Akron Closes Homestand Entertaining Notre Dame College

Thursday, December 15

Akron, Ohio

6:00 PM

University of Akron

Notre Dame College

Akron Closes Homestand Entertaining Notre Dame College

December 14 | Women's Basketball

Akron (5-2) vs. Notre Dame College (3-7)
Thursday, Dec. 15
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 6 p.m.

Series History: First Meeting
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team will close out a three-game homestand hosting Notre Dame College at James A. Rhodes Arena on Thursday, Dec. 15. The 6 p.m. tilt with the Falcons will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps on the call as well as WHLO 640 AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Notre Dame: Imani Gordon (Cleveland State, 2015), Overall Record: 18-21 (Second Season), Record at Notre Dame: 18-21 (Second Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall Record: 60-58 (Fifth Season), Record at Akron: 60-58 (Fifth Season)

SCOUTING NOTRE DAME COLLEGE
Notre Dame enters its contest at Akron this Thursday, Dec. 15, at 3-7 on the campaign on the heels of a 76-65 overtime victory over West Virginia Wesleyan College on Dec. 10.

Redshirt sophomore G Alana Ellis headlines the Falcons' efforts averaging 19.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, while sophomore G Karli Anker and freshman F Noel Weathers are registering 8.9 and 8.4 points per outing, respectively, with Weathers owning a team-best 6.9 rebounds per contest. As a unit, Notre Dame is recording 63.2 points, 34.3 rebounds, 10.0 assists, 9.6 steals and 2.8 blocks per game.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Notre Dame College are meeting for the first time in program history.

AKRON FALLS TO CLEVELAND STATE
Playing for the first time in nine days, the Akron women's basketball team started strong, but ultimately fell to visiting Cleveland State by a score of 76-58 on Dec. 11 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Senior G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) directed Akron's offensive efforts with a team-high 14 points, while senior G Dominique Camp (Dayton, Ohio) chipped in 12 points and junior G Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario) tallied nine in the setback.

The Zips finished the evening shooting 36.5 percent from the field and connected on 11 three pointers, while the Vikings connected on 40 percent of their attempts from the floor. On the night, Cleveland State outrebounded Akron, 44-35.

Destiny Leo paced Cleveland State with a game-high 21 points and had support from Brittni More with 16 in the win.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Redshirt junior G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) connected on her 50th career three pointer versus Cleveland State on Dec. 11, while Rachel Martindale's 14-point effort helped her eclipse the 400-point plateau for her career as a Zip.
• Reagan Bass and Layne Ferrell each recorded their 200th career rebounds against Cleveland State on Dec. 11. Molly Neitzel is four career rebounds shy of surpassing the 200-rebound plateau herself.
• Reagan Bass enters action versus Notre Dame College having amassed 424 career points.
• Rachel Martindale has recorded 113 career three pointers. She enters action against Notre Dame College four triples shy of surpassing former teammate Alyssa Clay (116 | 2017-20) for 10th on the all-time career list at Akron. Just ahead of Clay on the list in ninth place is Haliegh Reinoehl (121 | 2017-20).
• Rachel Martindale is tied for 11th with Kelly Burrier (324 | 1994-97) with 324 career three-point attempts. She is 60 attempts shy of Abby Hoy (383 | 1995-00) for 10th place.
• Rachel Martindale's .349 shooting percentage (113-324) from beyond the arc is the seventh-best mark in program history.
• Akron is ranked 12th in the NCAA in assists per game (18.9), 23rd in defensive rebounds (30.4), 26th in blocks per outing (4.9), 32nd in assist/turnover ratio (1.20), 37th in field goal percentage (.457) and 38th in field goal percentage defense (.354). Individually, Dominique Camp ranks seventh in steals per game (3.57) and 48th in steals (25), while Layne Ferrell is 43rd in blocks per tilt (1.71).
• The Zips are rated first in the Mid-American Conference in assists (18.86), field goal percentage (.457), field goal percentage defense (.354) and defensive rebounding (30.4), while ranking second in assist/turnover ratio (1.20) and blocked shots (4.86), third in scoring offense (72.9), scoring margin (+11.7), rebounding (38.4) and rebounding margin (+1.9) and fourth in scoring defense (61.1), three point defense (.291) and free throw percentage (.730).
• Dominique Camp leads the MAC in steals (3.6), while ranking 10th in assists (3.3). Reagan Bass is second in the league in field goal percentage (.541), fourth in blocks (1.3) and scoring (16.1) and 10th in rebounding (6.6). Additionally, Layne Ferrell ranks second in blocks (1.7), sixth in free throw percentage (.864), eighth in assist/turnover ratio (1.7) and three point percentage (.400) and ninth in assists (3.4), while Molly Neitzel is fourth in blocks (1.3), eighth in rebounding (6.7) and ninth in free throw percentage (.842) and Rachel Martindale rates sixth in triples per game (2.1).
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Reagan Bass tallying 10 or more points in five contests this year. She was joined by Layne Ferrell (4), Dominique Camp (3), Molly Neitzel (3), Rachel Martindale (2), Aila Miller (1), Alexis Stewart (1), Faith Stinson (1) and Annie Watson (1).
• The 2022-23 season marks the 49th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
• Akron owns a 49-23 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 4-1 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 31-19 mark, including an 2-1 ledger this season.
• Rachel Martindale, Molly Neitzel, Layne Ferrell, Reagan Bass, Alexis Stewart and Zakia Rasheed have appeared in 71, 71, 57, 33, 33 and 29 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 12.8 points and 6.1 rebounds. Ferrell is the Zips' active leader in three-point shooting connecting on 36.2 percent of her attempts.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's seven games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .528 (Dayton), .526 (Point Park), .509 (Oakland), 40 percent: .442 (Robert Morris), .420 (Youngstown State), 30 percent: .388 (Northern Kentucky), .365 (Cleveland State), 20 percent: NA

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' seven games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .431 (Northern Kentucky), .400 (Cleveland State), 30 percent: .386 (Dayton), .379 (Oakland), .313 (Robert Morris), .311 (Youngstown State), 20 percent: .250 (Point Park).

INSIDE THE PAINT
Akron was once proved to be strong in the paint through six games this season averaging 34.3 points per contest for 240 total points. The Zips posted a season-best 66 points in the paint in a 101-46 victory over Point Park on Dec. 2.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to DeLand, Fla., to take part in the Hatter Classic hosted by Stetson. The Zips will face the host Hatters on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. before squaring off versus Bethune-Cookman on Monday, Dec. 19 at 1 p.m.