The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, January 28
Akron, Ohio
5:00 PM
University of Akron
vs
Buffalo
Akron Battles Buffalo to Open Homestand
January 27 | Women's Basketball
Akron (13-5, 4-3 MAC) vs. Buffalo (8-8, 3-4 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 28
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 5:00 p.m.
Series History: Buffalo leads 33-24
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:Â www.GoZips.comÂ
Live Radio: www.GoZips.com
Â
WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team opens a two-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 28, as the Zips welcome Buffalo to James A. Rhodes Arena. The 5 p.m. tilt with the Bulls 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
Buffalo: Becky Burke (Louisville, 2012), Overall Record: 121-63 (Seventh Season), Record at Buffalo: 8-8 (First Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall Record: 68-61 (Fifth Season), Record at Akron: 68-61 (Fifth Season)
SCOUTING BUFFALO
Buffalo comes into action against Akron on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 8-8 on the campaign, including a 3-4 record in the Mid-American Conference, following a 61-64 home setback versus Bowling Green on Jan. 25.
The Bulls are led by the trio of redshirt senior guards Zakiyah Winfield, Re'Shawna Stone and Jazmine Young, who are averaging 14.9, 14.8 and 14.1 points per game, respectively, while Winfield leads Buffalo in rebounding pulling down 10.7 caroms per contest. As a unit, the Bulls are recording 62.6 points, 33.4 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 7.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per game.
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Individually, Winfield is rated third in the NCAA in defensive rebounding (8.9), 13th in minutes per game (36.72), 15th in rebounding (10.7) and 21st in double doubles (10).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Buffalo are meeting for the 58th time in program history. The Bulls lead the series, 33-24, after sweeping the season series from the Zips a year ago, including a triumph in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (MARCH 11, 2022 - CLEVELAND, OHIO)
The Akron women's basketball team championship run at the 2022 Mid-American Conference Tournament came to an end as the Zips fell 82-43 to the second-seeded Buffalo Bulls in the semifinal round on March 11, 2022.
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Akron was led in scoring by Jordyn Dawson and sophomore F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
The Bulls were paced by Dyaisha Fair with a game-high 28 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the floor. Georgia Woolley added 20 points as the Bulls shot 50.8 percent from the floor (32-of-63), including a 50-percent performance from downtown (7-of-14). The Bulls edged the Zips on the glass 44-33.
LEAGUE-LEADING BALL STATE EDGES THE ZIPS
Akron was unable to overcome a hot start by league-leading Ball State as the Cardinals garnered an 89-66 decision past the Zips on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at Worthen Arena.
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Reagan Bass led three Akron players scoring in double figures with a team-high 13 points, while senior G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and freshman F Faith Stinson (Thornville, Ohio) each added 12 points. Madelyn Bischoff directed five Ball State players posting double-digit scoring efforts with a game-high 20 points.
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Sparked by a .571 shooting mark over the final period, the Zips finished the contest shooting 37.3 percent from the field, while the Cardinals connected on nearly 52 percent (.517) of their attempts.
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Led by 12 points from Stinson and seven from junior G Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario), Akron tallied 32 bench points.
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The Zips connected on nine three pointers in the affair, their second-highest total from beyond the arc this season and most in a conference showdown.
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 18 contests on the campaign and 60 points or less in seven games.
Akron leads the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage defense (.374), defensive rebounding (29.5) and blocked shots (5.06), while ranking second in three point defense (.290) and rebounding (38.7) and fourth in scoring defense (63.4).
Reagan Bass and senior F Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) are sixth (7.4) and 10th (6.4) in the MAC in overall rebounding, while Bass and Neitzel are ranked sixth (7.9) and ninth (6.9) in conference-only rebounding.
In conference-only games, Akron is rated first in the league in field goal percentage defense (.395), overall rebounding (37.9), three point defense (.274) and blocked shots (5.29), while ranking second in defensive rebounding (28.7) and fifth in scoring defense (67.7).
Akron is ranked 18th in the NCAA in blocks per game (5.1) and 22nd in defensive rebounds (29.5).
ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron is off to the second-best start in program history through 18 games at 13-5 on the campaign entering the Zips' league showdown versus Buffalo on Saturday, Jan. 28. Akron's best overall open to a campaign through 18 contests came during the 2014-15 season with a 15-3 mark.
• Akron is receiving votes in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll as six Mid-American Conference teams are ranked or receiving votes. That list includes No. 6 Bowling Green, No. 8 Toledo, No. 9 Ball State, No. 23 Kent State, Akron (RV) and Northern Illinois (RV).
• Akron is seeking its first home victory over Buffalo since a 70-59 triumph on Feb. 23, 2019.
• Akron head coach Melissa Jackson owns a 68-61 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 Buffalo having amassed 627 career points, to go along with 288 career rebounds.
