Akron Renews Rivalry with Kent State

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GAME NO. 21 - AKRON AT KENT STATE NOTES (3/6)

Akron (7-13, 4-13 MAC) at Kent State (10-8, 9-6 MAC)
Saturday, March 6
M.A.C. Center
Kent, Ohio • 2 p.m.

Series History: Kent State leads 56-16
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 draws its campaign to a close on Saturday, March 6, as the Zips travel to face rival Ken State. The 2 p.m. tilt with the Golden Flashes will be broadcast on ESPN3 as well as 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Kent State: Todd Starkey (Montreat, 1993), Overall Record: 246-159 (14th Season)/Kent State Record: 81-64 (Fifth Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall/Akron Record: 38-43 (Third Season)

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Kent State are squaring off for the 73rd time in program history, with the Golden Flashes owning a 56-16 series edge. Kent State swept the season series versus the Zips a season ago as the Golden Flashes netted a 60-55 triumph at James A. Rhodes Arena on Feb. 12, 2020, before edging Akron, 68-50, at the M.A.C. Center on Feb. 26, 2020.

SCOUTING KENT STATE
Kent State comes into play this Saturday, March 6, having won three of its last five games, despite dropping two straight following an 82-65 setback at Bowling Green on Wednesday, March 3.

Sophomore F Nila Blackford headlines a trio of Kent State players scoring in double figures averaging 15.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Contributing 12.1, 11.3 and 9.4 points, respectively, per night is sophomore G Katie Shumate, junior F Lindsey Thall and junior G Mariah Modkins. As a team, the Golden Flashes are registering 68.8 points, 39.1 rebounds, 11.4 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.3 blocks per outing.

Kent State is 39th in the NCAA in three pointers per game (8.2) and three point percentage (.357). Individually, Blackford is rated 13th in offensive rebounding (4.2), 23rd in double-doubles (11) and 32nd in rebounding (10.5).

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. Through eight events this season, the Zips lead the series, 4.0-2.0.

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: www.WagonWheelChallenge.com

IN OUR LAST MEETING (FEB. 26, 2020 - KENT, OHIO)
The Akron women's basketball team cut a 14-point deficit down to seven heading into the fourth quarter, but the Zips success halted in the fourth quarter as Kent State pulled away with the contest in the final 10 minutes of play to defeat Akron, 68-50, on Feb. 26, 2020 at the M.A.C. Center.

After outscoring Kent State, 20-17, in the third quarter, Akron managed just four points in the fourth quarter that allowed the Golden Flashes to secure the win.

The Zips shot 30.2-percent (16-for-53) from the field in the match-up, while shooting 31.3-percent from beyond the perimeter.

Senior F Jordyn Dawson tallied team-highs in points (17), rebounds (7), and steals (2). Off the bench for Akron, junior G Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) and junior F Colleen Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) scored eight points and seven points, respectively.

In classic rivalry fashion, the Zips and Golden Flashes went back-and-forth on the offensive side of the ball in the first 10 minutes of play. For Akron, four Zips contributed to their 18 first-quarter points, including eight points from the bench. Neitzel tallied a team-high six points shooting 2-for-2 from long distance, Dawson scored five and grabbed three rebounds, and Edmonds chipped in three.

Akron raced out to a 9-5 lead at the 6:36 mark of the period after Dawson cashed in from the left three-point wing with the shot clock winding down. Kent State answered the Zips early offense going on an 8-0 run to claim an 11-9 lead.

Neitzel provided a spark for Akron off the bench connecting on back-to-back triples from the top of the arc that earned the Zips a 17-16 lead before Kent State closed out the period with a 5-1 run.

The Zips' offense could not find a rhythm in the second quarter shooting just 2-for-9 from the floor and connected on four free throws to give Akron eight points in the quarter. Despite the offensive woes and heading into the locker room trailing 36-26, the Zips defense allowed just 15 points in the quarter keeping the game within a manageable 10 point game.

Akron's struggles from the floor continued in the first minute and a half of the third quarter going 0-for-3 while Kent pushed its lead to +14 with a quick 4-0 run forcing Akron to call a timeout.

Following a Zips' timeout, Akron shot 6-for-8 in the ensuing four and a half minutes outscoring Kent State, 16-11, trimming the deficit down to five, 47-42. Five Zips had a hand in scoring including Dawson (5), Miller (4), Reinoehl (3), Shaunay Edmonds (2) and Alyssa Clay (2).

LAST GAME
A career-high 25-point performance from redshirt freshman G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) led the University of Akron women's basketball team to a 71-67 triumph past Ohio in the Zips' regular-season home finale on Wednesday, March 3 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Ferrell more than doubled her previous career-high scoring mark (12) finishing with 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including connecting on a career-best four three pointers. She directed three Zips (7-13, 4-13 MAC) scoring in double figures and was joined by sophomore F Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) and Jordyn Dawson, who tallied 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Dawson for the second consecutive contest flirted with posting only the second triple-double in program history as she stuffed the stat sheet for 10 points and team-high marks in assists (8) and rebounds (8).

Cece Hooks highlighted Ohio's efforts on the night scoring a game-high 33 points, while pulling down 10 rebounds and notching seven steals.

The Zips' defensive efforts on the night held the Bobcats 12 points under their season scoring average of 79.1, while Akron forced Ohio in 17 turnovers and cashed those miscues in an 18-13 margin in points off of turnovers.

