Akron Renews Rivalry with Kent State

Wednesday, February 1

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Kent State

January 31 | Women's Basketball

Akron (14-5, 5-3 MAC) vs. Kent State (13-6, 5-3 MAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 1
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Kent State leads 55-18
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team resumes its rivalry with Kent State on Wednesday, Feb. 1, as the Zips welcome the Golden Flashes to James A. Rhodes Arena. The 7 p.m. showdown with Kent State 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
Kent State: Todd Starkey (Montreat, 1993), Overall Record: 279-178 (16th Season), Record at Kent State: 114-83 (Seventh Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall Record: 69-61 (Fifth Season), Record at Akron: 69-61 (Fifth Season)

SCOUTING KENT STATE
Kent State comes into action against Akron on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 13-6 on the campaign, including a 5-3 record in the Mid-American Conference, following a 64-38 victory over Western Michigan on Jan. 28.

The Golden Flashes are led senior F Lindsey Thall, who is averaging 12.1 points per game, while senior G Katie Shumate leads Kent State in rebounding pulling down 5.6 caroms per contest. As a unit, the Golden Flashes are recording 71.1 points, 38.1 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.7 blocks per game.

Kent State is ranked 17th in the NCAA in three pointers per game (8.6) and 37th in three point percentage (.351) and triples attempted per contest (24.6).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Kent State are meeting for the 74th time in program history. The Golden Flashes lead the series, 55-18. The Zips swept the season series from Kent State a year ago, besting the Golden Flashes, 62-61 on Jan. 5, 2022 in Kent, Ohio, before downing their rivals, 73-64, on Feb. 19, 2022 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

CRYSTAL CLINIC ORTHOPAEDIC CENTER WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE
Akron battles Kent State as part of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Wagon Wheel Challenge during its game on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The 14-sport rivalry series between Akron and Kent State is based on a time-honored competition for an historic wooden wagon wheel trophy awarded originally in 1945 to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game. The Golden Flashes lead the current series this year, 3.5-0.5, through five events.

Since the 2011-12 academic year, the rivalry was broadened to include 14 NCAA varsity sports, with victories in each sport adding one point to the challenge standings. To learn more about the rivalry and
follow the results and standings, visit:

www.WagonWheelChallenge.com

IN OUR LAST MEETING (FEB. 19, 2022 - AKRON, OHIO)
Akron completed the season sweep over rival Kent State on Feb. 19, 2022 at James A. Rhodes Arena with a 73-64 victory.

In a season abounding with standout performances, Jordyn Dawson painted a masterpiece in driving her squad to a win a Wagon Wheel Challenge battle. Her 30 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocked shots were the centerpiece of a victory that allowed the Zips to sweep the season series.

Smothering defense was another vital cog in the win as Akron limited Kent State to 36.2-percent shooting, forcing 15 turnovers and not allowing a single fast break point.

Akron led the entire second half, pulling ahead by as many as 12, and never allowed the visitors to get closer than three points the rest of the way. Dawson had plenty of help from sophomore F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) (18 points, nine rebounds) and Kendall Miller (eight points, three steals) in the win.

Casey Santoro led Kent State with 17 points, while Katie Shumate added 15.

AKRON OVERPOWERS BUFFALO
A return to home cooking for Akron proved to be a winning recipe for the Zips as they bested Buffalo, 69-47, in Mid-American Conference action on Saturday evening, Jan. 28, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The winning return came on the strength of a defensive effort that hassled the Bulls into 26.6-percent (17-of-64) shooting, more than 17 percent below their season average.

Reagan Bass led all scorers with 20 points and nine rebounds, while senior G Dominique Camp (Dayton, Ohio) helped power the charge against her former team, adding 15 points and three steals. Senior F Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) contributed 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists in a strong all-around effort. Redshirt junior G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) added a game-high six assists to go along with an eight-point performance, while senior G Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) posted nine points, including a trio of three pointers, and dished out five assists.

The Zips took control of the game in the second half, building their lead from six at intermission to as many as 27 in their ninth win in 11 home contests this season.

As the Akron offense heated up, its defense remained relentless, forcing 12 turnovers on the night, and converting them into 18 points. Add in a 43-33 rebounding edge, including 40-25 on the defensive glass, and the Zips limited both the Bulls' second chances and their good looks on their initial shot attempts. The 47 points represented Buffalo's second-lowest scoring effort on the campaign.

Hattie Ogden scored 15 points to pace Buffalo, while Jazmine Young added 12 in defeat.

