (1).
• Lonasia Brewer has connected on 51 of her 102 shots this season for 50.0 percent shooting mark, the second-best mark in the Mid-American Conference.
• Kendall Miller leads the Zips in assist/turnover ratio this season at 2.1 having dished out 25 assists against 12 turnovers.
• Jordyn Dawson is averaging 6.50 defensive rebounds as part of a team-high 7.40 overall rebounds this season. Her 7.40 caroms per game is rated sixth in the MAC.
• Jordyn Dawson has scored in double figures in 15 of Akron's last 17 games, including eight of 10 contests this season.

AKRON HOSTS EIGHTH-ANNUAL EDUCATION DAY
The University of Akron Women's Basketball team will hold its eighth-annual Education Day on Wednesday, Jan. 27, as the Zips host Northern Illinois. Game time at James A. Rhodes Arena is set for noon.

The inaugural Education Day in 2013 drew approximately 400 students and teachers. Unfortunately this season due COVID-19 restrictions, the Zips have reinvented their Education Day into a virtual version, one that will include students from the IPromise School in Akron.

Students will have pre-, in-, and post-game "homework" that they will complete based on the outcome of the game. Questions have been integrated into the assignments relating to the game of basketball for example: score at halftime, leading scorer, scoring percentages, etc. as well as a portion about promoting an active and healthy lifestyle.

The students will watch the game from their virtual classrooms and play basketball BINGO. The winners will be put into a raffle with names drawn to receive post-game prizes.

During halftime of the game, students will get to watch a video that describes "A Day in the Life of an Akron Zip."

The importance of staying active and eating healthy is the overriding theme of the event as teachers will share a nutrition sheet that talks about the Zips' pre-game meals.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 10 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .552 (Miami-1), 40 percent: .474 (Dayton), .447 (Bluefield State), .446 (Northern Kentucky), 435 (Buffalo-1), .400 (Toledo-1), 30 percent: .393 (Central Michigan-1), .385 (Ball State-1), .379 (Bowling Green-1), 20 percent: .270 (Eastern Michigan-1).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 10 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .525 (Miami-1), 40 percent: .469 (Central Michigan-2), .431 (Buffalo-1), .415 (Toledo-1), .406 (Dayton), 30 percent: .397 (Ball State-1), .373 (Bowling Green-1), .367 (Northern Kentucky), .364 (Eastern Michigan-1), .306 (Bluefield State), 20 percent: NA.

UP NEXT
Akron is scheduled to host Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at James A. Rhodes Arena. The 12 p.m. tilt with the Huskies will be broadcast on the Akron Radio Network 99.7 Canton's New Country with Bill Morgan calling the action.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lonasia Brewer

Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell

Jordyn Dawson

Layne Ferrell

Rachel Martindale

Kendall Miller

Colleen Neitzel

Molly Neitzel

Alexis Stewart

Emma Tecca

The University of Akron Athletics