Akron Returns Home to Face Detroit Mercy

Monday, November 29

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Detroit Mercy

November 28 | Women's Basketball

AKRON GAME NOTES (PDF) | DETROIT MERCY GAME NOTES (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio- After a nearly three-week road stint, the Akron women's basketball team (2-2) returns home to face Detroit Mercy (0-5) on Monday, Nov. 29 at James A. Rhodes Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

THE GAME
Akron (2-2) vs. Detroit Mercy (0-5)
Monday, Nov. 29 | James A. Rhodes Arena | 7 PM

BROADCAST
ESPN3: https://es.pn/3rdx8sp
Radio: Bill Morgan (pbp), 640 WHLO AM
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3o1fQwB

DETROIT MERCY HEAD COACH
LaTanya Collins
Record at Detroit Mercy: 22-50

AKRON HEAD COACH
Melissa Jackson
Record at Akron: 40-46

ALL-TIME SERIES
Detroit Mercy leads the all-time series, 4-2

Akron and Detroit Mercy are meeting on the hardwood inside the regular-season for the second time since 1996. Since the inaugural match-up between the Zips and Titans, Detroit has claimed a 4-2 all-time series advantage over UA. During the 2019-2020 season, the Zips claimed an 81-60 victory over the Titans in Detroit.

LAST TIME OUT
The Zips dropped to 2-2 overall after falling to Duquesne, 58-47, on the road. Akron was led by junior Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) who scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while freshman Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) added eight points and five boards. Redshirt sophomore Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) recorded seven points and dished out two assists.

It was a tale of two halves as Akron was opened the game with a 10-3 lead and ended the opening half shooting 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from the floor and a season-high 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from beyond the arc. Duquesne ended the second quarter on a 5-1 scoring run that closed the Zips lead to 27-21 heading into the break.

It was a tale of two halves as Akron was opened the game with a 10-3 lead and ended the opening half shooting 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from the floor and a season-high 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from beyond the arc. Duquesne ended the second quarter on a 5-1 scoring run that closed the Zips lead to 27-21 heading into the break. Duquesne used a huge third quarter outscoring the Zips 17-8 with the help of an 11-2 run. The Dukes ended the third quarter with a 43-35 advantage.

Akron was held to just 20 points in the second half, scoring 12 in the closing quarter and finished the second half shooting 28.6 percent (8-of-28), and went 0-of-8 from long range.

ZIP TIPS
- The 2021-22 season marks the 48th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
- As a team, Akron ranks 21stth in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game (32.0), 74th in rebounds per game (42.0), 36th in three-point FG made (18.0), 17th in fewest turnovers (9), and 61st in blocked shots per game (4.5), and 9th in fewest turnovers (52).
- The Zips rank 40th in FG percentage Defense (33.8), 61^st in blocked shots per game (4.5)
- Jordyn Dawson led the Zips a year ago averaging a team-high 15.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game en route to a third-team All-MAC accolade.
- Jordyn Dawson is rated 37th in the NCAA in points per game (19.0) and 73rd in FG made (27), 13th in steals per game (3.67).
- Akron owns a 30-17 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 2-0 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 21-14 mark, including a 0-1 record this season.
- The Akron bench is shooting more than 33 percent (.334) from the field and at a .312 clip beyond the arc this season.
- Two different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Jordyn Dawson tallying 10 or more points in 3 contests this year. She is joined by Reagan Bass (2).
- Akron has connected on five or more three-pointers in all three games this season, and 33 of its last 36 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high 13 triples in a 97-54 win over Slippery Rock, the best single-game effort for Akron since making 16 three-pointers in the opening round of the 2018 Mid-American Conference Tournament on March 5, 2018.
- Akron is returning nearly its entire 2020-21 roster including seniors Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (Solon, Ohio)(4.2 ppg), Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio)(5.5 ppg, 2.33 apg) and Colleen Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio)(5.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg), junior Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) (10.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and redshirt sophomore Emma Tecca (Tallmadge, Ohio) (5.4 ppg), who all started in double-figure contests for the Zips. Juniors Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.)(5.8 ppg) and Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio)(6.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg), redshirt sophomore Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio)(5.5 ppg) and sophomore Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario) (2.9 ppg) added valuable contributions for Akron appearing in double-digit games last season.
- Making their Akron debuts against Slippery Rock were redshirt freshman Alana Carter (Mason, Ohio), freshmen Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio), Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.), and sophomore Annika Corcoran (Painesville, Ohio).

SCOUTING DETROIT MERCY
The Titans, stand 0-5 under the direction of 5^th-year head coach LaTanya Collins
after dropping a 64-55 decision to Canisius on Tuesday night. Senior Monique Pruitt put forth a solid overall effort posting a team-high 16 points on 7-of-19 shooting with seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Sophomore Irene Murua also posted her second consecutive double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds and four assists.

Detroit Mercy is averaging 52.6 points per game on 35.4 percent shooting (99-280) from the floor and 20.6 percent (14-of-68) from long range. The Titans have one player averaging in double-figures led by Murua (10.2) points per game, while also leading the squad in rebounding averaging 7.4 boards per game.

Defensively, the Titans have held their opponents to 64.4 points per game on 44.2 percent shooting from the floor and only 36.1 percent (39-of-108) from beyond the arc. Detroit has 96 turnovers (19.2 turnovers per game) while collecting 48 steals (9.6 steals per game). On the glass, the Titans have been out-rebounded by opponents, 175-172 for a -0.6 margin.

UP NEXT
The Zips will hit the road again as Akron travels to Ann Arbor, Mich. to take on No. 13 Michigan on Sunday, Dec. 5 at the Crisler Center. Tip time is scheduled for 2 p.m.