Akron Travels to Robert Morris

Akron (0-2) at Robert Morris (1-1)
Wednesday, Nov. 15
UPMC Events Center
Moon Township, Pa. • 11:00 a.m.

Series History: Akron leads 15-8
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team is set for a non-conference showdown at Robert Morris on Wednesday (Nov. 15) in Moon Township, Pa. The 11 a.m. tilt will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as on 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan.

HEAD COACHES
Robert Morris: Charlie Buscaglia (Manhattan, 2003), Overall Record: 121-85 (Eighth Season), Record at Robert Morris: 121-85 (Eighth Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 0-2 (First Season), Record at Akron: 0-2 (First Season)

SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS
Robert Morris enters its showdown versus Akron on Wednesday (Nov. 15) at 1-1 on the campaign following a 70-52 setback at St. Bonaventure on Saturday (Nov. 11).

A pair of Colonials are recording double-digit performances on the campaign as juniors Simone Morris and Naomi Barnwell are averaging 15.0 and 11.0 points per contest. Junior Danielle Vuletich is pulling down a team-best 8.0 rebounds per game. As a unit, Robert Morris is registering 56.5 points, 33.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 6.0 blocks and 5.0 steals per tilt.

As a team, Robert Morris ranks 23rd in the NCAA in blocks per game (6.0) and 47th in field goal percentage defense (.312). Individually, Vuletich is rated 31st in blocks per outing (2.50) and 39th in blocks (5).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Robert Morris are meeting for the 24th time in program history, with the Zips owning a 15-8 series edge following a 68-50 home victory by Akron on Nov. 23, 2022.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 23, 2022 – AKRON, OHIO)
Akron displayed defensive dominance in claiming a 68-50 win over visiting Robert Morris in a non-conference battle at James A. Rhodes Arena on Nov. 23, 2022.

The Zips shot 44.2 percent from the field in the victory en route to limiting a second-straight opponent to 50 points or fewer allowing the Colonials to shoot just 31.3 percent (20-of-64) for the game.

Offensively, junior Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) paced the Akron attack with a game-high 15 points.

In addition to strong defense that included seven blocks, Akron was dominant on the boards and outrebounded Robert Morris 45-28, including 33-18 on the defensive glass. The Zips led for the final 34:46 of the evening, building its lead to as many as 22, 63-41, in the third period.

BASS NAMED MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Akron's Reagan Bass was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday, Nov. 13.

Bass turned in a solid opening week for the Zips averaging a double-double posting team-high marks in scoring (19.5) and rebounding (12.0), while shooting more than 48 percent (.484) from the field and at 80-percent clip from the charity stripe.

She opened the week tallying career-high and conference-leading marks for points (33) and rebounds (16) versus Oakland (Nov. 6), including scoring 22 of her 33 points and 10 of her 16 rebounds in the second half and overtime. Bass finished the contest shooting nearly 55 percent from the field (12-of-22), while going 8-of-10 at the free throw line.

She capped the week pulling down a game-high eight rebounds to go along with six points at Southern Miss (Nov. 11).

BASS GARNERS PRESEASON ALL-MAC ACCOLADES
Akron's Reagan Bass was among those honored when the Mid-American Conference unveiled its preseason women's basketball teams and coaches poll on Nov. 2.

Bass was tabbed a First-Team All-MAC preseason selection, while as a unit, the Zips were picked to place sixth the preseason coaches poll.

Bass, a 2022-23 MAC First-Team honoree, averaged 17.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest a year ago, both team-high marks.