• Layne Ferrell and Rachel Martindale are both nearing the 500-point career point plateau as the duo enters play against the Bulls have recorded 496 and 480 points, respectively.
• Dominique Camp surpassed 200 career assists at Toledo on Jan. 21 after dropping seven dimes and she comes into action against Buffalo having registered 205 assists in her career.
• Akron is ranked eighth in the NCAA in free throws made per contest (16.56), 11th in free throw percentage (.784), 18th in blocks per game (5.1), 22nd in defensive rebounds (29.5), 33rd in free throw attempts per tilt (21.11) and 44th in assists per outing (16.0). Individually, Dominique Camp ranks sixth in steals per game (3.33) and 12th in steals (60), while Reagan Bass is 13th in free throws made (102) and 14th in free throw attempts (130) and Layne Ferrell is 18th in free throw percentage (.891).
• Rachel Martindale has recorded 134 career three pointers. She enters action against Buffalo seventh on the all-time career list at Akron. She is five triples shy of Leigh Burdette (139 | 19889-93) for sixth place. All but 16 of her 150 career field goals have come from beyond the arc.
• Rachel Martindale is sixth in program history with 413 career three-point attempts. She is 72 attempts shy of surpassing Hanna Luburgh (484 | 2010-14) for fifth place.
• Rachel Martindale's .324 shooting percentage (134-413) from beyond the arc is the 10th-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 16 contests this year. She was joined by Dominique Camp (11), Layne Ferrell (11), Molly Neitzel (9), Rachel Martindale (4), Faith Stinson (2), freshman F Aila Miller (Berlin, Ohio) (1), Alexis Stewart (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 13 of its 18 games this season, and 66 of its last 81 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 82, 82, 68, 44, 44 and 32 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds. Ferrell is the Zips' active leader in three-point shooting connecting on 34.1 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), .373 (Ball State-1), .365 (Cleveland State), .315 (Eastern Michigan-1), 20 percent: NA
ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 18 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .517 (Ball State-1), 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 18 games this season averaging 31.6 points per contest for 568 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 125-78 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.
This season, the Zips are 8-2 in the JAR, averaging 75.7 points per tilt and connecting on more than 44 percent (.442) of their attempts from the field, while recording 39.8 rebounds, 17.1 assists, 9.4 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 17.5, 11.8, 11.7 and 11.2 points per game, respectively.
UP NEXT
Akron hosts rival Kent State in a 7 p.m. showdown on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Saturday, Jan. 28
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 5:00 p.m.
Series History: Buffalo leads 33-24
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:Â www.GoZips.comÂ
Live Radio: www.GoZips.com
Â
WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team opens a two-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 28, as the Zips welcome Buffalo to James A. Rhodes Arena. The 5 p.m. tilt with the Bulls 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
Buffalo: Becky Burke (Louisville, 2012), Overall Record: 121-63 (Seventh Season), Record at Buffalo: 8-8 (First Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall Record: 68-61 (Fifth Season), Record at Akron: 68-61 (Fifth Season)
SCOUTING BUFFALO
Buffalo comes into action against Akron on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 8-8 on the campaign, including a 3-4 record in the Mid-American Conference, following a 61-64 home setback versus Bowling Green on Jan. 25.
The Bulls are led by the trio of redshirt senior guards Zakiyah Winfield, Re'Shawna Stone and Jazmine Young, who are averaging 14.9, 14.8 and 14.1 points per game, respectively, while Winfield leads Buffalo in rebounding pulling down 10.7 caroms per contest. As a unit, the Bulls are recording 62.6 points, 33.4 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 7.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per game.
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Individually, Winfield is rated third in the NCAA in defensive rebounding (8.9), 13th in minutes per game (36.72), 15th in rebounding (10.7) and 21st in double doubles (10).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Buffalo are meeting for the 58th time in program history. The Bulls lead the series, 33-24, after sweeping the season series from the Zips a year ago, including a triumph in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (MARCH 11, 2022 - CLEVELAND, OHIO)
The Akron women's basketball team championship run at the 2022 Mid-American Conference Tournament came to an end as the Zips fell 82-43 to the second-seeded Buffalo Bulls in the semifinal round on March 11, 2022.
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Akron was led in scoring by Jordyn Dawson and sophomore F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
The Bulls were paced by Dyaisha Fair with a game-high 28 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the floor. Georgia Woolley added 20 points as the Bulls shot 50.8 percent from the floor (32-of-63), including a 50-percent performance from downtown (7-of-14). The Bulls edged the Zips on the glass 44-33.
LEAGUE-LEADING BALL STATE EDGES THE ZIPS
Akron was unable to overcome a hot start by league-leading Ball State as the Cardinals garnered an 89-66 decision past the Zips on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at Worthen Arena.
