Akron Resumes MACtion at Miami

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GAME NO. 18 - AKRON AT MIAMI NOTES (2/24)

Akron (5-12, 2-12 MAC) at Miami (2-14, 3-17 MAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 24
Millett Hall
Oxford, Ohio • 5:30 p.m.

Series History: Miami leads 39-19
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 is set to return following an 11-day layoff as the Zips travel to Oxford, Ohio for a showdown with Miami on Wednesday, Feb. 24. The 5:30 p.m. tilt with the RedHawks will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Miami: DeUnna Hendrix (Richmond, 2007), Overall Record: 139-130 (Ninth Season)/Miami Record: 14-37 (Second Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall/Akron Record: 36-42 (Third Season)

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Miami are meeting for the 59th time in program history, with the RedHawks owning a 39-19 series edge. The Zips garnered an 84-77 triumph over the RedHawks on Jan. 9 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

SCOUTING MIAMI
Miami comes into action on Wednesday having snapped its three-game losing streak following a 62-60 road triumph at Toledo on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

Sophomore G Peyton Scott headlines a trio of Miami players scoring in double figures averaging 21.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. Contributing 12.1 and 11.8 points, respectively, per night is senior F Kelly McLaughlin and freshman F Katie Davidson. As a team, the RedHawks are registering 65.2 points, 37.9 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 8.0 steals and 2.4 blocks per outing.

Individually, Scott is rated fifth in the NCAA in field goals attempted (377), 10th in field goals made (161), 11th in minutes played (37.81), 16th in total points (427), 20th in scoring (21.4), 21st in assists (102), 22nd in steals (51), 37th in assists per contest (5.1), 45th in steals per game (2.55) and 49th in free throws made (78).

IN OUR LAST MEETING (JAN. 9, 2021 - AKRON, OHIO)
A then career-high 30 points from senior F Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.), including 16 in the decisive second half, propelled the University of Akron women's basketball team to it first Mid-American Conference victory of the season, an 84-77 triumph over Miami on Jan. 9, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Dawson stuffed the stat sheet with 30 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and numerous game-changing plays on the afternoon. She had plenty of help from junior G Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (Solon, Ohio) and junior G Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio), who scored 13 and 10 points, respectively. Adding nine points for Akron was sophomore F Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio).

The Zips shot a sparkling 55.2 percent from the field, a season-high mark, and harassed the visiting RedHawks into 21 turnovers en route to the triumph. Akron turned the miscues into 31 points on the afternoon.

Kelly McLaughlin led Miami with 27 points, while Peyton Scott added 22 in the setback.

Play in the paint was dominant for both sides in the affair as each team scored 52 points, while the Zips posted a 16-14 edge in bench points and 19-8 in fast-break opportunities.

Playing at home for the first time in nearly three weeks and for the initial time in 2021, Akron fell behind early, but never panicked, steadily fighting its way back into the game behind Dawson's stellar play and red-hot shooting from the entire roster.

The latter stages of the third quarter proved to be the tipping point in the contest as the Zips closed the stanza on a 7-0 run over the final 1:46 to take a 56-49 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Dawson contributed a lay-up and a steal, junior F Colleen Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) added lay-up, while redshirt freshman G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) scored the final three points of the period to fuel the scoring run.

When Miami staged a fourth-quarter rally, it was again Dawson who delivered the crucial rebuttal, converting an acrobatic lay-up with 4:48 remaining to stake the Zips to a 67-59 advantage. She added four clutch free throws in the final minute to seal the triumph.

With her team trailing by nine points early in the second quarter, Dawson willed the Zips back into the game, banking in a long three-pointer from the top of the key, adding a driving lay-up on Akron's ensuing possession and forcing a Miami turnover at the other end of the court. Her efforts sparked a 7-0 run that narrowed the RedHawks' lead to two, 23-21, in the span of 1:41.

Even after Miami was able to build its lead back to seven, Akron's reserves were able to power the Zips back into the game as freshman G Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario) and Ferrell both tallied baskets in a burst that tied the game at 36-all in the final minute of the first half.

Despite both teams struggling with turnovers in the first two quarters, Akron scorched the nets at a 51.9-percent clip, including 64.3-percent (9-of-14) shooting in the second quarter. Additionally, the Zips forced 11 Miami turnovers before intermission and converted those miscues into 18 points on the offensive end.

