Akron Closes Out Non-Conference Slate Hosting Coppin State

Akron (8-2) vs. Coppin State (3-10)
Thursday, Dec. 29
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: First Meeting
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team rounds out its non-conference slate welcoming Coppin State to James A. Rhodes Arena on Thursday, Dec. 29. The 7 p.m. tilt with the Eagles 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
Coppin State: Jermaine Woods (Norfolk State, 2011), Overall Record: 3-10 (First Season), Record at Coppin State: 3-10 (First Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall Record: 63-58 (Fifth Season), Record at Akron: 63-58 (Fifth Season)

SCOUTING COPPIN STATE
Coppin State enters play versus Akron on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 3-10 on the campaign following a 61-51 setback at George Washington on Dec. 22.

The Eagles' duo of sophomore G Jewel Watkins and redshirt junior G Mossi Stephens headline Coppin State's efforts averaging 13.8 and 13.7 points per game, respectively, while redshirt sophomore F Colleen Bucknor owns a team-best 7.7 rebounds per outing. As a unit, the Eagles recording 56.5 points, 36.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 6.8 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.

Stephens is ranked 12th in the NCAA in field goal attempts (209), 17th in three point attempts (92) and 36th in minutes per game (35.69).

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

ZIPS EARN HATTER CLASSIC TITLE WITH 64-60 WIN OVER BETHUNE-COOKMAN
Led by 17 points apiece from sophomore F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) and senior G Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio), Akron captured the Hatter Classic title with a come-from-behind 64-60 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 19.

The Zips finished the contest shooting nearly 39 percent (.386) from the field, while limiting the Wildcats to a .329 shooting mark.

Trailing by one, 49-48, entering the final period, Akron opened the stanza on a 6-0 run to assume a lead they didn't relinquish en route to earning the triumph.

Redshirt junior G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) joined Bass and Neitzel for Akron with double-figure scoring efforts pouring in 12 points.

Nia Jordan directed Bethune-Cookman's offensive efforts scoring a game-high 19 points, while pulling down a game-best 15 rebounds. Chanel Wilson also added a game-high 19 points for the Wildcats.

The Zips garnered a team-high eight rebounds apiece from Bass and senior G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.), while Bass and Ferrell recorded three steals each.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Reagan Bass sparked the Zips to capture the Hatter Classic averaging team-high marks in scoring (17.5) and rebounding (8.0) in a pair of games on the strength of a .444 shooting mark. Molly Neitzel added 13.5 tallies per contest, while connecting on a team-best .524 mark from the field. Additionally, Dominique Camp tallied 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per tilt.
• Rachel Martindale and junior G Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario) pulled down career-high marks in rebounds versus Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 19 recording eight and four caroms, respectively.
• With a win over Coppin State, the Zips will match the 2018-19 Akron squad for the most non-conference victories (9) under fifth-year head coach Melissa Jackson.
• 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.
• Rachel Martindale has recorded 118 career three pointers. She enters action against Coppin State four triples shy of surpassing former teammate Haliegh Reinoehl (121 | 2017-20) for ninth on the all-time career list at Akron. All but 15 of her 133 career field goals have come from beyond the arc.
• Rachel Martindale is 11th in program history with 351 career three-point attempts. She is 33 attempts shy of Abby Hoy (383 | 1995-00) for 10th place.
• Rachel Martindale's .336 shooting percentage (118-351) from beyond the arc is the ninth-best mark in program history.
• The Zips are averaging 64.8 points per game in four road/neutral contests this season with Akron shooting more nearly 42 percent (.415) from the field, including a .279 mark from beyond the arc. The trio of Reagan Bass, Molly Neitzel, Layne Ferrell and Dominique Camp are averaging 16.3, 11.5, 10.8 and 10.0 points per tilt.
• Reagan Bass enters action versus Coppin State having amassed 478 career points.
• Akron is ranked 18th in the NCAA in blocks per outing (5.2*), 20th in assists per game (18.0), 24th in defensive rebounds (29.8), 31st in field goal percentage defense (.351), 37th in field goal percentage (.449) and 41st in assist/turnover ratio (1.15). Individually, Dominique Camp ranks fourth in steals per game (3.60) and 15th in steals (36), while Reagan Bass is 46th in blocks per contest (1.70).
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Reagan Bass tallying 10 or more points in eight contests this year. She was joined by Layne Ferrell (6), Dominique Camp (5), Molly Neitzel (5), 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 eight of its 10 games this season, and 61 of its last 73 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 74, 74, 60, 36, 36 and 30 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 13.3 points and 6.2 rebounds. Ferrell is the Zips' active leader in three-point shooting connecting on 36.0 percent of her attempts.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 10 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), .386 (Bethune-Cookman), .382 (Stetson), .365 (Cleveland State), 20 percent: NA

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 10 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), .329 (Bethune-Cookman) .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 34.0 points per contest for 340 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 opens Mid-American Conference play hosting Ohio on Wednesday, Jan. 4.

Akron Closes Out Non-Conference Slate Hosting Coppin State

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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