Akron Hosts Bowling Green in Battle of MAC Leaders

Saturday, January 14

Akron, Ohio

2:00 PM

University of Akron

Bowling Green

Akron Hosts Bowling Green in Battle of MAC Leaders

January 13 | Women's Basketball

Akron (12-2, 3-0 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (13-2, 2-1 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 14
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 2 p.m.

Series History: Bowling Green leads 56-14
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WHAT'S AHEAD
In an battle between the top-two rated teams in the Mid-American Conference, the University of Akron women's basketball team welcomes Bowling Green to James A. Rhodes Arena on Saturday, Jan. 14. The 2 p.m. tilt with the Falcons will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps on the call as well as WHLO 640 AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Bowling Green: Robyn Fralick (Davidson, 2004), Overall Record: 174-71 (Eighth Season), Record at BGSU: 70-68 (Fifth Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall Record: 67-58 (Fifth Season), Record at Akron: 67-58 (Fifth Season)

SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
Bowling Green comes into action versus Akron on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 13-2 on the campaign, including a 2-1 record in the Mid-American Conference, following a 101-68 victory past Central Michigan on Jan. 11.

The Falcons are led by the quartet of senior G Elissa Brett, junior G Nyla Hampton, senior F Allison Day and senior G Morgan Sharps, who are averaging 12.9, 12.7, 10.9 and 10.9 points per game, respectively, with sophomore F Jocelyn Tate pulling down a team-best 6.1 rebounds per contest. As a unit, Bowling Green is recording 83.7 points, 37.1 rebounds, 17.6 assists, 11.9 steals and 2.5 blocks per game.

As a team, the Falcons are ranked second in the NCAA in turnover margin (10.00), third in assist/turnover ratio (1.49), eighth in scoring (83.7), 11th in steals per game (11.9), 14th in turnovers forced (21.87), 16th in field goal percentage (.472), 17th in assists per contest (17.7), 19th in scoring margin (19.3) and winning percentage (.867), and 20th in three point percentage (.369).

Individually, Hampton is rated seventh in the NCAA in assist/turnover ratio (2.79) and steals per game (3.53), eighth in steals (53) and 26th in field goal percentage (.572).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Bowling Green are meeting for the 71st time in program history. The Falcons lead the series, 56-14, after the Zips swept the season series a year ago. Akron best Bowling Green, 79-69, on Jan. 8, 2022 at James A. Rhodes Arena, before the Zips dealt the Falcons a 72-70 setback on Feb. 13, 2022 in Bowling Green, Ohio. In the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, Akron garnered an 81-67 triumph past the Falcons on March 9, 2022 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (MARCH 9, 2022 - CLEVELAND, OHIO)
Third-seeded Akron parlayed a balanced scoring attack led by a game-high 22-point performance from Jordyn Dawson, the 2021-22 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, into an 81-67 victory past sixth-seeded Bowling Green in the quarterfinal round of the MAC Tournament on March 9 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Dawson paced four Zips scoring in double-figures and finished the game with a 22-point, seven-rebound and six-steal performance. Sophomore Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio), redshirt junior Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) and Lonasia Brewer added 16,14 and 11 points, respectively. Amy Velasco directed three Bowling Green players in double figures with a team-high 19 points.

Akron finished the game shooting nearly 52 percent (.518) from the field, while connecting on 5-of-10 shots from beyond the arc. The Falcons wrapped up the evening shoot nearly 42 percent (.418) from the field and at a 42.1 percent clip from distance.

The Zips posted advantages in the contest in points in the paint (40-30), fast-break points (18-8), points off turnovers (17-12) and bench points (18-9).

DEFENSIVE EFFORT LIFTS ZIPS PAST EASTERN MICHIGAN
A strong defensive team effort parlayed with an 18-point and 13-rebound performance from Reagan Bass propelled the University of Akron women's basketball team to a come-from-behind 60-43 triumph at Eastern Michigan on Jan. 11.

Bass posted her third double double of the season to help extend the Zips' winning streak to seven straight. Akron is off to its best league start since the 2012-13 campaign.

After falling behind by seven, 17-10, following the opening period, the Zips outscored Eastern Michigan, 50-26, over the final three periods to collect their fifth straight road win.

Senior G Dominique Camp (Dayton, Ohio) and Layne Ferrell joined Bass scoring in double figures for Akron as the duo registered 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Ce'Nara Skanes directed the Eagles' offensive efforts on the evening with a 13-point and 15-rebound effort.

The Zips finished the contest shooting 31.5 percent from the field, while going 22-of-26 at the free throw line, including a 12-of-14 effort from Bass, to secure the decision. Akron's defensive pressure forced the Eagles into 20 turnovers, while Eastern Michigan completed the game hitting at a .293 clip from the field.

