Zips Set to Battle League-Leading Ball State

Wednesday, January 25

Muncie, Ind.

6:30 PM

University of Akron

Ball State

January 24 | Women's Basketball

Akron (13-4, 4-2 MAC) at Ball State (15-4, 5-1 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 25
Worthen Arena
Muncie, Ind. • 6:30 p.m.

Series History: Ball State leads 25-19
Live Stream: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Television: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com
Live Radio: www.GoZips.com

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team will battle league-leading Ball State in a key Mid-American Conference showdown on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The 6:30 p.m. tilt with the Cardinals will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as WHLO 640 AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Ball State: Brady Sallee (Thomas More, 1993), Overall Record: 334-246 (19th Season), Record at Ball State: 198-136 (11th Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall Record: 68-60 (Fifth Season), Record at Akron: 68-60 (Fifth Season)

SCOUTING BALL STATE
Ball State comes into action against Akron on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 15-4 on the campaign, including a 5-1 record in the Mid-American Conference, following a 71-62 win over Central Michigan on Jan. 21.

The Cardinals are led by sophomore F Ally Becki, who is averaging team-high marks in rebounding (6.7), assists (4.9) and steals (1.7), while connecting on a team-best 41.5 percent of her attempts beyond the arc. Redshirt senior G Anna Clephane leads Ball State in scoring at 14.2 points per contest. As a unit, the Cardinals are recording 78.8 points, 37.2 rebounds, 16.6 assists, 8.3 steals and 3.6 blocks per game.

As a team, Ball State is ranked 21st in the NCAA in scoring (78.8) and triples per game (8.4), 24th in field goal percentage (.462), 28th in assists per contest (16.6), 32nd in assist/turnover ratio (1.16), 37th in winning percentage (.789), 38th in three pointers attempted per tilt (24.7) and 45th in scoring margin (12.9).

Individually, Becki is rated seventh in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.918), 14th in assist/turnover ratio (2.59), 42nd in assists per game (4.9) and 49th in assists (88), while senior G Thelma Dis Agustsdottir is ranked 17th in three pointers (55), 18th in triples per game (2.89) and 28th in three point attempts (139).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Ball State are meeting for the 45th time in program history. The Cardinals lead the series, 25-19, after the Zips bested Ball State, 83-76, on Jan. 15, 2022 at James A. Rhodes Arena. Akron has won two straight and three of the last five overall in the series.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (JAN. 15, 2022 - AKRON, OHIO)
Akron utilized a bombs away approach from long range and pinpoint passing to down the visiting Ball State, 83-76, on Jan. 15, 2022 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Akron connected on 12 three pointers in the affair en route to shooting 53.8 percent on threes.

Jordyn Dawson was once again an all-around force with 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the win. Annika Corcoran had 13 points and made a team-best four triples. Add in an efficient 18-point effort from redshirt junior G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) and the Zips had more than enough firepower for a victory.

Chyna Latimer led Ball State with 17 points, while Ally Becki had 16.

TOLEDO POWERS PAST AKRON, 76-63
In a battle of two of the top teams in the Mid-American Conference this season, Akron came up short in its bid to stay atop the league standings as Toledo registered a 76-63 triumph past the Zips on Saturday, Jan. 21 at Savage Arena.

Sophomore F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) netted 22 of her game-high 24 points in the second half to spark Akron's offensive efforts on the afternoon, while also pulling down a team-best eight rebounds. Additionally, she surpassed the 600-point plateau for her Zips' career in the third quarter.

Senior G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and redshirt junior G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) added nine points apiece, while senior G Dominique Camp (Dayton, Ohio) dished out a team-high seven assists.

Akron finished the contest shooting nearly 38 percent (.377) from the field, while the Rockets connected on 45.6 percent of their attempts on the afternoon.

DEFENSE HAS BEEN OUR CALLING CARD
Defense has been the key to Akron's success this season as the Zips have held opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the floor in 11 of 17 contests on the campaign and 60 points or less in seven games.

Akron leads the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage defense (.366), three point defense (.276), rebounding (39.2), defensive rebounding (29.8) and blocked shots (5.35), while ranking third in scoring defense (61.9).

Reagan Bass and Molly Neitzel are fifth (7.6) and 10th (6.5) in the MAC in overall rebounding, while Bass, Neitzel and Layne Ferrell are ranked sixth (8.5), eighth (7.3) and ninth (7.0) in conference-only rebounding.

In conference-only games, Akron is rated first in the league in scoring defense (64.2), field goal percentage defense (.377), three point defense (.232), defensive rebounding (29.5) and blocked shots (6.17), while ranking second in overall rebounding (39.0).

Akron is ranked 14th in the NCAA in blocks per game (5.4), 20th in defensive rebounds (29.8), 41st in field goal percentage defense (36.6), and 45th in three point percentage defense (.276).