For the third time this season and second time in the last three games, Akron connected on 50 percent or better of its attempts from the field, finishing at 50 percent, including dialing long distance for six triples on the evening. The Bobcats registered a 35.4 percent shooting performance for the game.

The conference affair featured six lead changes and four ties, including four lead changes and a pair of ties in the decisive fourth quarter.

Akron held a 13-point advantage, 42-29, at halftime and was able to maintain its edge in the third quarter. Ferrell, Brewer and Dawson recorded five, four and four points, respectively, in the stanza as the Zips maintained a double-digit lead the majority of the quarter.

The Bobcats closed the third period on a 7-3 run to cut Akron's advantage to six, 58-52.

The two sides exchanged the opening baskets of the fourth quarter before an 8-0 run gave Ohio the lead, 62-60, with 6:19 to play. A lay-up from Brewer at the 5:49 mark ended the scoring run and squared the contest at 62.

Hooks split a pair of free throws for the Bobcats to regain a 63-62 margin before Ferrell delivered a fast-break lay-up with 3:41 left in regulation to push the Zips back ahead, 64-63.

Jasmine Hale answered with lay-up of her own to give Ohio what proved to be its final lead of the night, 65-64.

A three pointer from Ferrell and jumper in the paint from Brewer sparked a 5-0 Akron run over a 31-second span that gave the Zips a 69-65 edge with 1:45 to play.

After an Ohio lay-up by Madi Mace, Dawson punctuated the scoring on the evening drilling a jumper in the paint with 48 ticks left on the clock.

The Bobcats missed shots on their final three possessions as the Zips held on for a 71-67 triumph to earn a split of the season series between the two schools.

Akron had led at one quarter, 20-16, before six second-quarter points from redshirt freshman G Emma Tecca (Tallmadge, Ohio), including a pair of triples, gave the Zips their halftime lead.

ZIP TIDBITS
• The Zips are seeking their first road win over Kent State since an 80-70 triumph past the Golden Flashes on Feb. 27, 2016.
• Layne Ferrell registered a career-high 25-point effort in the Zips' 71-67 victory past Ohio on March 3. She has now scored in double figures in four of Akron last five games. She turned in back-to-back then career-high 12-point efforts against Miami and Toledo on Feb. 24 and Feb. 13, respectively. She also registered career-high marks in rebounds (6) and steals (3) at Western Michigan on Feb. 10, while setting career-best marks in assists (4) and blocked shots (6) against Bowling Green (Feb. 27).
• Layne Ferrell's six blocked shots versus Bowling Green on Feb. 27, all in the second half, are the most for a Zip since Sarah Leyendecker registered eight blocks against Ohio Christian on Dec. 16, 2017. The performance is also the top-single game effort in the Mid-American Conference this season.
• Jordyn Dawson surpassed the 700-point plateau for her Akron career against Bowling Green on Feb. 27. Dawson has recorded 716 points, 352 rebounds and 154 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 (9 vs. Bowling Green), while Lonasia Brewer own the top mark in steals (6 at Ball State).
• Emma Tecca has made 45.2 percent of her three-pointers for her career having connected on 33-of-73 attempts from beyond the arc this season.
• Lonasia Brewer has connected on 92 of her 187 shots this season for 49.2 percent shooting mark, the fourth-best mark in the Mid-American Conference.
• Jordyn Dawson is averaging 6.10 defensive rebounds as part of a team-high 7.15 overall rebounds this season. Her 7.15 caroms per game is rated seventh in the MAC.
• Jordyn Dawson has scored in double figures in 22 of Akron's last 27 games, including 15 of 20 contests this season.
• Akron owns a 28-17 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 7-5 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 5-2 ledger this season.
• Kendall Miller, Emma Tecca, Rachel Martindale, and sophomore F Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) have led the efforts of the Zips' reserves this season averaging 7.0, 6.8, 6.1 and 5.8 points, respectively. The Akron bench is shooting more than 39 percent (.392) from the field and at a .344 clip beyond the arc this season. Layne Ferrell, Colleen Neitzel, Molly Neitzel, and Tecca are connecting on 40 percent or better of their attempts as the quintet own field goal percentages of .600, 476, .463, .440 and .421, respectively.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Jordyn Dawson tallying 10 or more points in 15 contests this year. She is joined by Lonasia Brewer (11), Kendall Miller (5), Rachel Martindale (5), Colleen Neitzel (5), Molly Neitzel (5), Layne Ferrell (4), Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell (3), and Emma Tecca (2).

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 20 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .552 (Miami-1), .537 (Miami-2), .500 (Ohio-2), 40 percent: .474 (Dayton), .473 (Bowling Green-2), .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' 20 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), .483 (Bowling Green-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), .362 (Miami-2), .354 (Ohio-2), .328 (Buffalo-2), .306 (Bluefield State), 20 percent: NA.

UP NEXT
The showdown with Kent State is Akron's final game of the 2020-21 campaign.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lonasia Brewer

Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell

Alyssa Clay

Jordyn Dawson

Shaunay Edmonds

Layne Ferrell

Rachel Martindale

Kendall Miller

Colleen Neitzel

Molly Neitzel

Emma Tecca

The University of Akron Athletics