Eastern Michigan Up Next for Akron Women's Basketball

Wednesday, February 15

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Eastern Michigan

Eastern Michigan Up Next for Akron Women's Basketball

February 14 | Women's Basketball

Akron (14-9, 5-7 MAC) vs. Eastern Michigan (13-10, 5-7 MAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 15
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 28-19
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball entertains Eastern Michigan in a midweek Mid-American Conference showdown on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The 7 p.m. tilt with the Eagles 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
Eastern Michigan: Fred Castro (Oklahoma, 2004), Overall Record: 77-117 (Seventh Season), Record at Eastern Michigan: 77-117 (Seventh Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall Record: 69-65 (Fifth Season), Record at Akron: 69-65 (Fifth Season)

SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
Eastern Michigan enters action versus Akron on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 13-10 on the campaign, including a 5-7 record in the Mid-American Conference, following a 68-58 victory over Western Michigan on Feb. 11.

The Eagles are led by the duo of redshirt junior F Ce'Nara Skanes and sophomore G Lachelle Austin, who are averaging 13.5 and 12.4 points per game, respectively, with Skanes pulling down a team-best 8.4 rebounds per contest. As a unit, Eastern Michigan is recording 64.1 points, 38.6 rebounds, 12.0 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.9 blocks per game.

As a team, the Eagles are ranked 20th in the NCAA in blocks per game (4.9). Individually, sophomore C Tayra Eke is rated 28th in the NCAA in blocks per outing (1.96) and blocks (45).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Eastern Michigan are meeting for the 48th time in program history. The Zips lead the series, 28-19, after the Zips registered a 60-43 victory on Jan. 11, 2022 in Ypsilanti, Mich.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (JAN. 11, 2023 - YPSILANTI, MICH.)
A strong defensive team effort parlayed with an 18-point and 13-rebound performance from sophomore F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio) propelled Akron to a come-from-behind 60-43 triumph at Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

Bass posted her third double double of the season to help extend the Zips' winning streak to seven straight.

Senior G Dominique Camp (Dayton, Ohio) and redshirt junior G Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) joined Bass scoring in double figures for Akron as the duo registered 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Ce'Nara Skanes directed the Eagles' offensive efforts on the evening with a 13-point and 15-rebound effort.

The Zips finished the contest shooting 31.5 percent from the field, while going 22-of-26 at the free throw line, including a 12-of-14 effort from Bass, to secure the decision. Akron's defensive pressure forced the Eagles into 20 turnovers, while Eastern Michigan completed the game hitting at a .293 clip from the field.

Akron outrebounded Eastern Michigan on the night, 44-39, including 32-26 on the defensive glass.

AKRON FOR NAKON GAME
For the fifth consecutive season, Akron women's basketball team partnered with the Nakon Foundation to host the 'Akron for Nakon' game, on Feb. 11, as Akron hosted Ball State.

A silent auction was held at the game where survivors, and those suffering from breast cancer, were invited as VIPs to the game. T-shirts were sold with all the proceeds benefiting the Nakon Foundation.

BALL STATE RALLIES PAST AKRON
A fourth-quarter rally fell just short for Akron, who pushed Mid-American Conference co-leader Ball State to the limit before falling, 61-56, on Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Dominique Camp led the Zips with 13 points and a game-high five assists, while Reagan Bass recorded her team-leading sixth double double of the season with a 10-point and 10-rebound performance. Senior F Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) added 12 points for Akron to go along with a 10-point and seven-rebound effort from Layne Ferrell.

The Zips finished the game shooting 36.7 percent from the field connecting at a .353 clip en route to draining six three pointers on the afternoon.

Akron's defensive efforts limited Ball State, who came into the contest shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and hitting 8.4 triples per outing, to a .382 shooting mark and a trio of three pointers. Additionally, the Cardinals, who average a league-best 78.7 points per outing, were limited to their lowest point output of the season in league play.

Anna Clephane topped Ball State with 26 points, while Marie Kiefer had 10 for the visitors.

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 14 of 23 contests and 60 points or less in nine games.

Akron leads the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage defense (.378) and defensive rebounding (29.5), while ranking second in three point defense (.290) and blocked shots (4.57), third in rebounding (38.2) and fourth in scoring defense (64.0).

Reagan Bass is fifth (8.0) in the MAC in overall rebounding, while Bass is ranked sixth (8.8) in conference-only rebounding.

In conference-only games, Akron is rated first in the league in blocked shots (4.25) and defensive rebounding (29.1), while ranking second in field goal percentage defense (.395), overall rebounding (37.3) and three point defense (.294).

Akron is ranked 19th in the NCAA in defensive rebounds (29.5) and 30th in blocks per game (4.6).