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron is off to the second-best start in program history through 17 games at 13-4 on the campaign entering the Zips' league showdown versus Ball State on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Akron's best overall open to a campaign through 17 contests came during the 2014-15 season with a 14-3 mark.
• For the fifth time in program history the Zips have matched their best start to league play at 4-2. Akron has equaled the efforts of the 2015-16, 2014-15, 2009-10 and 1998-99 squads. The best open to a league slate through seven games came in the 1998-99 campaign when the Zips started 5-2 with triumphs past Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Kent State, Northern Illinois and Ball State.
• The Zips are 3-2 versus Ball State under fifth-year Akron head coach Melissa Jackson with the Zips averaging 75.0 per contest, while holding the Cardinals to 69.6 tallies per tilt.
• Akron is seeking its second straight road victory over Ball State following an 89-84 overtime decision past the Cardinals on Feb. 6, 2021.
• Akron head coach Melissa Jackson owns a 68-60 overall record in her fifth season on the Zips' bench. She has reached that victory total faster than any coach in program history, while sitting 12 wins shy of surpassing John Street (1982-89) for the second-highest win total by a head coach at Akron.
• Akron has overcome double-digit deficits to record a victory in five games this season, including Eastern Michigan (-18 | W, 60-43 | Jan. 11), Youngstown State (-17 | W, 61-44 | Nov. 18), Central Michigan (-13 | W, 80-65 | Jan. 18), Miami (-11 | W, 77-66 | Jan. 7) and Stetson (-10 | W, 58-50 | Dec. 18).
• Reagan Bass enters action versus Ball State having amassed 614 career points, to go along with 284 career rebounds.
• Layne Ferrell and Rachel Martindale are both nearing the 500-point career point plateau as the duo enters play against the Cardinals have recorded 494 and 468 points, respectively.
• Dominique Camp surpassed 200 career assists at Toledo with after dropping seven dimes and she comes into action against Ball State having registered 202 assists in her career.
• Akron is ranked seventh in the NCAA in free throws made per contest (16.76), eighth in free throw percentage (.787), 14th in blocks per game (5.4), 20th in defensive rebounds (29.8), 31st in free throw attempts per tilt (21.29), 41st in field goal percentage defense (36.6), 43rd in assists per outing (16.2), 45th in three point percentage defense (.276) and 46th in winning percentage (.765). Individually, Dominique Camp ranks fourth in steals per game (3.41) and 13th in steals (58), while Reagan Bass is 14th in free throws made (97) and in free throw attempts (124) and 50th in scoring (17.8) and Layne Ferrell is 24th in free throw percentage (.891).
• Rachel Martindale has recorded 130 career three pointers. She enters action against Ball State seventh on the all-time career list at Akron. She is nine triples shy of Leigh Burdette (139 | 19889-93) for sixth place. All but 16 of her 146 career field goals have come from beyond the arc.
• Rachel Martindale is sixth in program history with 403 career three-point attempts. She is 82 attempts shy of surpassing Hanna Luburgh (484 | 2010-14) for fifth place.
• Rachel Martindale's .323 shooting percentage (130-403) from beyond the arc is the 10th-best mark in program history.
• The Zips are averaging 65.6 points per game in seven road/neutral contests this season with Akron shooting nearly 40 percent (.399) from the field, including a .262 mark from beyond the arc. The quartet of Reagan Bass, Dominique Camp, Layne Ferrell and Molly Neitzel are averaging 18.3, 12.4, 11.3 and 10.6 points per tilt.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Reagan Bass tallying 10 or more points in 15 contests this year. She was joined by Dominique Camp (11), Layne Ferrell (11), Molly Neitzel (9), 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 54-24 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 9-2 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 12 of its 17 games this season, and 65 of its last 80 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 81, 81, 67, 43, 43 and 31 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 14.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. Ferrell is the Zips' active leader in three-point shooting connecting on 34.8 percent of her attempts.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 17 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), .436 (Central Michigan-1), .420 (Youngstown State), .407 (Bowling Green), .407 (Ohio), .403 (Coppin State), 30 percent: .388 (Northern Kentucky), .386 (Bethune-Cookman), .382 (Stetson), .377 (Toledo-1), .365 (Cleveland State), .315 (Eastern Michigan-1), 20 percent: NA

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 17 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .456 (Toledo-1), .435 (Coppin State), .431 (Northern Kentucky), .400 (Cleveland State), 30 percent: .391 (Miami-1), .388 (Ohio), .386 (Dayton), .379 (Oakland), .373 (Central Michigan-1), .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 17 games this season averaging 32.0 points per contest for 544 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 returns to James A. Rhodes Arena to host Buffalo in a 5 p.m. tilt on Saturday, Jan. 28.