Akron Closes Homestand Hosting Central Michigan

Wednesday, January 18

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Central Michigan

January 17 | Women's Basketball

Akron (12-3, 3-1 MAC) vs. Central Michigan (3-12, 1-3 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 18
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: Central Michigan leads 27-18
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team welcomes Central Michigan to James A. Rhodes Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 18. The 7 p.m. tilt with the Chippewas will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps on the call as well as WHLO 640 AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Central Michigan: Heather Oesterle (Michigan, 20042, Overall Record: 48-53 (Fourth Season), Record at CMU: 48-53 (Fourth Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall Record: 67-59 (Fifth Season), Record at Akron: 67-59 (Fifth Season)

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan enters play versus Akron on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 3-12 on the campaign, including a 1-3 record in the Mid-American Conference, following a 71-60 home setback against Western Michigan on Jan. 14.

The Chippewas are led by the duo of freshman F Sydney Harris and freshman G Bridget Utberg, who are averaging 16.1 and 10.7 points per game, respectively, with senior F Jahari Smith pulling down a team-best 6.8 rebounds per contest. As a unit, Central Michigan is recording 62.1 points, 37.3 rebounds, 10.4 assists, 6.9 steals and 2.4 blocks per game.

As a team, the Chippewas are ranked 49th in the NCAA in offensive rebounding (14.0). Individually, Harris is rated second in the NCAA in three pointers per game (3.27), 13th in three point attempts (134) and 16th in three pointers (49).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Central Michigan are meeting for the 46th time in program history. The Chippewas lead the series, 27-18, after the Zips swept the season series a year ago. Akron bested Central Michigan, 70-60, on Jan. 29, 2022 in Mount Pleasant, Mich., before the Zips dealt the Chippewas a 67-54 setback on Feb. 16, 2022 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (FEB. 16, 2022 - AKRON, OHIO)
Overcoming a 13-point second-quarter deficit, Akron completed a come-from-behind 67-54 win in Mid-American Conference action on Feb. 16, 2022 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

A monster double double by Dawson with 29 points and 13 rebounds to go with four steals led the Zips, while the Akron defense was the main force in turning the tide. With 12 forced turnovers, nine steals and three blocked shots, the Zips were aggressive on the defensive end and harassed the visitors into 33.3-percent shooting.

On offense, foul shots kept Akron going in the first three quarters and they outscored Central Michigan 13-6 from the line in the contest. That set up the knockout punch in the fourth quarter as the Zips drained 4-of-8 from three point range to close out the victory.

Sophomore F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) had a solid outing with 16 points and six rebounds, while Lonasia Brewer snared nine rebounds to go with her five points. Jahari Smith led Central Michigan with 18 points in the loss, while Lisa Tesson added 11.

BOWLING GREEN BESTS AKRON, 71-66
In a battle between the top-two rated teams in the Mid-American Conference, Akron pushed Bowling Green to the limit before the Falcons escaped with a five-point decision, 71-66, on Jan. 14 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

A late rally allowed Bowling Green to claim the victory as the Zips suffered their first defeat in conference play. Despite the loss, Akron clamped down on the MAC's highest-scoring offense, holding the Falcons well below their season average of 83.7 points per game.

Senior F Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) led the offensive way for the Zips netting a game-high 20 points.

Redshirt junior G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) turned in a stellar performance for Akron registering eight points, while pulling down a career- and game-high 11 rebounds to go along with a pair of blocks and a career- and team-high seven assists and five steals.

Senior G Dominique Camp (Dayton, Ohio) also reached double figures with 14 points, while Reagan Bass dominated the interior for the Zips, scoring 11 points to go with eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

The Zips led for much of the afternoon before the Falcons took the lead in the game's closing minutes.

Elissa Brett led Bowling Green with 16 points, while Allison Day added 14 points in the win.

Akron finished the game shooting 40.7 percent from the field, while holding the Falcons to a .364 shooting mark.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron is off to the second-best start in program history at 12-3 on the campaign entering the Zips' league showdown versus Central Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Akron's best overall open to a campaign came during the 2014-15 season with a 14-2 mark.
• For the eighth time in program history the Zips have matched their best start to league play at 3-1. Akron has equaled the efforts of the 2014-15, 2012-13, 2009-10, 1998-99, 1997-98, 1995-96 and 1994-95 squads.
• Akron is seeking its third straight victory over Central Michigan when the two teams meet on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
• Akron head coach Melissa Jackson owns a 67-59 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.
• Under head coach Melissa Jackson, Akron averages 70.4 points in seven contests against Central Michigan.
• Layne Ferrell dished out a career-high seven assists in Akron's 77-66 victory at Miami on Jan. 7 as well as in a 71-66 setback versus Bowling Green on Jan. 14.
• The five blocks by Molly Neitzel versus Miami on Jan. 7 represented the sixth-best single-game effort in program history and marks the most rejections by a Zip since Reagan Bass tallied six blocks against Stetson on Dec. 18.
• 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 Central Michigan having amassed 575 career points, to go along with 271 career rebounds.
• Layne Ferrell and Rachel Martindale are both nearing the 500-point career point plateau as the duo enters play against the Chippewas have recorded 478 and 453 points, respectively.
• Dominique Camp is approaching 200 career assists as she has registered 193 assists in her career.
• Akron is ranked eighth in the NCAA in blocks per game (5.5), ninth in free throws made per contest (16.40), 21st in free throw percentage (.776), 22nd in defensive rebounds (29.8), 34th in field goal percentage defense (36.0), 36th in free throw attempts per tilt (21.13), 38th in assists per outing (16.4) and winning percentage (.800). Individually, Dominique Camp ranks seventh in steals per game (3.33) and 16th in steals (50), while Reagan Bass is 18th in free throws made (84), 19th in free throw attempts (110) and 40th in blocks per tilt (1.80) and Layne Ferrell is 17th in free throw percentage (.898).
• Rachel Martindale has recorded 125 career three pointers. She enters action against Central Michigan 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 16 of her 141 career field goals have come from beyond the arc.
• Rachel Martindale is eighth in program history with 391 career three-point attempts. She is one attempt shy of surpassing Leigh Burdette (391 | 1989-93) for seventh place.
• Rachel Martindale's .320 shooting percentage (125-391) from beyond the arc is the 11th-best mark in program history.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Reagan Bass tallying 10 or more points in 13 contests this year. She was joined by Layne Ferrell (11), Dominique Camp (10), 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 53-24 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 8-2 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 15 games this season, and 63 of its last 78 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 79, 79, 65, 41, 41 and 30 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 14.0 points and 6.6 rebounds. Ferrell is the Zips' active leader in three-point shooting connecting on 34.9 percent of her attempts.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 15 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 (Bowling Green), .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' 15 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), .364 (Bowling Green), .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 15 games this season averaging 32.3 points per contest for 484 total points. The Zips posted a season-best 66 points in the paint in a 101-46 victory over Point Park on Dec. 2.

HOME COOKING
Inside the friendly confines of James A. Rhodes Arena, the Zips have seen a lot of success over the course of the past 18 seasons. When playing on its home court, Akron owns a 124-78 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are 7-2 in the JAR, averaging 75.2 points per tilt and connecting on more than 44 percent (.442) of their attempts from the field, while recording 39.9 rebounds, 17.2 assists, 9.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game.

Individually, Reagan Bass, Molly Neitzel, Layne Ferrell and Dominique Camp are enjoying playing on their home court this season averaging double-figures inside James A. Rhodes Arena owning a 17.8, 11.8, 11.7 and 10.3 points per game, respectively.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to battle Toledo for a 2 p.m. matinee affair on Saturday, Jan. 21.