Zips Face Wake Forest in Opening Round of WNIT

Thursday, March 17

Winston-Salem, NC

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Wake Forest University

March 16 | Women's Basketball

Follow Akron Women's Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Follow Coach Jackson on Twitter

WNIT Bracket | Akron Game Notes (PDF) | Wake Forest Game Notes (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio- The Akron women's basketball team will face Wake Forest in the opening round of the WNIT on Thursday, March 17 in Winston-Salem, N.C. at the LJVM Coliseum. Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m and will air on the ACC Network Extra.

THE GAME
Akron (17-11, 13-7 MAC) vs. Wake Forest (15-16, 4-14 ACC)
Thursday, March 17| LJVM Coliseum | 7 PM

BROADCAST
ACC Network Extra: https://es.pn/3Jerg8w
Radio: Jim Clark (pbp), 640 WHLO AM
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3u2HX0f

WAKE FOREST HEAD COACH
Jen Hoover
Overall Record: 161-182 (11th Season)
Record at Wake Forest: 141-169 (10^th Season)

AKRON HEAD COACH
Melissa Jackson
Overall Record: 56-54 (4^th Season)
Record at Akron: 56-54 (4^th Season)

ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron and Wake Forest are meeting for the 2nd time in program history, with the Demon Deacons holding a 1-0 all-time series advantage. Akron and Wake Forest last met back in 1987 in the Lady Deacon Invite were the Zips fell, 84-56.

LAST TIME OUT
The Zips fell in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament to Buffalo, 82-43 last Friday. Akron was led in scoring by senior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W Va.) and freshman Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) with 15- and 12-points, respectively. Dawson, the 2022 MAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, shot 6-of-15 from the floor, including Akron's only made 3-pointer on a 1-of-2 effort. She added a team-best three steals and grabbed a second-best five rebounds. Bass connected on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 performance from the free throw line. Bass led the team on the glass with six rebounds.

The Bulls defense limited the Zips to shooting 9-of-32 from the field, including an 1-of-11 mark from deep. Akron's shooting woes continued as the Zips finished the game shooting 16-of-62 from the field and 1-of-19 from deep with a 10-of-12 showing from the charity stripe.

JORDYN DAWSON NAMED TO MAC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Jordyn Dawson was named to the MAC All-Tournament team after averaging 18.6 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, 6 assists, and nine steals during the quarterfinals and semifinals of the 2022 MAC Tournament.

JORDYN DAWSON NAMED MAC PLAYER AND DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
For the first time since 2015, the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year is a Zip. Redshirt senior Jordyn Dawson (Huntington, W Va.) was named MAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced on Tuesday. Dawson was named First-Team All-MAC and on the all-defensive team. Dawson becomes the third-ever Zip to garner the league's top honor joining Sina King (2014-15) and Rachel Tecca (2012-13) and first-ever to be named Defensive Player of the year.

She produced one of the best individual seasons in Akron women's basketball history. A first-team All-MAC honoree, Dawson started 25 games for the Zips this season, ranking seventh in the country in scoring (22.4 ppg), eighth in the NCAA in steals per game (3.04), 21st in defensive rebounds (7.4), and 35th in double-doubles (12).

BASS AND DAWSON EARN ALL-MAC ACCOLADES
Dawson garnered first-team All-MAC accolades and named to the all-defensive team, while Bass was tabbed honorable mention and selected to the all-freshman team.

Bass was tabbed honorable mention All-MAC and selected to the all-freshman team. The freshman played in 23 games and led the Zips' offensive attack in the paint averaging 12.6 points per game. In league games, Bass led the team with a 59.1 percent shooting percentage and shot a team-best 75.3 percent from the charity stripe. Her 1.00 blocks per game ranked 10^th in the MAC.

Bass scored a career-best 23-points against Eastern Michigan, while bringing down a career-high nine rebounds against Youngstown State and Northern Illinois. Bass recorded a career-high four blocks against Western Michigan, while having six games where she recorded two or more blocks. Bass finished the season with 14 double figure games.

ZIPS IN THE WNIT
Akron is making its fifth WNIT appearance all-time and first time under head coach Melissa Jackson. The last appearance in the WNIT was back in 2016 when Akron hosted Bucknell where the Zips dropped a 74-70 decision.

