Akron Battles Bethune-Cookman for Hatter Classic Crown

Akron (7-2) vs. Bethune-Cookman (1-9)
Monday, Dec. 19
Edmunds Center
DeLand, Fla. • 1 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 1-0
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team culminates play at the Hatter Classic hosted by Stetson in DeLand, Fla., on Monday, Dec. 19. The 1 p.m. tilt with the Wildcats for the tournament title will be broadcast on YouTube.com as well as WHLO 640 AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Bethune-Cookman: Janell Crayton (Davidson, 2006), Overall Record: 7-29 (Second Season), Record at Bethune-Cookman: 7-29 (Second Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall Record: 62-58 (Fifth Season), Record at Akron: 62-58 (Fifth Season)

SCOUTING BETHUNE-COOKMAN
Bethune-Cookman comes into action against Akron on Monday, Dec. 19, at 1-8 on the campaign following a 67-54 victory versus Winthrop on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Senior G Chanel Wilson headlines the Wildcats' efforts averaging a team-best 16.9 points per game. As a unit, Bethune-Cookman is recording 58.4 points, 35.3 rebounds, 10.7 steals, 8.7 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Bethune-Cookman are meeting for the second time in program history with the Zips owning a 1-0 series advantage. Akron earned an 81-63 road victory past the Wildcats on Dec. 15, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (DEC. 15, 2014 - DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.)
Directed by a 23-point and 11-rebound performance from Sina King, Akron registered an 81-63 road triumph past Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 15, 2014 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Hannah Plybon and Anita Brown added 17- and 16-point performances as the Zips improved to 8-0 on the campaign.

Akron connected on nearly 55 percent (.545) of their attempts from the field, while hitting five three pointers and limiting Bethune-Cookman to a .343 shooting mark.

AKRON RALLIES PAST STETSON, 58-50
Sparked by a career-high 20-point performance from senior G Dominique Camp (Dayton, Ohio), Akron overcame a 10-point first-quarter deficit to register a 58-50 triumph past Stetson on Sunday, Dec. 18, in the opening game of the Hatter Classic.

Stetson jumped out to an early 14-4 advantage in the tilt before the Zips closed the opening stanza on a 6-2 run to trail after 10 minutes of play, 16-10. The second quarter belonged to Akron as the Zips opened the frame on a 14-5 run fueled by six points from Camp to assume a lead they didn't relinquish en route to a 28-23 halftime lead.

Camp led a trio of Zips scoring in double figures in the contest with a 20-point and four-steal effort, while sophomore F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) chipped in an 18-point, eight-rebound and career-high six-block performance. Rounding out the double-digit scorers for Akron with 10 points was senior G Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio). Khamya McNeal and Jaelyn Talley directed Stetson with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

The Zips connected on 38.2 percent of their shots on the afternoon, while limiting the Hatters to a .354 shooting mark.

Akron outrebounded Stetson, 36-32, and forced 20 turnovers led by four steals apiece from Camp and senior G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.).

ZIP TIDBITS
• The six blocks by Reagan Bass versus Stetson on Dec. 18 represented the fourth-best single-game effort in program history and marks the most rejections by a Zip since Layne Ferrell tallied six blocks against Bowling Green on Feb. 27, 2021.
• With her three pointer at the 4:31 mark of the second quarter against Stetson on Dec. 18, Rachel Martindale moved into 10th on the all-time Akron list for three pointers with 116 career triples.
• Rachel Martindale has recorded 116 career three pointers. She enters action against Bethune-Cookman one triple 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 342 career three-point attempts. She is 42 attempts shy of Abby Hoy (383 | 1995-00) for 10th place.
• Rachel Martindale's .339 shooting percentage (116-342) from beyond the arc is the ninth-best mark in program history.
• The Zips are averaging 65.0 points per game in a trio of road contests this season with Akron shooting more than 42 percent (.424) from the field, including a .392 mark from beyond the arc. The trio of Reagan Bass, Dominique Camp and Layne Ferrell are averaging 16.0, 11.3 and 11.0 points per tilt.
• 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 Molly Neitzel reached the 200-rebound plateau versus Notre Dame College on Dec. 15.
• Reagan Bass enters action versus Bethune-Cookman having amassed 461 career points.
• Akron is ranked 14th in the NCAA in assists per game (17.9), 21st in defensive rebounds (30.0), 28th in assist/turnover ratio (1.16), 34th in blocks per outing (5.0), 37th in field goal percentage (.449) and 38th in field goal percentage defense (.354). Individually, Dominique Camp ranks fifth in steals per game (3.89) and 13th in steals (35), while Reagan Bass is 44th in field goal percentage (.547).
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Reagan Bass tallying 10 or more points in seven contests this year. She was joined by Dominique Camp (5), Layne Ferrell (5), Molly Neitzel (4), 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 nine games this season, and 60 of its last 72 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 73, 73, 59, 35, 35 and 30 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 13.2 points and 6.2 rebounds. Ferrell is the Zips' active leader in three-point shooting connecting on 35.8 percent of her attempts.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's nine 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), .382 (Stetson), .365 (Cleveland State), 20 percent: NA

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' nine 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), .354 (Stetson), .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 nine games this season averaging 34.9 points per contest for 314 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 welcomes Coppin State to James A. Rhodes Arena for a 7 p.m. contest on Thursday, Dec. 29.

Akron Battles Bethune-Cookman for Hatter Classic Crown

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Players Mentioned

Reagan Bass

Dominique Camp

Layne Ferrell

Rachel Martindale

Aila Miller

Molly Neitzel

Zakia Rasheed

Alexis Stewart

Faith Stinson

Annie Watson

The University of Akron Athletics