Zips Host Bowling Green on Saturday

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AKRON, Ohio- The Akron women's basketball team returns home on Saturday, Jan. 8 as the Zips host Bowling Green at James A. Rhodes Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

THE GAME
Akron (4-4, 1-1 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (6-5, 1-1MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 8| James A. Rhodes Arena | 2:00 PM

BROADCAST
ESPN3: https://es.pn/3qSud6x
Radio: Bill Morgan (pbp), 640 WHLO AM
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3zyHOE6

BOWLING GREEN HEAD COACH
Robyn Fralick
Overall Record: 150-58 (7th Season)
Record at Bowling Green: 46-65 (4^th Season)

AKRON HEAD COACH
Melissa Jackson
Overall Record: 42-48 (4^th Season)
Record at Akron: 42-48 (4^th Season)

ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron and Bowling Green are meeting for the 68th time in program history, with the Falcons owning a 56-11 series edge. The Falcons swept the Zips last season with a 66-57 win and a 79-64 victory in the series finale.

LAST TIME OUT
The Zips improved to 4-4 overall and 0-1 MAC after the Zips came away with a 62-61 victory over rival Kent State. After Kent State rallied late to close within one point on a free throw with 31 seconds left, a defensive stand at the buzzer forced a missed jumper by Kent State guard Bridget Dunn, securing the win and half-point in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge for the Zips.

Senior forward Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W Va.) had a double-double, leading all scorers with 18 points and all players with 13 rebounds, along with three steals. Sophomore guard Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) was the only other Zip in double figures, tallying 16 points, while senior guard Kendall Miller (Akron, Ohio) and junior forward Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) each had eight.

ZIP TIPS
- The 2021-22 season marks the 48th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
- As a team, Akron ranks 6^th n the NCAA and lead the conference in fewest turnovers (121), 28^th in FG% defense (33.6), 15th in fewest fouls (141).
- The Zips rank 71^st in three-point FG per game (7.3)
- Akron ranks 77^th in the NCAA and second in the conference in Blocked shots per game (4.1).
- 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 18.0 points and 6.7 rebounds, and leads the team with 21 steals.
- Jordyn Dawson is rated 55th in the NCAA in points per game (18.0), 37^th in free throw percentage (88.2) and 7th in steals per game (3.50). Dawson ranks 43^rd in three-point FG percentage (43.3).
- Akron owns a 31-18 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 3-1record 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 35 percent (36.5) from the field and at a .312 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 6 contests this year. She is joined by Reagan Bass (2) and Lonasia Brewer (1), Layne Ferrell (2)
- Akron has connected on five or more three-pointers in seven games this season, and 37 of its last 39 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 41.3 percent of its point in the paint this season, averaging 30.4 percent points in the paint per game.
- The Zips are shooting 39.7 percent (187-471) from the field and 53-175 percent (30.3) from beyond the arc. Akron has been out-rebounded by its opponents, 324-284 for a -5.0 margin. Akron has 121 turnovers averaging (15.1turnovers per game) and has 62steals (7.8 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 BOWLING GREEN
The Falcons, stand 6-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play under the direction of 4th-year head coach Robyn Fralick after falling 82-66 at against Buffalo on Wednesday night. The Bulls (9-4, 3-0 Mid-American Conference) built a 22-point halftime lead, taking a 43-21 advantage into the intermission. The Falcons (6-5, 1-1 MAC) were able to creep within 11 points on two occasions in the second half but could not cut the deficit to single digits. Freshman Amy Velasco scored 15 points to lead three double-figure scorers for BGSU. Senior Kadie Hempfling had 12 points and six rebounds, while junior Elissa Brett had 11 points and five boards.

Bowling Green is averaging 74.2 points per game on 45.4 percent shooting (308-678) from the floor and 90-252 percent shooting (35.7 percent) from long range. The Falcons have a trio of players averaging in double-figures in Morgan Sharps (11.5 ppg), Elissa Brett (10.4 ppg), and Kadie Hempfling(10.2 ppg). As a team, Bowling Green ranks third in offense (74.2), leads the MAC in FG percentage (45.4).

Defensively, the Falcons have held their opponents to 66.3 points per game on 41.6 percent shooting from the floor and 29.1 percent from beyond the arc. Bowling Green has 178 turnovers (16.2 turnovers per game) while collecting 104 steals (9.5 steals per game). On the glass, the Falcons have out-rebounded their opponents, 406-402 for a +0.4 margin.

UP NEXT
The Zips return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 12 as Akron travels to Oxford, Ohio to face Miami. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Next Event

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