Zips Open Homestand Hosting Miami

Saturday, January 9

Akron, Ohio

2:00 PM

University of Akron

Miami

January 08 | Women's Basketball

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GAME NO. 8 - AKRON VS. MIAMI GAME NOTES (1/9)

Akron (3-4, 0-4 MAC) vs. Miami (1-7, 0-4 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 9
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 2 p.m.

Series History: Miami leads 39-18
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: 99.7 FM (Bill Morgan - pxp)

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team opens a two-game homestand welcoming Miami University to James A. Rhodes Arena on Saturday, Jan. 9. The 2 p.m. matinee affair with the RedHawks will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as 99.7 FM Akron's New Country with Bill Morgan calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Miami: DeUnna Hendrix (Richmond, 2007), Overall Record: 137-120 (Ninth Season)/Miami Record: 12-27 (Second Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall/Akron Record: 34-33 (Third Season)

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Miami are meeting for the 58th time in program history, with the RedHawks owning a 39-18 series edge. The Zips swept the season series versus Miami a season ago as Akron bested the RedHawks, 70-62, on Jan. 22, 2020 at James A. Rhodes Arena, before netting a 75-62 road triumph on Feb. 29, 2020 at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio.

SCOUTING MIAMI
Miami comes into action on Saturday following a 72-63 home setback to Ohio on Wednesday, Jan. 6. The RedHawks have lost six in a row since a 67-49 triumph over Valparaiso on Dec. 8.

Sophomore G Peyton Scott headlines a trio of Miami players scoring in double figures averaging 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. Contributing 15.8 and 11.4 points, respectively, per night is freshman F Katie Davidson and senior F Kelly McLaughlin. As a team, the RedHawks are registering 63.4 points, 42.0 rebounds, 12.4 assists, 6.0 steals and 1.9 blocks per outing.

Miami is 29th in the NCAA in offensive rebounding (16.4) and 31st in rebounding margin (+9.9). Individually, Scott and Davidson are rated 22nd (146) and 38th (135), respectively, in field goal attempts.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (FEB. 29, 2020 - OXFORD, OHIO)
Behind a career day from senior G Jordyn Dawson, who tallied a double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds, the Akron women's basketball team swept the season series against Miami dropping the RedHawks, 75-62, inside Millett Hall on Feb. 29, 2020.

The Zips built an 11-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation. Despite Miami trimming its deficit to as little as three points, 61-58, with 5:16 to play, the Zips defense locked in and Akron's offense started rolling, including Dawson who scored seven straight points in a just under a three-minute span and Akron outscored the RedHawks 14-4. Shaunay Edmonds iced the contest with four free throws in the final minute.

The trio of Dawson, Edmonds, and Haliegh Reinoehl spearheaded the Akron offense against the RedHawks. In addition to her career-high 26 points and 11 rebounds, Dawson also collected three blocks, two assists, and one steal. Reinoehl posted 15 points, shot 3-for-5 from long range, grabbed five rebounds, and recorded two assists. Edmonds controlled the pace of the game for Akron as the Zips' point guard scored 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting and a perfect 6-for-6 from the line while dishing out a game-high eight assists.

As a unit, Akron shot 47.2-percent from the floor, including a game-high 58.3-percent (41.7-percent) in the second quarter alone. From beyond the perimeter, the Zips were efficient shooting at a 53.3-percent clip with four Zips notching a triple. From the charity stripe, the Zips connected on 17 of its 22 attempts with crucial free ones coming in the fourth quarter, 8-for-8.

A slow start to the first quarter that saw Akron trailing 18-11 after 10 minutes of play and shooting just 5-for-15, was an afterthought for the Zips heading into the second quarter.

Akron shut down the RedHawks on the defensive end and was lights out offensively. Akron outscored Miami, 25-6, went on an 11-2 run to take its first lead of the game, 23-21, before leading 25-24 at the media timeout, and out of the break the Zips rolled to 14 straight points to claim a 37-24 lead at the half.

During the Zips 14-0 run, four Zips tallied at least two points including Dawson (5), Edmonds (4), senior Alyssa Clay (3), and Reinoehl (2). Akron hit one three, scored four points in the paint, seven at the free throw line.

Thanks to a big second quarter, Akron held a 20-6 advantage in the paint, and scored 10 second chance points. Seven Zips etched their names into the scoring column while Dawson (12) and Reinoehl (10) led the way. For Miami, the RedHawks shot just 2-for-19 and turned the ball over eight times.

Akron again started sluggish out of the halftime break, but this time, the Zips were able to make adjustments at the midway point and got right back to work. While Miami out cored the Zips, 20-18, in the period, Akron still held onto an 11-point (55-44) lead after three quarters.

