Akron Women’s Basketball Host Ball State on Saturday

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AKRON, Ohio- The Akron women's basketball team returns home as the Zips host Ball State on Saturday, Jan. 15 at James A. Rhodes Arena. Tip time is scheduled for 2 p.m.

THE GAME
Akron (6-4, 3-1 MAC) vs. Ball State (9-5, 2-2 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 15| James A. Rhodes Arena | 2:00 PM

BROADCAST
ESPN3: https://es.pn/3tsur7i
Radio: Bill Morgan (pbp), 640 WHLO AM
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3FsHI2b

BALL STATE HEAD COACH
Brady Sallee
Overall Record: 308-234 (18th Season)
Record at Ball State: 172-124 (10^th Season)

AKRON HEAD COACH
Melissa Jackson
Overall Record: 44-48 (4^th Season)
Record at Akron: 44-48 (4^th Season)

ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron and Ball State are meeting for the 44th time in program history, with the Cardinals owning a 25-18 series edge. Last season, Akron split the series with Ball State with a 67-60 loss at home, followed by an 89-84 win in overtime.

LAST TIME OUT
The Zips improved to 6-4 overall and 3-1 MAC after the Zips came away with a 66-53 victory over Miami on the road for its third-straight win in league play on Wednesday. Redshirt senior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W Va.) recorded her fourth double-double of the season with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. Dawson had plenty of help offensively as three other Zips scored in double-figures. Freshman Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) scored a career-high 17 points, while junior Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) and senior Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) added 10 each

The Zips used the second and third quarter to put together numerous runs that put Akron ahead by 20-points. Akron dominated the paint, outscoring the RedHawks, 42-24. The RedHawks battled back from a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter and used a 10-2 scoring run over six minutes that closed the Zips lead to 57-46 with 4:37 remaining. Miami forced nine turnovers and scored 14 points off the Zips' miscues to trim Akron's lead to eight (61-53), but the Zips held on for the victory.

ZIP TIPS
- The 2021-22 season marks the 48th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
- As a team, Akron ranks 19^th n the NCAA and lead the conference in fewest turnovers (159), 2^nd in conference in FG% defense (38.5), 38th in fewest fouls (176).
- Akron ranks 70^th in the NCAA and second in the conference in Blocked shots per game (4.2).
- 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. She leads the team averaging 19.8 points and 8.6 rebounds, and leads the team with 26 steals.
- Jordyn Dawson is rated 13^th in NCAA and second in conference stats in free-throw percentage (91.2), 24^th in points per game (19.7), 15th in steals per game (3.11), and 71^st in rebounds per game (8.8).
- Akron owns a 33-18 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 5-1record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 22-15 mark, including a 1-2 record this season.
- The Akron bench is shooting more than 27 percent (27.6) from the field and at a .29 clip beyond the arc this season.
- Four different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Jordyn Dawson tallying 10 or more points in 8 contests this year. She is joined by Reagan Bass (4) and Lonasia Brewer (3), Layne Ferrell (3)
- Akron has connected on five or more three-pointers in eight games this season, and 38 of its last 41 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 scoring 42.4 percent of its point in the paint this season, averaging 27.4 percent points in the paint per game.
- The Zips are shooting 41.6 percent (239-575) from the field and 63-205 percent (30.7) from beyond the arc. Akron has been out-rebounded by its opponents, 384-353 for a -3.1 margin. Akron has 159 turnovers averaging (15.9 turnovers per game) and has 77 steals (7.7 per game).
- 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.

SCOUTING BALL STATE
The Cardinals, stand 9-5 overall and 2-2 in conference play under the direction of 10th-year head coach Brady Sallee after an 83-73 victory over Eastern Michigan on Wednesday. Ball State had five players score in double-figures with Chyna Latimer leading the way with a career-best 17 points, while Sydney Freeman (15), Annie Rauch (12), Estel Puiggros (11), and Thelma Dis Agustsdottir (10) rounded out the double-figure scoring.

Ball State is averaging 72.4 points per game on 43.5 percent shooting (379-872) from the floor and 130-410 percent shooting (31.7 percent) from long range. The Cardinals have a trio of players averaging in double-figures in Anna Clephane (15.2 ppg), Freeman (10.5 ppg), and Dis Agustsdottir(10.3). As a team, Ball State ranks fifth in offense (72.4 ) and is third the MAC in FG percentage (43.5).

Defensively, the Cardinals have held their opponents to 68.1 points per game on 42.6 percent shooting from the floor and 32.5 percent from beyond the arc. Ball State has 201 turnovers (14.4 turnovers per game) while collecting 118 steals (8.4 steals per game). On the glass, the RedHawks have been out-rebounded their opponents, 532-485 for a -3.4 margin.

UP NEXT
The Zips return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 19 as Akron travels to Buffalo to take on the Bulls. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Akron Women’s Basketball Host Ball State on Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Reagan Bass

Lonasia Brewer

Gabrielle Brown-Mitchell

Jordyn Dawson

Layne Ferrell

Rachel Martindale

Kendall Miller

Colleen Neitzel

Molly Neitzel

Alexis Stewart

Emma Tecca

The University of Akron Athletics