LAST GAME
Akron garnered three double-digit scoring efforts, but the performances were not enough to lift the Zips past Toledo in a Mid-American Conference showdown on Feb. 13, inside James A. Rhodes Arena, as the Rockets posted a 75-62 triumph.

Jordyn Dawson led the Zips with team-high marks in points (20) and steals (3), while sophomore F Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) and Layne Ferrell each added a career-best 12 points. Additionally, Lonasia Brewer chipped in eight points and four rebounds. The performances of Ferrell and Neitzel sparked the Zips to a 31-4 edge in bench scoring on the day.

Quinesha Lockett registered a game-high 26 points for Toledo, while Sammi Mikonowicz and Sophia Ward added 20 and 11 tallies, respectively.

Akron wrapped up the contest shooting 37.5 percent from the field, including making five three pointers, with a pair coming from Ferrell. The Rockets concluded the game connecting on 49.2 percent of their shots.

The opening half was one in which Toledo started fast before Akron settled into an offensive rhythm that saw both sides exchange runs that resulted in three ties and 10 lead changes before intermission.

The Zips and Rockets battled back-and-forth in the second quarter before a corner jumper from Molly Neitzel as time expired gave Akron a 35-34 halftime lead.

Bench scoring buoyed the Akron attack from the outset, with the second unit tallying nine of the Zips' first 14 points and 25 of its 35 in the half. Ferrell in particular proved to be a spark on offense, scoring seven points spanning the initial 20 minutes of play to help initiate a 15-4 run that propelled Akron to a 24-23 lead at the 7:06 mark of the second quarter.

The third quarter proved decisive in the final outcome as Toledo opened the stanza on a 14-2 run over the first 3:45 of the half to claim a double-digit lead, 48-37, an advantage it didn't relinquish. The Rockets went on to outscore Akron in the period, 26-13, to erase a one-point halftime deficit and assume a 60-48 lead heading into the final period.

