Akron Travels North to Battle Western Michigan

Wednesday, February 10

Kalamazoo, Mich.

1:00 PM

University of Akron

Western Michigan

February 09 | Women's Basketball

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GAME NO. 16 - AKRON AT WESTERN MICHIGAN NOTES (2/10)

Akron (5-10, 2-10 MAC) at Western Michigan (2-12, 1-11 MAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 10
University Arena
Kalamazoo, Mich. • 1 p.m.

Series History: Western Michigan leads 33-12
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 Canton's New Country (Bill Morgan - pxp)

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team eyes back-to-back road victories for the first time this season as the Zips travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., for a showdown at Western Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The 1 p.m. tilt with the Broncos will be broadcast on ESPN3 as well as 99.7 Canton's New Country with Bill Morgan calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Western Michigan: Shane Clipfell (Eastern Michigan, 2006), Overall Record: 141-151 (Ninth Season)/Western Michigan Record: 128-140 (Eighth Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall/Akron Record: 36-40 (Third Season)

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Western Michigan are meeting for the 46th time in program history, with the Broncos owning a 33-12 series edge. A year ago, Western Michigan swept the season series earning 56-51 triumph at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 8, 2020, before besting the Zips at University Arena, 79-71, on Jan. 25, 2020.

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan comes into play this Wednesday having dropped its last five decisions following a 74-71 setback versus Central Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 6.

Senior F Reilly Jacobson headlines a trio of Broncos scoring in double figures averaging 14.4 points, and 6.8 rebounds per game. Contributing 13.8 and 11.6 points per night is sophomore G Sydney Shafer and redshirt freshman F Taylor Williams. As a team, Western Michigan is registering 62.9 points, 35.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 5.6 steals and 2.4 blocks per outing.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (JAN. 25, 2020 - KALAMAZOO, MICH.)
Akron's fourth-quarter comeback effort came up short, despite scoring 28 points in the final 10 minutes and four Zips scoring in double-figures as the Zips fell, 79-71, to Western Michigan inside University Arena on Jan. 25, 2020.

It was a back-and-forth battle between the two sides as the Zips and Broncos traded shot-for-shot in the final stanza shooting a combined 23-for-33, with each team knocking down three triples. However, Western Michigan went 8-for-12 from the free-throw line, while Akron was just 1-for-5, a mark that helped lift the Broncos to the victory.

The four-headed attack of senior F Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W. Va.), Shaunay Edmonds, Haliegh Reinoehl and Shayna Harmon scored 56 of Akron's 71 points. Dawson recorded a team-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Edmonds scored 15 points, matched her career-high six rebounds, and dished out a team-high four assists. Reinoehl chipped in 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Harmon rounded out the Zips in double figures scoring 11 points, hitting two three-pointers and grabbing six rebounds.

On the day, Akron shot 44.6-percent from the floor. The Zips edged the Broncos in points in the paint, 38-to-32.

The Zips' offense took some time to get moving against the Broncos shooting 0-for-3 and committing six turnovers in the first minutes of the contest allowing Western Michigan to claim an early 9-1 advantage.

Down the stretch of the first period, Akron dusted off the rust to cut its deficit down to five points, 16-11, at the break. The Zips ended the stanza shooting 4-for-7, limited its turnovers, and recorded three Western Michigan takeaways.

From that point on, the Zips locked in on both ends of the court. Offensively, Akron outscored Western Michigan, 22-12, shot 57.1-percent from the floor, went on a 16-4 run that included nine straight points (8:10-5:00) and seven straight points (4:34-3:10), and led by as many as 10 points twice in the period.

On the defensive side of the ball, Akron limited Western Michigan to just 4-for-14 shooting and forced four turnovers that transitioned into five points for the Zips.

Western Michigan regained control in the third quarter and claimed a 46-43 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Akron offense cooled off out of the halftime break shooting just 1-12 from the floor and did not record its first field goal until the final minute of the quarter. The Zips were able to hang around with the Broncos as Akron connected on seven free throws and played stout defense down the stretch of the period.

LAST GAME
Jordyn Dawson scored a career-high 34 points, including 10 in overtime, to propel the Zips to an 89-84 triumph past Ball State on Saturday, Feb. 6.

Dawson's career day lifted the Zips to their first road win over the Cardinals since Feb. 15, 2014, as she scored a game- and career-high 34 points, while pulling down a team-best 10 rebounds, while dishing out a game-high seven assists. She sealed the victory with her shooting touch at the charity stripe where she was a perfect 11-for-11, including 6-of-6 in overtime.

Dawson led four Akron players garnering double-figure scoring performances, as she was joined by 17-, 12- and 11-point efforts from sophomore G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.), sophomore F Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) and junior F Colleen Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio). Martindale connected on a career-best five three pointers.

Oshlynn Brown crafted a 29-point and 19-rebound performance to headline Ball State's efforts, while Sydney Freeman and Anna Clephane added 17 and 12 points, respectively.

