Akron Opens Hatter Classic Battling Stetson

Sunday, December 18

DeLand, Fla.

11:00 AM

University of Akron

Stetson

December 17 | Women's Basketball

Akron (6-2) at Stetson (5-6)
Sunday, Dec. 18
Edmund Center
DeLand, Fla. • 11 a.m.

Series History: First Meeting
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Live Radio: www.GoZips.com

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team travels to DeLand, Fla., to compete at the Hatter Classic this Sunday and Monday, Dec. 18-19. The Zips open competition battling Stetson on Sunday, Dec. 18. The 11 a.m. tilt with the Hatters will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as WHLO 640 AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Stetson: Lynn Bria (Charleston (WV), 1990), Overall Record: 410-409 (28th Season), Record at Stetson: 257-196 (15th Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall Record: 61-58 (Fifth Season), Record at Akron: 61-58 (Fifth Season)

SCOUTING STETSON
Stetson enters its showdown with Akron this Sunday, Dec. 18, at 5-6 on the campaign following a 65-58 setback versus UNC Greensboro on Thursday, Dec. 15.

Freshman F Jaelyn Talley headlines the Hatters' efforts averaging a team-best 11.6 points per game. As a unit, Stetson is recording 63.2 points, 33.8 rebounds, 14.8 assists, 8.7 steals and 2.0 blocks per game.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Stetson are meeting for the first time in program history.

ZIPS GARNER 80-54 TRIUMPH PAST NOTRE DAME COLLEGE
Ten different players scored as Akron led wire-to-wire en route to besting visiting Notre Dame College, 80-54, in a non-league contest on Thursday, Dec. 15 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Due to a pregame scorebook issue, Akron (6-2) was awarded a pair of free throws on a technical foul assessed against the Falcons prior to the opening tip. A three pointer from junior G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) seconds after tip-off further boosted the Zips' lead, which grew to as many as 31.

Sophomore F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) led Akron in scoring with a game-high 19 points to go with eight rebounds, while redshirt junior G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) and senior G Dominique Camp (Dayton, Ohio) both reached double figures adding 15 and 13 points, respectively. Additionally, Camp added a game-high six steals.

Akron finished the contest shooting nearly 46 percent (.455) from the floor, while posting advantages in points off turnovers (26-8), points in the paint (48-10), second-chance points (13-5) and fast-break points (22-20). The Zips limited the Falcons to a .357 shooting mark on the evening.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron is returning to play in Central Florida for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign when the Zips bested Bethune-Cookman, 81-63, and Central Florida, 73-64, on Dec. 15 and Dec. 17, 2014, respectively. Sina King, the 2014-15 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year averaged 20.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in those two games.
• The Zips are averaging 68.5 points per game in a pair of road contests this season with Akron shooting more than 44 percent (.443) from the field, including a .333 mark from beyond the arc. The trio of Reagan Bass, Layne Ferrell and Rachel Martindale are averaging 15.0, 14.5 and 12.0 per contest.
• Layne Ferrell 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, while senior G Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) reached the 200-rebound plateau versus Notre Dame College on Dec. 15.
• Reagan Bass enters action versus Stetson having amassed 443 career points.
• Rachel Martindale has recorded 115 career three pointers. She enters action against Stetson two 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 11th in program history with 336 career three-point attempts. She is 48 attempts shy of Abby Hoy (383 | 1995-00) for 10th place.
• Rachel Martindale's .342 shooting percentage (115-336) from beyond the arc is the seventh-best mark in program history.
• Akron is ranked 14th in the NCAA in assists per game (18.6), 21st in defensive rebounds (30.4), 28th in assist/turnover ratio (1.21), 34th in blocks per outing (4.8), 37th in field goal percentage (.456) and 38th in field goal percentage defense (.354). Individually, Dominique Camp ranks fifth in steals per game (3.88) and 13th in steals (31), while Reagan Bass is 44th in field goal percentage (.548).
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Reagan Bass tallying 10 or more points in six contests this year. She was joined by Layne Ferrell (5), Dominique Camp (4), Molly Neitzel (3), Rachel Martindale (2), freshman F Aila Miller (Berlin, Ohio) (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 50-23 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 5-1 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.
• Akron has connected on five or more three pointers in seven of its eight games this season, and 60 of its last 71 contests overall. A year ago, the Zips hit on a season-high 13 triples in a 76-35 win over Slippery Rock on Nov. 9, 2021.
• Rachel Martindale, Molly Neitzel, Layne Ferrell, Reagan Bass, Alexis Stewart and Zakia Rasheed have appeared in 72, 72, 58, 34, 34 and 30 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 13.0 points and 6.1 rebounds. Ferrell is the Zips' active leader in three-point shooting connecting on 37.1 percent of her attempts.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's eight games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .528 (Dayton), .526 (Point Park), .509 (Oakland), 40 percent: .445 (Notre Dame College), .442 (Robert Morris), .420 (Youngstown State), 30 percent: .388 (Northern Kentucky), .365 (Cleveland State), 20 percent: NA

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' eight 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), .357 (Notre Dame College), .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 eight games this season averaging 36.0 points per contest for 288 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 concludes competition at Hatter Classic hosted by Stetson in DeLand, Fla., squaring off versus Bethune-Cookman on Monday, Dec. 19 at 1 p.m.