Zips Host Central Michigan for Equality and Inclusion Night on Wednesday

Wednesday, February 16

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Central Michigan

Zips Host Central Michigan for Equality and Inclusion Night on Wednesday

February 15 | Women's Basketball

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Akron Game Notes (PDF) | Central Michigan Game Notes (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio- The Akron women's basketball team will host Central Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 16 for its Equality and Inclusion night at James A. Rhodes Arena. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.

THE GAME
Akron (11-8, 8-5 MAC) vs. Central Michigan (4-19, 2-7 MAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 16| James A. Rhodes Arena| 7:00 PM

BROADCAST
ESPN3: https://es.pn/3uOGAEo
Radio:Dave Skoczen
(pbp), 640 WHLO AM
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3sLeLKz

CENTRAL MICHIGAN HEAD COACH
Heather Oesterle
Overall Record: 45-35 (3rd Season)
Record at CMU: 45-35 (3rd Season)

AKRON HEAD COACH
Melissa Jackson
Overall Record: 49-52 (4^th Season)
Record at Akron: 49-52 (4^th Season)

ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron and Central Michigan are meeting for the 45^th time in program history, with the Chippewas owning a 27-17 series edge. Earlier this season, the Zips came away with a 70-60 victory at Central Michigan. The win marked the first win at CMU since the 2015 season.

Akron shot 47.1 (8-of-17) from beyond the arc and out-rebounded the Chippewas, 48-30. Redshirt senior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W Va.) the only player ranked in the top five in the MAC for both scoring and rebounding – was once again an all-around force with 23 points, 12 rebounds, recording her eighth double-double. Sophomore guard Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) added 15 points knocking down 3-of-4 triples, and nine boards.

LAST TIME OUT
The Zips improved to 11-8 overall and 8-5 MAC after the Zips earned the season-sweep over Eastern Michigan with a 64-53 victory on Saturday. Akron trailed for just over six minutes of game time. With nine players seeing court time and eight of them scoring points, it was a balanced offensive effort for the Zips, but defense is where they did their best work.

Akron limited Eastern Michigan to 28-percent shooting, including just three made 3-pointers, forced 12 turnovers, scoring 16 points off the Eagles' miscues.

Redshirt senior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W Va.) led the Zips with 22 points, eight rebounds, and three steals, while junior Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) rounded out the double-figure scoring with 11 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Annika Corcoran (Painesville, Ohio) added eight points, five rebounds, and dished out a team-high four assists.

ZIP TIPS
- The 2021-22 season marks the 48th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
- As a team, Akron ranks 16^th in the NCAA and lead the conference in fewest turnovers (278), 36th in fewest fouls (313).
- Akron ranks third in the conference in Blocked shots per game (3.8).
-The Zips perimeter defense is first in conference play (29.1)
- 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 20.9 points and 9.4 rebounds and leads the team with 50 steals.
- In conference play, Dawson is averaging a double-double with 23.0 points per game, and 10.7 rebounds, while gathering 35 steals and six blocks. She has scored in double-figures in 13 straight games, 12 being 20+ points.
- Jordyn Dawson is rated top-10 in the nation in points per game (20.9), 18th in steals per game (2.78), and 14^th in defensive rebounds per game (7.8), and 17^th in rebounds per game (9.4)
- Dawson ranks 41st in double-doubles (9) and ranks second in league stats.
- In conference play, freshman Reagan Bass is second on the team in points per game (11.1. Bass has scored in double-figures in 10 of the last 13 games, reaching a career-high mark of 23 points (EMU).
- Bass ranks 7th in MAC stats in blocked shots per game (1.13).
- Akron owns a 35-19 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 9-3 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 25-16 mark, including a 4-3 record this season.
- The Akron bench is shooting more than 38 percent (38.9) from the field and at a 32.1 percent clip beyond the arc this season.
- Seven different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Jordyn Dawson tallying 10 or more points in 17 contests this year. She is joined by Reagan Bass (11) and Lonasia Brewer (7), Layne Ferrell (5), Annika Corcoran (3), Kendall Miller (2).
- Akron has connected on five or more three-pointers in 14 games this season, and 45 of its last 50 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 46.4 percent of its point in the paint this season, averaging 30.9 percent points in the paint per game.
- Akron is a 5-2 at home and is averaging 78.8 points when playing at the JAR.
- The Zips are shooting 42.4percent (465-1096) from the field and 128-370 percent (34.6) from beyond the arc. Akron has been outrebounded by its opponents, 722-679 for a -2.3 margin. Akron has 278 turnovers averaging (14.6) turnovers per game) and has 127 steals (6.7 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 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
The Chippewas, stand 4-19 overall and 2-12 in conference play under the direction of 3rd-year head coach Heather Oesterle after falling 90-77 at Miami on Saturday. Molly Davis led the Chippewas with 24 points, Tiana Timpe added 16, Hanna Knoll added 15, and Jahari Smith had 14 points and 14 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season. She also had three blocks. CMU trailed by as many as 24 points in the second half but made a fourth-quarter charge to pull within 11, 84-73, with just over two minutes remaining.

CMU is averaging 59.7points per game on 36.9 percent shooting (495-1340) from the floor and 162-597 shooting (27.6 percent) from long range. The Chippewas have a duo of players averaging in double-figures. Molly Davis leads the Chippewas in scoring at 19.1 points per game and leads the MAC in total assists (105), while Jahari Smith is averaging 12.3 rebounds per game and 10.7 boards. She ranks second in the MAC in rebounds per game.

Defensively, the Chippewas have held their opponents to 71.2 points per game on 42.7 percent shooting from the floor and 33.5 percent from beyond the arc. CMU has 392 turnovers (17.0 turnovers per game) while collecting 131 steals (5.7 steals per game). On the glass, the Chippewas have been out-rebounded their opponents, 896-832 for a -4.7 margin.

UP NEXT
The Zips will host Kent State in the final installment of the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 19 at James A. Rhodes Arena. Saturday's game will serve as Akron's Akron for Nakon game where the Zips will honor the community's Cancer survivors and fighters. Tip time is scheduled for 2 p.m.