Zips to Host Buffalo on Wednesday

Wednesday, March 2

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Buffalo

March 01 | Women's Basketball

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Akron Game Notes (PDF) | Buffalo Game Notes (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio- The Akron women's basketball team will open its season finale homestand on Wednesday, March 2 as the Zips host Buffalo at James A. Rhodes Arena at 7 p.m.

THE GAME
Akron (15-9, 12-6 MAC) vs. Buffalo (20-8, 14-4 MAC)
Wednesday, March 2| James A. Rhodes Arena| 7:00 PM

BROADCAST
ESPN3: https://es.pn/35F61O6
Radio: Jim Clark (pbp), 640 WHLO AM
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3K8KiNC

BUFFALO HEAD COACH
Felisha Legette-Jack
Overall Record: 338-278 (20th Season)
Record at Buffalo: 197-115 (10^th Season)

AKRON HEAD COACH
Melissa Jackson
Overall Record: 53-53 (4^th Season)
Record at Akron: 53-53 (4^th Season)

ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron and Buffalo are meeting for the 55th time in program history, with the Bulls owning a 31-24 series edge. Buffalo and Akron met earlier this season (Jan. 19) with Buffalo securing a 76-59 victory at Buffalo.

Freshman Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) led the Zips with a career-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while also grabbing six boards. Redshirt senior Jordyn Dawson rounded out the double-figure scoring with 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists.

The Zips' offense continued attacking at the beginning of the fourth quarter as Akron put together a 5-0 run to get within five, 58-53. Both teams suffered a scoring drought before Buffalo opened a 14-3 run over six minutes that put the Bulls up by 17, with three minutes left to play, and the game was out of reach for the Zips' comeback efforts.

LAST TIME OUT
The Zips improved to 15-9 overall and 12-6 MAC after the Zips secured an 88-77 victory at Ohio on Saturday. Four players scored in double-figures while two Zips had career-scoring games. Lonasia Brewer (Akron, Ohio) recorded a career-best 22 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while redshirt freshman Alanna Carter (Mason, Ohio) scored a career-best 11 points and brought down six boards. Junior Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was a threat beyond the arc knocking down 4 three-pointers, and ending the game with a season-best 18 points and six rebounds. Redshirt Senior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W Va.) added another stellar performance making her case for MAC Player of the Year, scored a team-high 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out six assists, and had three steals.

The Akron offense succeeded largely because the entire lineup dished out dimes all afternoon long, assisting on an impressive 22 of the Zips' 29 field goals. Additionally, a 24-15 score edge from 3-point range and 22-of-26 shooting at the foul line was central to the win.

ZIPS PUNCH TICKET TO CLEVELAND
After the win over Bowling Green on Wednesday night, the Zips punched their ticket to Cleveland for the 2022 MAC Women's Basketball Tournament.

ZIP TIPS
- The 2021-22 season marks the 48th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
- As a team, Akron ranks 24th in the NCAA and lead the conference in fewest turnovers (382), 44^th in fewest fouls (338).
- Akron ranks second in the conference in Blocked shots per game (3.7).
-The Zips perimeter defense is third in conference play (29.9), while ranking third in three-point percentage (33.8)
- 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 22.3 points and 9.8 rebounds and leads the team with 70 steals.
- In conference play, Dawson is averaging a double-double with 24.1 points per game, and 10.8 rebounds, while gathering 55 steals and nine blocks. She has scored in double-figures in 18 straight games, 17 being 20+ points.
- Dawson is the only player in the MAC to rank top-5 in league stats in points, rebs, assists, and steals.
- Jordyn Dawson is rated 8^th in the nation in points per game (22.3), 8th in steals per game (3.04), and 15^th in defensive rebounds per game (7.9), and 39th in rebounds per game (9.8)
- Dawson ranks 30^th in double-doubles (12) and ranks second in league stats.
- In conference play, freshman Reagan Bass is second on the team in points per game (13.0. Bass has scored in double-figures in 13 of the last 17 games, reaching a career-high mark of 23 points (EMU).
- Bass ranks 8th in MAC stats in blocked shots per game (1.05).
- Akron owns a 39-20 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 13-4 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 28-16 mark, including a 8-3 record this season.
- The Akron bench is shooting more than 38 percent (38.9) from the field and at a 32.4 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 19 contests this year. She is joined by Reagan Bass (13) and Lonasia Brewer (7), Layne Ferrell (5), Annika Corcoran (3), Kendall Miller (2).
- Akron has connected on five or more three-pointers in 17 games this season, and 48 of its last 54 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 48.4 percent of its point in the paint this season, averaging 31 percent points in the paint per game.
- Akron is a 7-3 at home and is averaging 73.4 points when playing at the JAR.
- The Zips are shooting 42.9 percent (600-1399) from the field and 147 percent (33.8) from beyond the arc. Akron has been outrebounded by its opponents, 900-872 for a -1.2 margin. Akron has 338 turnovers averaging (14.1) turnovers per game) and has 169 steals (7.0 steals 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.

LEADING MAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE- JORDYN DAWSON
Jordyn Dawson has put up incredible numbers this season. Dawson ranks 8^th in the nation in points per game (22.3) ranking 3^rd in the conference, 8^th in NCAA in steals per game (3.04) first in the MAC, 38^th in NCAA in FG Made (185), 15^th in NCAA in defensive rebounds per game (7.8) first in the MAC, 38^th in NCAA in rebounds per game (9.8) third in conference. She is currently the only player in the MAC to rank top-5 in scoring, rebound, assists, and steals, In conference play, Dawson averages a double-double with 24.1 points per game, and 10.8 rebounds per game, while gathering a conference-high 55 steals. She has scored in double-figures in 18 straight games, 17 being 20+ points.

SCOUTING BUFFALO
The Bulls, stand 20-8 overall and 14-4 in conference play under the direction of 10th-year head coach Felisha Legette-Jack after taking down Kent State, 82-64 on Saturday. Junior guard Dyaisha Fair led all scorers with 28 points to go with three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Summer Hemphill recorded her second straight double-double with 15 points and 18 rebounds and Loren Christie also scored in double figures with 12 points while adding six rebounds and three blocks. Buffalo shot a blistering 61.3% from the floor, including 3-of-6 shooting from behind the arc, while holding the Golden Flashes to just 27.3% shooting in the opening half.

Buffalo is averaging 75.7 points per game, leading the league in scoring on 42.2percent shooting (782-1851) from the floor and 164-514 shooting (31.9 percent) from long range. The Bulls rank first in the MAC in rebounds averaging 42.0 boards per game. The Bulls have a trio of averaging in double-figures. Dyaisha Fair leads the team and ranks first in the MAC averaging 23.8 points per game. Georgia Woolley averages 14.3 points per game, whole Summer Hemphill averages a double-double with 13.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

Defensively, the Bulls have held their opponents to 67.7 points per game on 39.1 percent shooting from the floor and 29.5 percent from beyond the arc. UB has 391 turnovers (14.0 turnovers per game) while collecting 252 steals (9.0 steals per game). On the glass, the Bulls have out-rebounded their opponents, 1177-1124 for a +1.9 margin.

UP NEXT
The Zips will close out the regular season on Saturday, March 5 as Akron will host Miami for senior day at 2 p.m.