Â
Reagan Bass led three Akron players scoring in double figures with a team-high 13 points, while senior G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and freshman F Faith Stinson (Thornville, Ohio) each added 12 points. Madelyn Bischoff directed five Ball State players posting double-digit scoring efforts with a game-high 20 points.
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Sparked by a .571 shooting mark over the final period, the Zips finished the contest shooting 37.3 percent from the field, while the Cardinals connected on nearly 52 percent (.517) of their attempts.
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Led by 12 points from Stinson and seven from junior G Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario), Akron tallied 32 bench points.
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The Zips connected on nine three pointers in the affair, their second-highest total from beyond the arc this season and most in a conference showdown.
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 18 contests on the campaign and 60 points or less in seven games.
Akron leads the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage defense (.374), defensive rebounding (29.5) and blocked shots (5.06), while ranking second in three point defense (.290) and rebounding (38.7) and fourth in scoring defense (63.4).
Reagan Bass and senior F Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) are sixth (7.4) and 10th (6.4) in the MAC in overall rebounding, while Bass and Neitzel are ranked sixth (7.9) and ninth (6.9) in conference-only rebounding.
In conference-only games, Akron is rated first in the league in field goal percentage defense (.395), overall rebounding (37.9), three point defense (.274) and blocked shots (5.29), while ranking second in defensive rebounding (28.7) and fifth in scoring defense (67.7).
Akron is ranked 18th in the NCAA in blocks per game (5.1) and 22nd in defensive rebounds (29.5).
ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron is off to the second-best start in program history through 18 games at 13-5 on the campaign entering the Zips' league showdown versus Buffalo on Saturday, Jan. 28. Akron's best overall open to a campaign through 18 contests came during the 2014-15 season with a 15-3 mark.
• Akron is receiving votes in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll as six Mid-American Conference teams are ranked or receiving votes. That list includes No. 6 Bowling Green, No. 8 Toledo, No. 9 Ball State, No. 23 Kent State, Akron (RV) and Northern Illinois (RV).
• Akron is seeking its first home victory over Buffalo since a 70-59 triumph on Feb. 23, 2019.
• Akron head coach Melissa Jackson owns a 68-61 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 Buffalo having amassed 627 career points, to go along with 288 career rebounds.
• Layne Ferrell and Rachel Martindale are both nearing the 500-point career point plateau as the duo enters play against the Bulls have recorded 496 and 480 points, respectively.
• Dominique Camp surpassed 200 career assists at Toledo on Jan. 21 after dropping seven dimes and she comes into action against Buffalo having registered 205 assists in her career.
• Akron is ranked eighth in the NCAA in free throws made per contest (16.56), 11th in free throw percentage (.784), 18th in blocks per game (5.1), 22nd in defensive rebounds (29.5), 33rd in free throw attempts per tilt (21.11) and 44th in assists per outing (16.0). Individually, Dominique Camp ranks sixth in steals per game (3.33) and 12th in steals (60), while Reagan Bass is 13th in free throws made (102) and 14th in free throw attempts (130) and Layne Ferrell is 18th in free throw percentage (.891).
• Rachel Martindale has recorded 134 career three pointers. She enters action against Buffalo seventh on the all-time career list at Akron. She is five triples shy of Leigh Burdette (139 | 19889-93) for sixth place. All but 16 of her 150 career field goals have come from beyond the arc.
• Rachel Martindale is sixth in program history with 413 career three-point attempts. She is 72 attempts shy of surpassing Hanna Luburgh (484 | 2010-14) for fifth place.
• Rachel Martindale's .324 shooting percentage (134-413) from beyond the arc is the 10th-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 16 contests this year. She was joined by Dominique Camp (11), Layne Ferrell (11), Molly Neitzel (9), Rachel Martindale (4), Faith Stinson (2), freshman F Aila Miller (Berlin, Ohio) (1), Alexis Stewart (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 13 of its 18 games this season, and 66 of its last 81 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 82, 82, 68, 44, 44 and 32 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds. Ferrell is the Zips' active leader in three-point shooting connecting on 34.1 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), .373 (Ball State-1), .365 (Cleveland State), .315 (Eastern Michigan-1), 20 percent: NA
ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 18 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .517 (Ball State-1), 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 18 games this season averaging 31.6 points per contest for 568 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 125-78 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.
This season, the Zips are 8-2 in the JAR, averaging 75.7 points per tilt and connecting on more than 44 percent (.442) of their attempts from the field, while recording 39.8 rebounds, 17.1 assists, 9.4 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 17.5, 11.8, 11.7 and 11.2 points per game, respectively.
UP NEXT
Akron hosts rival Kent State in a 7 p.m. showdown on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Players Mentioned
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F
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F
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G
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G
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F
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F
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