The Zips are seeking their first-ever postseason triumph after dropping setbacks at Purdue, Duquesne (WNIT), Wichita State (WBI), Michigan State (WNIT), Bucknell (WNIT), and Tennessee Tech (WBI) in 2019, 2016,2014, 2013, 2010 and 1999, respectively.

ZIP TIPS
- The 2021-22 season marks the 48th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
- As a team, Akron ranks 50th in the NCAA and leads the conference in fewest turnovers (420) ,47^th in fewest fouls (436).
- Akron ranks second in the conference in Blocked shots per game (3.6).
-The Zips perimeter defense is third in conference play (30.6), while ranking third in three-point percentage (31.1)
- Jordyn Dawson has been named this year's MAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, while also garnering a first team All-MAC selection and All-MAC Defensive Team. She leads the team averaging 22.1 points and 9.2 rebounds and leads the team with 85 steals.
- In conference play, Dawson is averaging a double-double with 24.2 points per game, and 10.3 rebounds, while gathering 61 steals and nine blocks. She has scored in double-figures in 21 straight games, 20 being 20+ points.
- Dawson is the only player in the MAC to rank top-5 in league stats in points, rebs, assists, and steals.
-Dawson is the only player in the MAC to record a triple-double against a Division I team
- Jordyn Dawson is rated 10^th in the nation in points per game (22.1), 6th in steals per game (3.15), and 27^th in defensive rebounds per game (7.2), and 46th in rebounds per game (9.4)
- Dawson ranks 30^th in double-doubles (12) and ranks second in league stats.
- Reagan Bass was named All-MAC Honorable Mention and selected to the All-MAC Freshman Team.
- In conference play, freshman Reagan Bass is second on the team in points per game (12.6) Bass has scored in double-figures in 16 of the last 21 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 41-21 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 13-5 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 30-16 mark, including a 9-3 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 21 contests this year. She is joined by Reagan Bass (18) and Lonasia Brewer (7), Layne Ferrell (5), Annika Corcoran (3), Kendall Miller (2).
- Akron has connected on five or more three-pointers in 18 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 46.4 percent of its point in the paint this season, averaging 30 percent points in the paint per game.
- Akron finished the regular season 8-4 at home and is averaging 73.4 points when playing at the JAR.
- The Zips are shooting 42.8 percent (695-1625) from the field and 168-526percent (31.9) from beyond the arc. Akron has been outrebounded by its opponents, 1035-1009for a -0.9 margin. Akron has 420 turnovers averaging (15.0) turnovers per game) and has 200 steals (7.1 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.

SCOUTING WAKE FOREST
The Demon Deacons, stand 15-16 overall and 4-14 in conference play under the direction of 10th-year head coach Jen Hoover after falling to Georgia Tech in the second round of the ACC Tournament. Sophomore guard Jewel Spear led the way in scoring for the Deacs, posting 11 points. Junior guard Kaia Harrison contributed six points, five rebounds, and two steals. The Deacs held Georgia Tech to 17-of-46 shooting (37.0 percent) while only making four attempts from three-point territory (23.5 percent). The Yellowjackets also struggled to protect the ball, finishing with 19 turnovers.

Wake Forest is led by Jewel Spear, who averages 18.3 points per game, the leading scorer in the ACC. Elise Williams is averaging 9.4 points per game, while Olivia Summiel leads the team grabbing rebounds averaging 6.9 rebounds per game.

The Deacs are averaging 65.1 points per game on 39.7 percent shooting (740-1862) from the floor and 183-569 shooting (32.2percent) from long range.

Defensively, the Deacs have held their opponents to 63 points per game on 39.7 percent shooting from the floor and 28.4 percent from beyond the arc. Wake Forest has 471 turnovers (15.2 turnovers per game) while collecting 208 steals (6.7 steals per game). On the glass, the Deacs have out-rebounded their opponents, 1190-1118 for a +2.3 margin.

UP NEXT
The winner of the first-round contest will advance to play the winner of Wofford/Middle Tennessee in the second round.

2022 WNIT Schedule
Round 1 - March 16-18
Round 2 - March 19-22
Round 3 - March 23-26
Quarterfinals - March 26-28
Semifinals - March 30-31
Championship - Saturday, April 2 (broadcast by CBS Sports Network)