ZIP TIDBITS
• The 2023-24 season marks the 50th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
• Reagan Bass enters action versus Robert Morris having amassed 864 career points, to go along with 410 career rebounds.
• Reagan Bass is rated 18th in the NCAA in rebounding (12.0), 25th in minutes played (37.19) and 31st in double-doubles (1).
• Lanae Riley, Alexus Mobley, junior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.), senior Tahmala Thorpe (Mississauga, Ontario) and sophomore Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) each posted a career-high mark for scoring against Southern Miss registering 13, 10, 8, 8 and 4 points, respectively.
• The Zips posted 15 individual career-high marks at Southern Miss (Nov. 11).
• Four different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Alexus Mobley (2). She is joined by Reagan Bass (1) Morgan Haney (1) and Lanae Riley (1).
• Akron ranked 24th in the NCAA in defensive rebounds (28.7), 28th in free throw percentage (.771), 37th in assists per outing (15.7) and 50th in free throws made per contest (14.13). Individually, Reagan Bass was 25th in free throw attempts (196) and 28th in free throws made (153).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 76 of its last 95 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high six triples in an 77-60 setback at Southern Miss on Nov. 11, 2023.
• Reagan Bass, Alexis Stewart, Zakia Rasheed and Tahmala Thorpe have appeared in 58, 56, 45 and 31 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 14.9 points and 7.1 rebounds.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's two games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .439 (Southern Miss), .408 (Oakland), 30 percent: NA, 20 percent: NA

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' two games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .478 (Southern Miss), .468 (Oakland), 30 percent: NA, 20 percent: NA.

INSIDE THE PAINT
Akron have once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 38.0 points per game for 76 total points. A year ago, in 30 games the Zips averaged 29.2 points per contest for 876 total points. This season, the Zips posted a season-best 44 points in the paint in a 91-87 setback to Oakland (Nov. 6).

BASS EARNS ALL-MAC HONORS
Led by Reagan Bass, who garnered First-Team All-Mid-American Conference women's basketball accolades, a pair of University of Akron players earned All-MAC honors when the league unveiled its 2022-23 award winners on March 7, 2023.

Dominique Camp rounded out the Zips' recipients pulling in All-Defensive team laurels.

Bass started all 30 of the Zips' games last season en route to earning First-Team All-MAC accolades for the initial time on the strength of posting team-high marks in scoring (17.1), rebounding (7.7), field goal percentage (.515), free throws made (153) and free throws attempted (196), while ranking second in blocks (33), fourth in steals (25) and fifth in assists (44). She scored in double figures in 27 of 30 contests this season, including tallying 15 or more points in 21 games, and led the Zips in scoring and rebounding 17 times apiece. In league-only affairs, she averaged 16.3 points and 8.1 rebounds, while shooting 49 percent from the field.

Bass was the eighth Zip to earn first-team honors and first sophomore to do so since Rachel Tecca collected first-team laurels during the 2010-11 campaign. She joins Cheryl Bowles (1999-2000), Kara Murphy (2008-09), Tecca (2010-11 | 2012-13), Hanna Luburgh (2013-14), Sina King (2014-15), Anita Brown (2015-16) and Jordyn Dawson (2021-22) among Akron first-team honorees.

ZIPS EARN WBCA ALL-ACADEMIC SPECIAL MENTION ACCOLADES
The 2022-23 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll was announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, and the Akron women's basketball team earned special mention nods for having a 3.503 overall team GPA for the 2022-23 academic year.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and two-year college women's basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2022-23 season was the 28th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.

The Zips were just one of five Mid-American Conference teams to earn the recognition.

MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Zips under first-year head coach Ryan Gensler, were picked to finish sixth as a team behind preseason league and tournament favorite preseason favorite Toledo (11 first-place votes and 121 points). The Rockets were followed by Ball State (1 first-place votes/110 points), Kent State (102), Bowling Green (77), Northern Illinois (72), Akron (69), Eastern Michigan (66), Buffalo (50), Ohio (40), Western Michigan (38), Central Michigan (24) and Miami (23).

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 128-81 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

Last season, the Zips were 11-5 in the JAR, averaging 73.3 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 45 percent (.447) of their attempts from the field, while recording 39.2 rebounds, 16.8 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.1 blocks per game.

Individually, Reagan Bass averaged double figures inside James A. Rhodes Arena averaging 17.6 points per game.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to Daytona Beach, Fla., to participate in the Daytona Beach Classic versus Wichita State (Nov. 24) and Pittsburgh (Nov. 25).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Reagan Bass

Dominique Camp

Morgan Haney

Alexus Mobley

Zakia Rasheed

Lanae Riley

Alexis Stewart

Liisa Taponen

Tahmala Thorpe

The University of Akron Athletics