The Zips finished the contest shooting 41.3 percent from the floor, including connecting on nine three pointers, of which five came in the second half and overtime. The Cardinals shot 40 percent from the field on the afternoon.

Both teams pulled down 45 rebounds, with Akron owning edges in points in the paint, 38-26, fast-break points, 19-18, and bench scoring, 30-12.

With the contest tied at 72 after regulation, the Zips assumed the lead for good when Martindale drained a three pointer at the 4:27 mark to give Akron a 75-72 margin.

Ball State cut the deficit to a single point three times, but Dawson responded with a pair of baskets and Neitzel another to extend the Zips' lead back to three on each occasion.

A pair of free throws from Martindale gave Akron an 83-78 edge with 47 seconds left in overtime.

The Cardinals inability to convert at the free throw line coupled with the Zips making all eight of their charity tosses in overtime game Akron the victory.

Ball State challenged the Zips from the start of the tilt as the Cardinals jumped out to a nine-point advantage, 17-8, at the 2:59 mark of the opening quarter.

An 11-4 run, sparked by four points apiece from Dawson and sophomore F Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio), cut the Zips' deficit to two, 21-19, after the first quarter.

Ball State went on to outscore Akron in the second quarter, 24-18, to take a 45-37 lead into the halftime intermission.

Dawson paced the Zips with 14 first-half points, before scoring 10 points in the third quarter to allow Akron to outscore the Cardinals in the period, 21-12, to enter the final stanza leading by one, 58-57.

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair, one that featured three ties and four lead changes, and neither team leading by more than three points.

Trailing by three, 70-67, following a pair of Freeman free throws with 2:50 left in regulation, a layup by Brewer and a three pointer by Martindale, gave the Zips a 72-70 edge with 1:07 remaining. The Cardinals scored the equalizer with a second left in regulation to send the game into overtime.

AKRON FOR NAKON
Akron For Nakon, is the day the Akron women's basketball team and the Akron community comes together for a game of basketball but more importantly to help raise awareness and donations for all cancer survivors and fighters. The Zips will host its 2021 Akron for Nakon game on Feb. 13, 2021, as the Zips entertain Toledo in a 2 p.m. tilt.

The Zips held its annual Akron For Nakon day on Feb. 22, 2020, in conjunction with a MAC East showdown against divisional rival, Ohio. While Akron defeated the Bobcats on the court that day, the real winners are the people who will be affected by the generous donations that were made.

To date with the help of the Akron community, the Zips have raised just over $15,000 with all proceeds going to the Nakon Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is raise funds to support those suffering from breast cancer, honor the survivors of all cancers, and educate the community.

ZIP TIDBITS
• 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.
• Akron is in search of its second road victory in the last three seasons at Western Michigan when the squads meet on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
• 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.
• Rachel Martindale 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.
• 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 43.9 percent of her three-pointers for her career having connected on 25-of-57 attempts from beyond the arc this season.
• Akron owns a 26-15 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 5-3 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 20-13 mark, including a 4-1 ledger this season.
• Emma Tecca, Rachel Martindale and Molly Neitzel have led the efforts of the Zips' reserves this season averaging 6.8, 6.8 and 4.8 points, respectively. The Akron bench is shooting nearly 38 percent (.375) from the field and at a .346 clip beyond the arc this season. Redshirt freshman G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio), Tecca and Molly Neitzel are connecting on 40 percent or better of their attempts as the trio owns field goal percentages of .500, 440 and .419, respectively.
• Eight different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Jordyn Dawson and tallying 10 or more points in 11 contests this year. They are joined by Lonasia Brewer (9), junior G Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) (4), Rachel Martindale (5), Colleen Neitzel (4), Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (3), Molly Neitzel (3) and Emma Tecca (2).
• Lonasia Brewer has connected on 68 of her 144 shots this season for 47.2 percent shooting mark, the sixth-best mark in the Mid-American Conference.
• Jordyn Dawson is averaging 6.27 defensive rebounds as part of a team-high 7.20 overall rebounds this season. Her 7.20 caroms per game is rated seventh in the MAC.
• Jordyn Dawson has scored in double figures in 18 of Akron's last 22 games, including 11 of 15 contests this season.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 15 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), 435 (Buffalo-1), .413 (Ball State-2), .400 (Toledo-1), 30 percent: .393 (Central Michigan-1), .385 (Ball State-1), .379 (Bowling Green-1), .333 (Ohio-1), .328 (Buffalo-2), .324 (Northern Illinois-2), 20 percent: .270 (Eastern Michigan-1).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 15 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .525 (Miami-1), .522 (Central Michigan-2), 40 percent: .469 (Central Michigan-2), .444 (Northern Illinois-1), .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 host Toledo on Saturday, Feb. 13 at James A. Rhodes Arena. The 2 p.m. tilt with the Rockets will be broadcast on the Akron Radio Network 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.