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 12 of 19 contests on the campaign and 60 points or less in eight games.

Akron leads the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage defense (.368), defensive rebounding (30.1) and blocked shots (4.95), while ranking second in three point defense (.288) and rebounding (38.9) and third in scoring defense (62.6).

Reagan Bass and senior F Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) are sixth (7.5) and 10th (6.5) in the MAC in overall rebounding, while Bass and Neitzel are ranked sixth (8.0) and eighth (7.1) in conference-only rebounding.

In conference-only games, Akron is rated first in the league in field goal percentage defense (.379), overall rebounding (38.5), defensive rebounding (30.1) and blocked shots (5.00), while ranking second in three point defense (.272) and third in scoring defense (65.1).

Akron is ranked 18th in the NCAA in 18th in defensive rebounds (30.1) and 19th in blocks per game (4.9).

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron is off to the second-best start in program history through 19 games at 14-5 on the campaign entering the Zips' league showdown versus Kent State on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Akron's best overall open to a campaign through 19 contests came during the 2014-15 season with a 15-4 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 third straight overall victory and second consecutive at home over Kent State when the two squads meet on Wednesday, Feb. 1.
• Akron is one of two teams in the Mid-American Conference to hold a pair of league opponents under 50 points in a game this season. The Zips limited Eastern Michigan to 43 points in a 60-43 triumph on Jan. 11 before holding Buffalo to 47 points in a 69-47 win on Jan. 28.
• Only twice in the seven meetings between Akron and Kent State under head coach Melissa Jackson have either the Zips or Golden Flashes surpassed the 70-point plateau, with Akron 1-1 in those contests.
• Akron head coach Melissa Jackson owns a 69-61 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 11 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 Kent State having amassed 647 career points, to go along with 297 career rebounds.
• Layne Ferrell surpassed the 500-point plateau with a five-point effort against Buffalo having amassed 501 career points, while Rachel Martindale enters play against the Golden Flashes have recorded 489 points.
• Dominique Camp surpassed 200 career assists at Toledo on Jan. 21 after dropping seven dimes and she comes into action against Kent State having registered 209 assists in her career.
• Akron is ranked 13th in the NCAA in free throws made per contest (15.89), 18th in defensive rebounds (30.1), 19th in blocks per game (4.9), 20th in free throw percentage (.778), 35th in assists per outing (16.3), 41st in field goal percentage defense (.368) and 33rd in free throw attempts per tilt (20.42). Individually, Dominique Camp ranks sixth in steals per game (3.32) and 12th in steals (63), while Reagan Bass is 17th in free throw attempts (132) and 18th in free throws made (103) and Layne Ferrell is 20th in free throw percentage (.891).
• Rachel Martindale has recorded 137 career three pointers. She enters action against Kent State seventh on the all-time career list at Akron. She is two triples shy of Leigh Burdette (139 | 19889-93) for sixth place. All but 16 of her 153 career field goals have come from beyond the arc.
• Rachel Martindale is sixth in program history with 420 career three-point attempts. She is 65 attempts shy of surpassing Hanna Luburgh (484 | 2010-14) for fifth place.
• Rachel Martindale's .326 shooting percentage (137-420) from beyond the arc is the ninth-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 17 contests this year. She was joined by Dominique Camp (12), Layne Ferrell (11), Molly Neitzel (10), 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 55-24 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 10-2 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 32-19 mark, including an 3-1 ledger this season.
• Akron has connected on five or more three pointers in 14 of its 19 games this season, and 67 of its last 82 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 83, 83, 69, 45, 45 and 33 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds. Ferrell is the Zips' active leader in three-point shooting connecting on 33.5 percent of her attempts.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 19 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .528 (Dayton), .526 (Point Park), .509 (Buffalo-1), .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' 19 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), .266 (Buffalo-1), .250 (Point Park).

INSIDE THE PAINT
Akron was once proved to be strong in the paint through 19 games this season averaging 31.2 points per contest for 592 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 126-78 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are 9-2 in the JAR, averaging 75.1 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 45 percent (.447) of their attempts from the field, while recording 40.1 rebounds, 17.5 assists, 9.1 steals and 4.8 blocks per game.

Individually, Reagan Bass, Molly Neitzel, Dominique Camp and Layne Ferrell are enjoying playing on their home court this season averaging double-figures inside James A. Rhodes Arena owning a 17.7, 12.0, 12.0 and 10.6 points per game, respectively.

UP NEXT
Akron visits Western Michigan for a 12 p.m. matinee affair on Saturday, Feb. 4.