Akron Set to Open MAC Tournament Play Battling Ball State

Wednesday, March 8

Cleveland, Ohio

30 Minutes After Game 3 (Approx 6 pm)

University of Akron

Ball State

Akron Set to Open MAC Tournament Play Battling Ball State

March 07 | Women's Basketball

Akron (17-12) vs. Ball State (24-7)
Wednesday, March 8
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Cleveland, Ohio • 6:00 p.m. (Approximately) or 30 minutes after conclusion of Game Three

Series History: Ball State leads 27-19
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team is set to commence its postseason run as the sixth-seeded Zips will square off versus third-seeded Ball State in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Wednesday, March 8 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland. The finale of four games on the day will tip off 30 minutes after the finale of game three (approx. 6 p.m.) and will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Dave Bacon and Lori Bodnar calling the game as well as on WHLO 640 AM with Bill Morgan calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Ball State: Brady Sallee (Thomas More, 1993), Overall Record: 343-249 (19th Season), Record at Ball State: 207-139 (11th Season)
Akron: Melissa Jackson (Richmond, 2004), Overall Record: 72-68 (Fifth Season), Record at Akron: 72-68 (Fifth Season)

SCOUTING BALL STATE
Ball State comes into action against Akron on Wednesday, March 8, at 24-7 on the campaign, including a 14-4 record in the Mid-American Conference, following a 77-68 win at Miami on March 4.

The Cardinals are led by sophomore F Ally Becki, who is averaging team-high marks in rebounding (5.9), assists (5.1) and steals (1.7), while redshirt senior G Anna Clephane leads Ball State in scoring at 15.1 points per contest. As a unit, the Cardinals are recording 77.7 points, 36.4 rebounds, 16.4 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.9 blocks per game.

As a team, Ball State is ranked 14th in the NCAA in field goal percentage (.467), 19th in scoring offense (77.7), 23rd in assist/turnover ratio (1.19), 27th in assists per contest (16.4), 31st in triples per game (8.2), 32nd in scoring margin (12.2), 37th in winning percentage (.774), 46th in turnover margin (3.65), 47th in three point percentage (.346) and 49th in three pointers attempted per tilt (23.6).

Individually, Becki is rated 11th in the NCAA in assist/turnover ratio (2.52), 26th in assists per game (5.1) and 30th in assists (154), while senior G Thelma Dis Agustsdottir is ranked ninth in three pointers (92), 11th in triples per game (2.97), 18th in three point percentage (.422) and 27th in three point attempts (218).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Ball State are meeting for the 47th time in program history. The Cardinals lead the series, 27-19, following an 89-66 triumph on Jan. 25 in Muncie, Ind., and a 61-56 decision on Feb. 11 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Akron will be playing in its 37th all-time Mid-American Conference Tournament game when the Zips battle Ball State on Wednesday, March 8, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Akron holds an 12-24 tournament record since 1995, including victories in eight of its last 15 tournament tilts.

The Zips own 3-13, 6-6, 2-4 and 1-1 records, respectively, in the tournament's opening round, quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship game.

Akron holds a 2-2 all-time record in tournament action versus the Cardinals with the Zips edging Ball State in the last meeting, 79-68, in the championship game on March 16, 2014.

Akron is playing as the No. 6 seed for the third time in program history owning a 1-2 record.

AKRON MAC TOURNAMENT NOTES
• Five current Zips have garnered playing time in the Mid-American Conference Tournament led by the trio of sophomore Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio), redshirt junior Layne Ferrell (Franklin, Ohio) and senior Rachel Martindale (Pittsburgh, Pa.), who will be playing in their third tournament contests, versus Ball State.
• Reagan Bass averages a team-best 14.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in tournament play, while Layne Ferrell, Rachel Martindale and senior Molly Neitzel (Rocky River, Ohio) are registering 7.0, 6.5 and 6.0 tallies, respectively.
• Reagan Bass, Layne Ferrell, Rachel Martindale and Molly Neitzel average 4.5, 3.5, 3.0 and 2.0 rebounds, respectively, in two, two, two and one career tournament tilts.
• The Zips have reached the tournament quarterfinal round for the second consecutive season.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (FEB. 11, 2023 - AKRON, OHIO)
A fourth-quarter rally fell just short for Akron, who pushed Ball State to the limit before falling, 61-56, on Feb. 11, 2023 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Senior G Dominique Camp (Dayton, Ohio) 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. Molly Neitzel 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.