The Zips were unable to inch closer than 11 points down the stretch as Toledo earned a 75-62 triumph.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Layne Ferrell turned in a career game against Western Michigan on Feb. 10 registering career-high marks in points (10), rebounds (6), steals (3) and minutes played (20). One game later versus Toledo on Feb. 13, she established a new career-high in scoring with a 12-point effort against the Rockets.
• Akron has registered victories in its last three games against Miami.
• The Zips are in search of their 10th all-time road win against the RedHawks, with six of the previous nine triumphs at Millett Hall coming with head coach Melissa Jackson on staff for Akron.
• Jordyn Dawson's 34-point effort represents the ninth-best single-game scoring performance in program history equaling a 34-point night from Hanna Luburgh on Feb. 2, 2014. It also marked the most points scored by a Zip since Hannah Plybon netted 39 at Canisius on Nov. 20, 2016.
• Jordyn Dawson is the first Akron player to post 30 or more points in two games in a season since Anita Brown scored 36 in a 102-101 win at Toledo on Jan. 14, 2015 and 31 in an 87-81 setback at Buffalo on Feb. 28, 2015. It is also the high-water mark since Rachel Tecca and Hanna Luburgh recorded six and five games, respectively, scoring 30 or more points during the 2013-14 campaign.
• Lonasia Brewer set career-high marks in steals (6) and assists (3) versus Ball State on Feb. 6. Her six steals are the most for an Akron player in a game since Shaunay Edmonds recorded a 10-steal effort against St. Bonaventure on Nov. 10, 2019.
• Sophomore G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) pulled down a career-best five rebounds at Ball State on Feb. 6
• Colleen Neitzel pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds against Buffalo on Feb. 3, while playing in a career-high 30 minutes.
• Redshirt freshman G Emma Tecca (Tallmadge, Ohio) posted career-high marks in rebounds (5) and assists (3) versus Buffalo on Feb. 3, en route to scoring nine points, all on three pointers.
• On the strength of an 89-84 overtime victory on Feb. 6, Akron registered its first road win at Ball State since Hanna Luburgh scored a game- and team-high 22 points to lead five Zips scoring in double figures in an 87-64 triumph on Feb. 15, 2014. Joining Luburgh with double-figure scoring efforts with 15, 13, 13 and 13 points, respectively, was Hannah Plybon, Kacie Cassell, Rachel Tecca and Carly Young.
• Emma Tecca has connected on a trio of three pointers in five overall contests on the campaign, including making a career-high four three pointers against Ball State (Dec. 20).
• Jordyn Dawson's 30-point effort against Miami (Jan. 9) marked the first 30-point performance by a Zip since Shaunay Edmonds posted 33 points in a 83-73 victory over Bowling Green on Feb. 27, 2019.
• Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell registered a career-high mark in scoring against Miami (Jan. 9) posting 13 points in the Zips' victory.
• 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 676 points, 325 rebounds and 133 career assists as a Zip.
• Jordyn Dawson owns Akron season-best single-game marks in points (34 at Ball State), field goals made (11 vs. Miami/at Ball State), field goals attempted (20 at Ball State), rebounds (12 vs. Bluefield State), assists (7 vs. Buffalo/at Ball State), while Lonasia Brewer own the top mark in steals (6 at Ball State).
• Emma Tecca has made 43.5 percent of her three-pointers for her career having connected on 27-of-62 attempts from beyond the arc this season.
• Akron owns a 26-16 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 5-4 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 20-14 mark, including a 4-2 ledger this season.
• Emma Tecca, Rachel Martindale, and Molly Neitzel have led the efforts of the Zips' reserves this season averaging 6.9, 6.5 and 5.3 points, respectively. The Akron bench is shooting more than 38 percent (.381) from the field and at a .344 clip beyond the arc this season. Layne Ferrell, Tecca and Molly Neitzel are connecting on 40 percent or better of their attempts as the trio owns field goal percentages of .600, 440 and .440, respectively.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Jordyn Dawson and tallying 10 or more points in 13 contests this year. They are joined by Lonasia Brewer (10), Kendall Miller (4), Rachel Martindale (5), Colleen Neitzel (5), Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (3), Molly Neitzel (4), Layne Ferrell (2) and Emma Tecca (2).
• Lonasia Brewer has connected on 80 of her 166 shots this season for 48.2 percent shooting mark, the fifth-best mark in the Mid-American Conference.
• Jordyn Dawson is averaging 5.88 defensive rebounds as part of a team-high 6.82 overall rebounds this season. Her 6.82 caroms per game is rated ninth in the MAC.
• Jordyn Dawson has scored in double figures in 20 of Akron's last 24 games, including 13 of 17 contests this season.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 17 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .552 (Miami-1), 40 percent: .474 (Dayton), .473 (Ohio-1), .452 (Central Michigan-2), .447 (Bluefield State), .446 (Northern Kentucky), .439 (Western Michigan), .435 (Buffalo-1), .413 (Ball State-2), .400 (Toledo-1), 30 percent: .393 (Central Michigan-1), .385 (Ball State-1), .379 (Bowling Green-1), .375 (Toledo-2), .333 (Ohio-1), .328 (Buffalo-2), .324 (Northern Illinois-2), 20 percent: .270 (Eastern Michigan-1).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 17 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .525 (Miami-1), .522 (Central Michigan-2), 40 percent: .492 (Toledo-2), .469 (Central Michigan-2), .444 (Northern Illinois-1), .438 (Western Michigan), .431 (Buffalo-1), .415 (Toledo-1), .406 (Dayton), .400 (Ball State-2) 30 percent: .397 (Ball State-1), .373 (Bowling Green-1), .367 (Northern Kentucky), .364 (Eastern Michigan-1), .328 (Buffalo-2), .306 (Bluefield State), 20 percent: NA.

UP NEXT
Akron is scheduled to welcome Bowling Green to James A. Rhodes Arena on Saturday, Feb. 27. The 2 p.m. tilt with the Falcons will be broadcast on the Akron Radio Network 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.

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Players Mentioned

Lonasia Brewer

Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell

Jordyn Dawson

Shaunay Edmonds

Layne Ferrell

Rachel Martindale

Kendall Miller

Colleen Neitzel

Molly Neitzel

Alexis Stewart

Emma Tecca

The University of Akron Athletics