Akron Hosts Tennessee State

Akron (2-3) vs. Tennessee State (2-5)
Sunday, Dec. 3
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 2 p.m.

Series History: First Meeting
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Live Radio: www.GoZips.com

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team returns to James A. Rhodes Arena for the first time in nearly a month as the Zips host Tennessee State on Sunday (Dec. 3). The 2 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Jeff Phelps and Jim Clark on the call as well as on 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan.

HEAD COACHES
Tennessee State: Ty Evans (Wisconsin-Whitewater, 1995), Overall Record: 25-64 (Fourth Season), Record at Tennessee State: 25-64 (Fourth Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 2-3 (First Season), Record at Akron: 2-3 (First Season)

SCOUTING TENNESSEE STATE
Tennessee State enters its showdown versus Akron on Sunday (Dec. 3) at 2-5 on the campaign following a 76-52 setback at Cincinnati on Friday (Dec. 1).

The Tigers are led by senior Sanaa' St. Andre, who is averaging 10.5 points per game, while seniors Diamond Cannon and Eboni Williams are pulling down a team-best 4.3 rebounds per contest. As a team, Tennessee State is registering 46.7 points, 30.9 rebounds, 10.7 steals, 6.6 assists and 2.1 blocks per tilt.

The Tigers are ranked 18th in the NCAA in forced turnovers (22.57) and 48th in steals per game (10.7).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Tennessee State are meeting for the first time in program history.

BASS NAMED MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
University of Akron women's basketball junior F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) was recognized by the Mid-American Conference for the third consecutive week as its Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Bass becomes the first Akron player to earn weekly league honors over three straight weeks of a season since the conference awards began during 1981-82 campaign. Additionally, Bass is the initial league player to garner MAC Player of the Week accolades for the initial three weeks of a campaign over the same span.

Bass also becomes the first conference player to be named MAC Player of the Week for three consecutive weeks since Central Michigan's Michaela Kelly captured the honors during the 2019-20 season.

Bass turned in another stellar week for the Zips averaging a team-best 23.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while recording 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.5 blocks per contest. She connected on nearly 53 percent of her shots from the field and at a .750 clip from beyond the arc.

On the season, Bass is averaging 21.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, while shooting nearly 51 percent from the field.

ZIP TIDBITS
• The 2023-24 season marks the 50th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
• Akron leads D1 in overtime games having played in three this season.
• Reagan Bass is the only player in the Mid-American Conference to average a double-double scoring a league-best 21.4 points to go along with a conference-high 12.0 rebounds per contest. She also headlines the MAC in defensive rebounding (8.00), minutes played (38.6) and offensive rebounding (4.0), while rating second in field goal percentage (.506).
• Reagan Bass enters action versus Tennessee State having amassed 932 career points, to go along with 446 career rebounds. She has scored in doubles figures in 31 of Akron's last 35 games, while recording double-digit rebounds 10 times over the same span.
• Reagan Bass is one of two players in NCAA Division I women's basketball to average 20.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game this season as she comes into action against Tennessee State recording 21.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per outing. Her three doubles-doubles rank 24th nationally.
• Junior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) posted a team-leading and career-best four steals versus Pittsburgh (Nov. 25).
• Lanae Riley rejected a team-best and career-high three shots against Wichita State (Nov. 24).
• Akron connected on a season-best 46 percent of its shots in back-to-back games versus Pittsburgh (29-63) and Wichita State (23-50), while making a season-high seven three pointers at a .438 clip against the Panthers.
• The Zips own season-high marks in scoring (87-OAK), field goals made (29-OAK | PITT), triples (7-PITT), offensive rebounds (19-RMU), defensive rebounds (34-OAK), rebounds (49-OAK | RMU), assists (18-OAK | PITT), steals (9-PITT) and blocks (5-RMU).
• Reagan Bass became the first Akron player to earn weekly league Player of the Week honors over three straight weeks of a season since the conference awards began during 1981-82 campaign. Additionally, Bass is the initial league player to garner MAC Player of the Week accolades for the initial three weeks of a campaign over the same span.
• Reagan Bass became the first conference player to be named MAC Player of the Week for three consecutive weeks since Central Michigan's Michaela Kelly captured the honors during the 2019-20 season.
• Reagan Bass is rated second in the NCAA in minutes played (38.6), 10th in defensive rebounding (8.0), 16th in points per game (21.4), 24th in offensive rebounding (4.0) and double-doubles (3).
• The Zips posted eight career-high marks against Pittsburgh.
• Five different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Reagan Bass (4), Alexus Mobley (3), Morgan Haney (3), Lanae Riley (3) and Zakia Rasheed (1).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 77 of its last 98 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high seven triples in an 75-72 victory over Pittsburgh on Nov. 25, 2023.
• Reagan Bass, Alexis Stewart, Zakia Rasheed and Tahmala Thorpe have appeared in 61, 56, 48 and 32 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 15.3 points and 12.3 rebounds.

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

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' five games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .500 (Pittsburgh), 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 36.4 points per game for 182 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 battles Youngstown State in a 6:30 p.m. tilt on Wednesday (Dec. 6).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Reagan Bass

Morgan Haney

Alexus Mobley

Zakia Rasheed

Lanae Riley

Alexis Stewart

Tahmala Thorpe

The University of Akron Athletics