AKRON RALLIES PAST CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Akron parlayed a 21-8 run over the final 10 minutes to punch the Zips' ticket to the Mid-American Conference Tournament with a come-from-behind 61-54 triumph at Central Michigan on March 4.

Reagan Bass netted 12 of her team-high 16 points in the second half to go along with a seven-rebound tilt to pace four Zips finishing with double-digit scoring efforts.

She was joined by 13-, 12- and 11-point outings from Layne Ferrell, Molly Neitzel and Dominique Camp.

The Zips shot nearly 62 percent (.615) in the fourth quarter en route to finishing the afternoon connecting at a. 463 clip from the field, while limiting the Chippewas to a 39.1 percent shooting mark.

BASS AND CAMP EARN 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 Tuesday, March 7.

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

Bass has started all 29 of the Zips' games this season en route to earning First-Team All-MAC accolades for the initial time on the strength of posting team-high marks in scoring (16.9), rebounding (7.8), field goal percentage (.505), free throws made (147) amd free throws attempted (190), while ranking second in blocks (33), fourth in assists (44) and fifth in steals (25). She has scored in double figures in 26 of 29 contests this season, including tallying 15 or more points in 20 games, and has led the Zips in scoring and rebounding 16 times apiece. In league-only affairs, she averaged 16.3 points and 8.1 rebounds, while shooting 49 percent from the field.

Bass is 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.

Appearing in all 29 games for the Zips this season, including 28 starts, Camp has registered 10.6 points, 3.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds and a team-best 2.6 steals per contest. Her 75 steals this season rank as the third-best single-season effort in program history and represent the No. 2 mark in the MAC this year. She has paced the Zips in steals 19 times on the campaign, while directing Akron in assists in 14 games.

Camp has helped anchor an Akron defensive unit that leads the league in defensive rebounding (28.8) and three-point defense (.287), while ranking second in blocked shots (4.17), field goal percentage defense (.391) and fourth in rebounding (37.0).

AKRON QUARTET HONORED ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips' contest versus Miami on Feb. 25, marked the final regular season home games in the careers of seniors Dominique Camp, Rachel Martindale and Molly Neitzel along with redshirt junior Layne Ferrell.

Camp has appeared in all 29 games this season in her lone year at Akron, including 28 starts, averaging 10.6 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds per contest.

A trio of four-year members of the Akron women's basketball program, Ferrell, Martindale and Neitzel have appeared in 79, 93 and 93 games as Zips, respectively, including 62, 32 and 36 starts. The threesome has averaged 7.5, 6.1 and 6.2 points per outing entering play against Ball State en route to netting 591, 569 and 581 career points. Neitzel, Ferrell and Martindale have pulled down 331, 319 and 149 career rebounds.

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 16 of 29 contests and 60 points or less in 10 games.

Akron leads the Mid-American Conference in defensive rebounding (28.8) and three point defense (.287), while ranking second in blocked shots (4.17), field goal percentage defense (.391) and fourth in rebounding (37.0).

Reagan Bass is fifth (7.8) in the MAC in overall rebounding, while Bass is ranked fifth (8.1) in conference-only rebounding.

In conference-only games, Akron rated first in the league in defensive rebounding (28.1) and three point defense (.2880), while ranking second in blocked shots (3.72) and third in field goal percentage defense (.410).

Akron is ranked 22nd in the NCAA in defensive rebounds (28.8) and 49th in blocks per game (4.2).

