Akron Closes Daytona Beach Classic Battling Pittsburgh

Akron (1-3) vs. Pittsburgh (2-4)
Saturday, Nov. 25
Ocean Center
Daytona Beach, Fla. • 1:15 p.m.

Series History: Pittsburgh leads 3-0
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team will square off versus Pittsburgh in the finale of the Daytona Beach Classic on Saturday (Nov. 25). The 1:15 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on FloSports as well as on 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan.

HEAD COACHES
Pittsburgh: Troy Verdi (Keane State, 1996), Overall Record: 205-158 (13th Season), Record at Pitt: 2-4 (First Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 1-3 (First Season), Record at Akron: 1-3 (First Season)

SCOUTING PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh enters its showdown versus Akron on Saturday (Nov. 25) at 2-4 on the campaign following an 88-57 victory over Northern Kentucky on Friday (Nov. 24).

A pair of Panthers are recording double-digit performances on the campaign as senior Liatu King and sophomore Aislin Malcolm are averaging 19.5 and 10.7 points per contest. King is pulling down a team-best 11.8 rebounds per game. As a unit, Pittsburgh is registering 65.3 points, 43.3 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.2 blocks per tilt.

Individually, King ranks first in the NCAA in double-doubles (4), second in rebounds (71), seventh in rebounding (11.8), ninth in offensive rebounding (4.7), 22nd in defensive rebounding (7.2), 28th in blocks (11), 38th in blocks per contest (1.83) and 41st in minutes per game (35.6).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Pittsburgh are meeting for the fourth time in program history, with the Panthers owning a 3-0 series edge. In the last meeting, Pittsburgh earned a 74-55 triumph at the JAR on Nov. 29, 2006.

BASS NAMED MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Akron's junior F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) was recognized by the Mid-American Conference for the second consecutive week as its Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

Bass turned in a strong outing in the Zips' 63-58 overtime victory at Robert Morris on Nov. 15 registering a 22-point and career-high 19 rebound performance, while adding two blocks and a pair of assists. She posted 10 points and 10 rebounds in the second half and overtime to fuel Akron's victory. She scored nine of the Zips' final 15 points in regulation, including a pair of free throws with 20 second left in regulation to tie the game at 55. The outing marked her second double-double of the season.

ZIP TIDBITS
• The 2023-24 season marks the 50th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
• Akron connected on a season-high 46 percent of its shots versus Wichita State going 23-of-50 from the field.
• Reagan Bass enters action versus Pittsburgh having amassed 908 career points, to go along with 442 career rebounds. She has scored in doubles figures in 30 of Akron's last 34 games, while recording double-digit rebounds 10 times over the same span.
• Reagan Bass is the lone player in NCAA Division I women's basketball to average 20.0 points and 14.0 rebounds per game this season as she comes into action against Pittsburgh recording 20.8 points and 14.0 rebounds per outing. Her three doubles-doubles rank eighth nationally.
• Reagan Bass is rated second in the NCAA in rebounding (14.0), fourth in defensive rebounding (9.5), eighth in double-doubles (3), 12th in minutes played (37.7), 15th in offensive rebounding (4.5) and 37th in points per game (20.8).
• As a team, Akron is ranked 19th in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.796).
• The Zips posted 10 career-high marks against Wichita State.
• Four different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Reagan Bass (3) and Alexus Mobley (3). They are joined by Morgan Haney (2) and Lanae Riley (2).
• Reagan Bass, Alexis Stewart, Zakia Rasheed and Tahmala Thorpe have appeared in 60, 56, 47 and 32 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's four games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .460 (Wichita State), .439 (Southern Miss), .408 (Oakland), 30 percent: .381 (Robert Morris), 20 percent: NA

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' four games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .478 (Southern Miss), .468 (Oakland), 30 percent: .364 (Wichita State), .318 (Robert Morris), 20 percent: NA.

INSIDE THE PAINT
Akron have once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 38.0 points per game for 152 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).

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 hosts Tennessee State in a 2 p.m. matinee affair at James A. Rhodes Arena on Dec. 3.

Akron Closes Daytona Beach Classic Battling Pittsburgh

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Players Mentioned

Reagan Bass

Morgan Haney

Alexus Mobley

Zakia Rasheed

Lanae Riley

Alexis Stewart

Tahmala Thorpe

The University of Akron Athletics