After letting a double-digit lead slip away in the first five minutes of the fourth, Akron shut the door on the RedHawks down the stretch to pick up the win.

LAST GAME
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 Wednesday, Jan. 6.

Jordyn Dawson, 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.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Jordyn Dawson surpassed the 500-point plateau for her Akron career with a first-quarter jumper at Central Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 6. Dawson has recorded 511 points, 268 rebounds and 97 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 71.9 percent of their attempts.
• Jordyn Dawson owns Akron season-best single-game marks in points (26 at Dayton), field goals made (9 at Buffalo), field goals attempted (19 at Central Michigan), rebounds (12 vs. Bluefield State), assists (6 vs. Ball State) and steals (4 vs. Bluefield State).
• As a team, Akron is rated 53rd in the NCAA in three-point percentage (.359) and in three pointers per contest (7.9).
• Jordyn Dawson is rated 28th in the NCAA in defensive rebounding (7.4).
• Emma Tecca has made 63.2 percent of her three-pointers for her career having connected on 12-of-19 attempts from beyond the arc this season, a mark that is good for fourth in the NCAA this season
• Akron owns a 24-14 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 3-2 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 19-12 mark, including a 3-0 ledger this season.
• Emma Tecca, sophomore G Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) and Rachel Martindale have led the efforts of the Zips' reserves this season averaging 6.8, 5.6 and 5.0 points, respectively. The Akron bench is shooting nearly 41 percent (.409) from the field and at a .380 clip beyond the arc this season. Tecca, redshirt freshmen F Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) and Neitzel are all connecting on 40 percent or better of their attempts as the quintet owns field goal percentages of .500, .500, and .457, respectively.
• Eight different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Jordyn Dawson and Lonasia Brewer tallying 10 or more points in six contests this year. They are joined by Colleen Neitzel (2), Emma Tecca (2), Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (1), Rachel Martindale (1), Kendall Miller (1) and Molly Neitzel (1).
• Lonasia Brewer has connected on 37 of her 71 shots this season for 52.1 percent shooting mark, the top mark in the Mid-American Conference.
• Kendall Miller leads the Zips in assist/turnover ratio this season at 2.3 having dished out a team-best 18 assists against only eight turnovers.
• Jordyn Dawson is averaging a league-best 7.43 defensive rebounds as part of a team-high 8.4 overall rebounds this season. Her 8.4 caroms per game is rated fourth in the MAC.
• The Zips rank second in the MAC in assists (13.86), while rating third in field goal percentage (.426).

ZIPS IN THE CLASSROOM
Academic success has been a staple for the Zips under head coach Melissa Jackson. Akron has posted a cumulative team GPA's of 3.0 or better in each of the first five semesters under Jackson, including registering cumulative marks of 3.141 and 3.233 during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns, respectively. The number improved to 3.338 following Akron earning a 3.372 team GPA for the Fall 2020 Semester. A year ago, the Zips registered a 3.23 team GPA for the fall 2019 term, with Alyssa Clay, Shayna Harmon, Kendall Miller and Caitlin Vari garnering Academic All-MAC accolades. With the conclusion of the spring semester, the Zips turned in a 3.59 team GPA. Overall, the Zips maintain a 3.338 cumulative team GPA.

CRYSTAL CLINIC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
The 16-sport Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge rivalry series between Akron and Kent State is based on a time-honored competition for an historic wooden wagon wheel trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game. Akron has won four of the last five Wagon Wheel football games. Through three events, the Zips lead the series, 1.5-1.0.

Since the 2011-12 academic year, the rivalry was broadened to include 16 NCAA varsity sports, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings. To learn more about the rivalry and follow the results and standings, visit:

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's seven games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 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).

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

HOME COOKING
Inside the friendly confines of James A. Rhodes Arena, the Zips have seen a lot of success over the course of the past 17 seasons. When playing on its home court, Akron owns a 107-68 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

In 2020-21, Akron is 2-1 at the JAR, scoring 75.0 points per game, shooting nearly 43-percent (.426) from the floor, averaging 38.0 rebounds per game, with assists on 44 baskets and owning a 1.2 assist/turnover ratio.

Individually, Jordyn Dawson and Lonasia Brewer have enjoyed playing on their home court this season as the duo averages double-figures inside James A. Rhodes Arena. Dawson owns a team-best 17.0 points per game, while Brewer has scored 12.3 points per contest.

UP NEXT
Akron is scheduled to host rival Kent State in the first installment of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge on Wednesday, Jan. 13, at James A. Rhodes Arena. The 6 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on the Akron Radio Network 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.