ZIP TIDBITS
• With her 16-point outing against Central Michigan on March 4, Reagan Bass surpassed the 800-point plateau at Akron, becoming the fastest Zip to reach that scoring benchmark in her 55th career contest.
• The Zips are 3-4 versus Ball State under fifth-year Akron head coach Melissa Jackson with the Zips averaging 71.0 per contest, while holding the Cardinals to 71.1 tallies per tilt.
• The 15-rebound effort from Reagan Bass against Buffalo represented not only a career-high mark, but also the highest single-game effort for a Zip since Jordyn Dawson pulled down 18 rebounds versus Eastern Michigan on Jan. 26, 2022.
• Molly Neitzel surpassed 500 career points against Eastern Michigan on Feb. 15 on the strength of a then career-high 22-point outing. She enters play versus Ball State with 581 career points to go along with 331 career rebounds.
• Four of Akron's five starters have surpassed the career 500-point plateau this season with Dominique Camp five points shy of joining this exclusive club. Reagan Bass, Layne Ferrell, Molly Neitzel and Rachel Martindale have amassed 801, 591, 581 and 569 career points, respectively.
• Reagan Bass ranks fifth in the Zips' single-season record book for free throws made (147) and sixth in free throws attempted (190).
• Molly Neitzel's 34 blocks rank seventh on the single-season record book at Akron, while Reagan Bass is rated seventh with 33 blocks this season.
• Dominique Camp has posted 75 steals this season, the third-best single-season mark in program history.
• 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 has held 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 72-68 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 nine 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 six 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), Central Michigan (-10 | W, 61-54) and Stetson (-10 | W, 58-50 | Dec. 18).
• Reagan Bass enters action versus Ball State having amassed 801 career points, to go along with 379 career rebounds. Layne Ferrell surpassed the 500-point plateau with a five-point effort against Buffalo on Jan. 28 and has amassed 591 career points, while Rachel Martindale reached the 500-point mark versus Western Michigan on Feb. 4 and enters play against Ball State having recorded 569 points.
• Dominique Camp surpassed 200 career assists at Toledo on Jan. 21 after dropping seven dimes and she comes into action against Ball State having registered 246 career assists.
• Akron is ranked 22nd in the NCAA in defensive rebounds (28.8), 38th in assists per outing (15.8), 36th in free throw percentage (.768) and 49th in free throws made per contest (14.39) and in blocks per game (4.2). Individually, Dominique Camp ranks 24th in steals (75) and 26th in steals per game (2.59), while Reagan Bass is 22nd in free throw attempts (190) and 23rd in free throws made (147).
• Rachel Martindale has recorded 158 career three pointers. She enters action against Ball State sixth on the all-time career list at Akron. She is 17 triples shy of Hanna Luburgh (175 | 2010-14) for fifth place. All but 21 of her 179 career field goals have come from beyond the arc.
• Rachel Martindale is sixth in program history with 467 career three-point attempts. She is 19 attempts shy of surpassing Hanna Luburgh (484 | 2010-14) for fifth place.
• Rachel Martindale's .338 shooting percentage (158-467) from beyond the arc is the ninth-best mark in program history.
• The Zips are averaging 62.8 points per game in 13 road/neutral contests this season with Akron shooting more than 40 percent (.402) from the field, including a .303 mark from beyond the arc. The duo of Reagan Bass and Molly Neitzel are averaging 16.1 and 10.2 points per tilt.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Reagan Bass tallying 10 or more points in 26 contests this year. She was joined by Molly Neitzel (18), Dominique Camp (17), Layne Ferrell (16), Rachel Martindale (7), junior Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario) (2), Faith Stinson (2), Aila Miller (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 58-27 mark under head coach Melissa Jackson when shooting 40 percent or better from the field, including a 13-5 record this season. When hitting at a 35-percent clip or better from beyond the arc, the Zips maintain a 33-23 mark, including an 4-5 ledger this season.
• Akron has connected on five or more three pointers in 21 of its 29 games this season, and 74 of its last 92 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high 14 triples in an 80-76 setback versus Toledo on Feb. 22, 2023.
• Rachel Martindale, Molly Neitzel, Layne Ferrell, Reagan Bass, Alexis Stewart and Zakia Rasheed have appeared in 93, 93, 79, 55, 55 and 42 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 14.6 points and 6.9 rebounds. Ferrell is the Zips' active leader in three-point shooting connecting on 34.2 percent of her attempts.
• Reagan Bass was honored by the MAC on Jan. 2 as its Women's Basketball Player of the Week.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 29 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .538 (Miami-2), .528 (Dayton), .526 (Point Park), .509 (Buffalo-1), .509 (Oakland), 40 percent: .481 (Northern Illinois), .473 (Toledo-2), .463 (Central Michigan-2), .462 (Western Michigan), .448 (Eastern Michigan-2), .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), .333 (Buffalo-2), .317 (Kent State-2), .315 (Eastern Michigan-1), 20 percent: NA

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 29 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .537 (Kent State-2), .517 (Ball State-1), .508 (Western Michigan), .500 (Northern Illinois), 40 percent: .456 (Toledo-1), .451 (Miami-2), .449 (Toledo-2), .435 (Coppin State), .431 (Northern Kentucky), .415 (Eastern Michigan-2), .400 (Cleveland State), 30 percent: .391 (Central Michigan-2), .391 (Miami-1), .388 (Ohio), .386 (Dayton), .383 (Buffalo-2), .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 29 games this season averaging 29.4 points per contest for 852 total points. The Zips posted a season-best 66 points in the paint in a 101-46 victory over Point Park on Dec. 2.

UP NEXT
A victory by Akron sends the Zips to the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Friday, March 10 against the winner of the No. 2 Bowling Green and No. 7 Eastern Michigan contest.