Zips Travel to Western Michigan on Wednesday

Wednesday, February 9

Kalamazoo, Mich.

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Western Michigan

February 08 | Women's Basketball

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

AKRON, Ohio- The Akron women's basketball team will hit the road as the Zips face Western Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at University Arena. Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

THE GAME
Akron (9-8, 6-5 MAC) vs. Western Michigan (12-8, 6-5 MAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 9| University Arena| 7:00 PM

BROADCAST
ESPN3: https://es.pn/3smna74
Radio: Chad Welker (pbp), 640 WHLO AM
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/34lWvPy

WESTERN MICHIGAN HEAD COACH
Shane Clipfell
Overall Record: 156-152 (11th Season)
Record at WMU: 143-150 (10th Season)

AKRON HEAD COACH
Melissa Jackson
Overall Record: 47-52 (4^th Season)
Record at Akron: 47-52 (4^th Season)

ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron and Western Michigan are meeting for the 48th time in program history, with the Broncos owning a 35-12 series edge. Last week, the Broncos and Zips met at Akron with Western Michigan coming away with a 57-53 victory.

Dawson finished with a game-high 29 points and nine rebounds and scored her 1,000th career point as a Zip on a basket in the first half. The reigning MAC Player of the Week also scored in double figures for the 10th straight game and the 14th time in 16 contests this season.

The Zips clung to a 40-38 lead at the start of the final frame, but a 7-1 Western Michigan run to begin the quarter gave the visitors a lead they would hold the rest of the way.

LAST TIME OUT
The Zips dropped to 9-8 overall and 6-5 MAC after the Zips fell in a 73-70 decision to MAC leaders, Toledo. Dawson delivered a heroic effort on the afternoon, scoring a game-high 26 points and adding nine rebounds, five assists and two steals. She received plenty of support from freshman forward Reagan Bass Strongsville, Ohio), who notched 11 points and two steals of her own.

After falling behind again in the back-and-forth flow of the game, Martindale clutched up again, sinking a key three ball with 6:33 left to stake the Zips to a 62-60 lead. A three by Dawson moments later gave the hosts a 65-61 edge, setting the stage for the dramatic finish. The game came down to the final buzzer as a 3-pointer from the left wing by senior forward Jordyn Dawson caromed off the front of the rim as time ran out.

ZIP TIPS
- The 2021-22 season marks the 48th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
- As a team, Akron ranks 18^th in the NCAA and lead the conference in fewest turnovers (250), 34th in fewest fouls (285).
- Akron ranks 80th in the NCAA and third in the conference in Blocked shots per game (3.8).
- 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 20.6 points and 9.5 rebounds and leads the team with 42 steals.
- In conference play, Dawson is averaging a double-double with 22.5 points per game, and 11.2 rebounds, while gathering 25 steals and three blocks. She has score in double-figures in 11 straight games, 10 being 20+ points.
- In her career as a Zip, Dawson has reached the 1,000 point mark.
- Jordyn Dawson is rated 67^th in NCAA and second in conference stats in free-throw percentage (77.1), 14^th in points per game (20.6), 39th in steals per game (2.62), and 43^rd in rebounds per game (9.5).
- Dawson ranks 42^nd in double-doubles (8) and ranks second in league stats.
- In conference play, freshman Reagan Bass is second on the team in points per game (12.7). Bass has scored in double-figures in eight of the last 11 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 7-3 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 23-16 mark, including a 2-3 record this season.
- The Akron bench is shooting more than 38 percent (38.1) from the field and at a 31 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 15 contests this year. She is joined by Reagan Bass (9) and Lonasia Brewer (5), Layne Ferrell (5), Annika Corcoran (3), Kendall Miller (2).
- Akron has connected on five or more three-pointers in 12 games this season, and 43 of its last 48 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 45.9 percent of its point in the paint this season, averaging 30.11 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 41.3 percent (407-985) from the field and 113-333 percent (33.9) from beyond the arc. Akron has been outrebounded by its opponents, 658-602 for a -3.3 margin. Akron has 250 turnovers averaging (14.7) turnovers per game) and has 115 steals (6.8 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 WESTERN MICHIGAN
The Broncos, stand 12-8 overall and 6-5 in conference play under the direction of 10th-year head coach Shane Clipfell after falling 71-64 at Buffalo on Monday night. Western Michigan was ushered by Reilly Jacobson, who finished with 17 points on 7-13 (53.8 percent) shooting, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a pair of blocks for a solid all-around performance. Lauren Ross matched that scoring total with 17 points of her own on 6-15 (40 percent) from the field to go along with six rebounds. Hannah Spitzley added nine points and three rebounds for WMU as well.

WMU is averaging 65.3 points per game on 41.1 percent shooting (469-1140) from the floor and 134-438 shooting (30.6 percent) from long range. The Broncos have a trio of players averaging in double-figures. Lauren Ross leads the Broncos in scoring at 18.4 points per game and ranks fourth in the MAC in three-point shooting (31.9 percent), while Reilly Jacobson and Taylor Williams is averaging 12.3 and 11.0 points per game, respectively.

Defensively, the Broncos have held their opponents to 61.1 points per game on 39 percent shooting from the floor and 31.6 percent from beyond the arc. WMU has 316 turnovers (15.8 turnovers per game) while collecting 182 steals (9.1 steals per game). On the glass, the Broncos have been out-rebounded their opponents, 739-683 for a -2.8 margin.

UP NEXT
The Zips will hit the road on Saturday, Feb. 12 as Akron faces Eastern Michigan for a 1 p.m. tip at the George Gervin GameAbove Center.