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron is seeking its fourth straight victory over Eastern Michigan when the two teams meet on Wednesday, Feb. 15 as the Zips have won five of their last six encounters with the Eagles.
• Akron owns a 13-8 overall record at home versus Eastern Michigan, including 2-1 with head coach Melissa Jackson on the Zips' sideline.
• Under Jackson, Akron averages 63.2 points in nine contests against Eastern Michigan.
• Reagan Bass against Northern Illinois on Feb. 8 joined Jordyn Dawson (2X) as the only Zips players since 2009-10 to earn 10+ Points, 5+ Rebounds, 5+ Assists, and 5+ Steals in a single game. Her five assists and five steals represented career-high marks.
• 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. 7 Ball State, No. 8 Toledo, No. 23 Kent State, Northern Illinois (RV) and Akron (RV).
• 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.
• Akron head coach Melissa Jackson owns a 69-65 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 Eastern Michigan having amassed 707 career points, to go along with 338 career rebounds.
• Layne Ferrell surpassed the 500-point plateau with a five-point effort against Buffalo on Jan. 28 and has amassed 524 career points, while Rachel Martindale reached the 500-point mark versus Western Michigan on Feb. 4 and enters play against Eastern Michigan having recorded 538 points.
• Dominique Camp surpassed 200 career assists at Toledo on Jan. 21 after dropping seven dimes and she comes into action against Eastern Michigan having registered 221 career assists.
• Akron is ranked 19th in the NCAA in defensive rebounds (29.5), 25th in free throws made per contest (15.04), 26th in free throw percentage (.772), 30th in blocks per game (4.6) and 35th in assists per outing (16.2). Individually, Dominique Camp ranks 19th in steals per game (2.83) and 22nd in steals (65), while Reagan Bass is 12th in free throw attempts (164) and free throws made (127) and Rachel Martindale 45th in three point attempts (168).
• Rachel Martindale has recorded 151 career three pointers. She enters action against Eastern Michigan sixth on the all-time career list at Akron. She is 24 triples shy of Hanna Luburgh (175 | 2010-14) for fifth place. All but 18 of her 169 career field goals have come from beyond the arc.
• Rachel Martindale is sixth in program history with 443 career three-point attempts. She is 43 attempts shy of surpassing Hanna Luburgh (484 | 2010-14) for fifth place.
• Rachel Martindale's .341 shooting percentage (151-443) from beyond the arc is the seventh-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 21 contests this year. She was joined by Dominique Camp (13), Layne Ferrell (12), Molly Neitzel (12), Rachel Martindale (6), Alexis Stewart (2), Faith Stinson (2), freshman F Aila Miller (Berlin, Ohio) (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 55-26 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 10-4 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 32-22 mark, including an 3-4 ledger this season.
• Akron has connected on five or more three pointers in 18 of its 23 games this season, and 71 of its last 86 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 87, 87, 73, 49, 49 and 37 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 14.4 points and 6.9 rebounds. Martindale is the Zips' active leader in three-point shooting connecting on 34.1 percent of her attempts.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 23 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: .481 (Northern Illinois), .462 (Western Michigan), .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), .380 (Kent State-1), .377 (Toledo-1), .373 (Ball State-1), .367 (Ball State-2), .365 (Cleveland State), .315 (Eastern Michigan-1), 20 percent: NA

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 23 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .517 (Ball State-1), .508 (Western Michigan), .500 (Northern Illinois), 40 percent: .456 (Toledo-1), .435 (Coppin State), .431 (Northern Kentucky), .400 (Cleveland State), 30 percent: .391 (Miami-1), .388 (Ohio), .386 (Dayton), .383 (Ball State-2), .379 (Oakland), .373 (Central Michigan-1), .364 (Bowling Green), .357 (Notre Dame College), .354 (Stetson), .329 (Bethune-Cookman) .313 (Robert Morris), .311 (Youngstown State), .309 (Kent State-1), 20 percent: .293 (Eastern Michigan-1), .266 (Buffalo-1), .250 (Point Park).

INSIDE THE PAINT
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint through 23 games this season averaging 29.9 points per contest for 688 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 126-79 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are 9-4 in the JAR, averaging 72.1 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 44 percent (.438) of their attempts from the field, while recording 40.3 rebounds, 16.7 assists, 8.3 steals and 4.5 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 16.9, 12.0, 11.3 and 10.2 points per game, respectively.

UP NEXT
Akron renews its rivalry with Kent State as the Zips will travel to Kent, Ohio, to battle the Golden Flashes in a 2 p.m. matinee affair on Saturday, Feb. 18.