Akron outrebounded Eastern Michigan on the night, 44-39, including 32-26 on the defensive glass.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron is off to the best start in program history at 12-2 on the campaign entering the Zips' league showdown versus Bowling Green on Saturday, Jan. 14. Akron's best overall open to a campaign came during the 2014-15 season with a 14-2 mark.
• The Zips have also matched their best start to league play at 3-0, equaling the efforts of the 2013-13, 1997-98, 1995-96 and 1994-95 squads.
• Akron is seeking its fourth straight victory over Bowling Green when the two teams meet on Saturday, Jan. 14 as the Zips have won five of their last seven encounters with the Falcons. Akron previously won four straight against Bowling Green for the only time in series history over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns.
• Akron head coach Melissa Jackson owns a 67-58 overall record in her fifth season on the Zips' bench. She has reached that victory total faster than any coach in program history, while surpassing Mary Ann Tripodi (1974-81) for the third-highest win total by a head coach at Akron with the Zips' triumph over Miami on Jan. 7.
• Akron owns a 7-2 overall record versus Bowling Green, including 3-1 at James A. Rhodes Arena, with head coach Melissa Jackson on the Zips' sideline.
• Under Jackson, Akron averages 72.9 points in nine contests against Bowling Green, while holding the Falcons to 69.9 points per game.
• With its win over Coppin State, the Zips matched the 2018-19 Akron squad for the most non-conference victories (9) under head coach Melissa Jackson.
• Reagan Bass enters action versus Eastern Michigan having amassed 564 career points, to go along with 263 career rebounds.
• Layne Ferrell and Rachel Martindale are both nearing the 500-point career point plateau as the duo enters play against the Falcons have recorded 470 and 447 points, respectively.
• Dominique Camp is approaching 200 career assists as she has registered 191 assists in her career.
• Akron is ranked 11th in the NCAA in free throws made per contest (16.29), 13th in blocks per game (5.4), 23rd in defensive rebounds (29.9), 24th in winning percentage (.857), 30th in assists per outing (16.7), 31st in free throw attempts per tilt (21.21), 32nd in field goal percentage defense (36.0) and 33rd in free throw percentage (.768). Individually, Dominique Camp ranks seventh in steals per game (3.50) and 14th in steals (49), while Reagan Bass is 20th in free throw attempts (104) and free throws made (79), 43rd in scoring (18.1) and 49th in blocks per tilt (1.71) and Layne Ferrell is 34th in free throw percentage (.884).
• Rachel Martindale has recorded 124 career three pointers. She enters action against Bowling Green eighth on the all-time career list at Akron. She is two triples shy of Kara Murphy (127 | 2007-11) for seventh place. All but 15 of her 139 career field goals have come from beyond the arc.
• Rachel Martindale is ninth in program history with 386 career three-point attempts. She is five attempts shy of surpassing Kara Murphy (390 | 2007-11) for eighth place.
• Rachel Martindale's .321 shooting percentage (124-386) from beyond the arc is the 11th-best mark in program history.
• The Zips are averaging 66.0 points per game in six road/neutral contests this season with Akron shooting 40 percent (.403) from the field, including a .258 mark from beyond the arc. The quartet of Reagan Bass, Dominique Camp, Layne Ferrell and Molly Neitzel are averaging 17.3, 13.2, 11.7 and 11.0 points per tilt.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Reagan Bass tallying 10 or more points in 12 contests this year. She was joined by Layne Ferrell (10), Dominique Camp (9), Molly Neitzel (8), Rachel Martindale (3), freshman F Aila Miller (Berlin, Ohio) (1), junior G Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario) (1), Faith Stinson (1) and freshman F Annie Watson (Akron, Ohio) (1).
• The 2022-23 season marks the 49th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
• Akron owns a 53-23 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 8-1 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 10 of its 14 games this season, and 63 of its last 77 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 78, 78, 64, 40, 40 and 30 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 14.1 points and 6.6 rebounds. Ferrell is the Zips' active leader in three-point shooting connecting on 35.5 percent of her attempts.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 14 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 (Miami-1), .442 (Robert Morris), .420 (Youngstown State), .407 (Ohio), .403 (Coppin State), 30 percent: .388 (Northern Kentucky), .386 (Bethune-Cookman), .382 (Stetson), .365 (Cleveland State), .315 (Eastern Michigan-1), 20 percent: NA

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 14 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .435 (Coppin State), .431 (Northern Kentucky), .400 (Cleveland State), 30 percent: .391 (Miami-1), .388 (Ohio), .386 (Dayton), .379 (Oakland), .357 (Notre Dame College), .354 (Stetson), .329 (Bethune-Cookman) .313 (Robert Morris), .311 (Youngstown State), 20 percent: .293 (Eastern Michigan-1), .250 (Point Park).

INSIDE THE PAINT
Akron was once proved to be strong in the paint through 14 games this season averaging 32.4 points per contest for 454 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 hosts Central Michigan in a 7 p.m. tilt on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at James A. Rhodes Arena.