Akron Hosts Central Michigan

Wednesday, January 10

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Central Michigan

January 09 | Women's Basketball

Akron (5-7, 0-2 MAC) vs. Central Michigan (1-10, 0-2 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 10
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: Central Michigan Leads 27-20
Live Stream: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Television: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com
Live Radio: www.GoZips.com

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team concludes a two-game homestand welcoming Central Michigan to James A. Rhodes Arena on Wednesday (Jan. 10). The 7 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps on the call as well as on 640 WHLO AM with Bill Morgan.

HEAD COACHES
Central Michigan: Kristin Haynie (Michigan State, 2005), Overall Record: 1-10 (First Season), Record at CMU: 1-10 (First Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 5-7 (First Season), Record at Akron: 5-7 (First Season)

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan enters action against Akron on Wednesday (Jan. 10) at 1-10 on the campaign, including 0-2 in the Mid-American Conference, following a 77-69 setback versus Buffalo on Saturday (Jan. 6).

The Chippewas are led by freshman Tamara Ortiz, who is averaging a team-best 10.8 points per game, while senior Nadege Jean is pulling down a team-high 7.5 rebounds per contest. As a team, Central Michigan is recording 64.6 points, 43.2 rebounds, 11.1 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.6 blocks per tilt.

As a team, the Chippewas are rated 22nd in the NCAA in offensive rebounds (15.4), 28th in rebounds per game (43.18) and 38th in blocks per contest (4.6).

The game will mark a reunion for a pair of Central Michigan coaches as both Chelsie Butler and Jared Roane were members of the Zips' staff under former head coach Jodi Kest.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Central Michigan are meeting for the 48th time in program history. The Chippewas lead the series, 27-20, after the Zips dealt the Chippewas a 80-65 setback on Jan. 18, 2023 at James A. Rhodes Arena followed by a 61-54 victory at Central Michigan on March 4, 2023 in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (MARCH 4, 2023 – MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH.)
Akron parlayed a 21-8 run over the final 10 minutes to earn a come-from-behind 61-54 triumph at Central Michigan on March 4, 2023, in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

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.

BASS TURNING IN SPECIAL YEAR FOR AKRON
Reagan Bass is in the midst of a dominant campaign for the Zips this season as she is one of two players in NCAA Division I women's basketball to average 19.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game this season as she comes into action against Central Michigan recording 19.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per outing. Her eight doubles-doubles rank 17th nationally.

She became the 21st Zip to reach the 1,000-point plateau with a 22-point effort versus Bellarmine (Dec. 21). She then collected her 500th career rebound versus Ohio (Jan. 3). She has scored in doubles figures in 38 of Akron's last 42 games, while recording double-digit rebounds 15 times over the same span.

Bass is the only player in the Mid-American Conference to average a double-double scoring 19.8 points to go along with a conference-high 11.7 rebounds per contest. She also headlines the MAC in defensive rebounding (7.9), minutes played (37.1) and offensive rebounding (3.8), while rating second in scoring (19.8), third in field goal percentage (.478), sixth in blocked shots (0.8) and seventh in free throw percentage (.808). In league-only affairs, she is rated first in the MAC in rebounding (13.5) and defensive rebounding (9.0), second in offensive rebounding (4.50) and seventh in scoring (16.5).

She is rated third in the NCAA in rebounding (11.7), fourth in free throw attempts (99) and in minutes played (37.24), fifth in free throws made (80), 10th in defensive rebounding (7.9), 17th in double-doubles (8), 22nd in offensive rebounding (3.8), 26th in points per game (19.8) and 34th in rebounds (140).

ZIP TIDBITS
• The 2023-24 season marks the 50th season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
• Akron is seeking its fifth straight victory over Central Michigan when the two teams meet on Wednesday (Jan. 10).
• Akron is tied with San Diego State for the D1 lead in overtime games having played in four this season. The four overtime contests are tied with Akron's 2015-16 team for most in a single season in program history. The NCAA record for overtime games in a season is seven, as Houston played in seven during the 2018-19 campaign.
• Reagan Bass is averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in four career games against Central Michigan, while Alexis Stewart is posting 3.6 points per tilt in five contests versus the Chippewas.
• Akron recorded four career-high marks against both Ball State (Jan. 6) and Ohio (Jan. 3).
• The Zips shined in the classroom during the fall semester as Akron recorded a 3.343 team GPA, including three Zips turning in a perfect 4.0 GPA.
• The Zips have recorded 47 career-high marks this season in point, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and minutes played.
• Reagan Bass enters action versus Central Michigan having amassed 1,063 career points, to go along with 526 career rebounds. She has scored in doubles figures in 38 of Akron's last 42 games, while recording double-digit rebounds 15 times over the same span.
• Reagan Bass became the 21st Zip to reach the 1,000-point milestone and first since Jordyn Dawson during the 2021-22 campaign with a 22-point performance versus Bellarmine (Dec. 21).
• Reagan Bass is ranked second in the Akron career record book in field goal percentage (.519), third in free throw percentage (.781), fourth in points per game (15.6), fifth in free throws made (314), sixth in free throws attempted (402), eighth in rebounds per game (7.7) and ninth in blocked shots (74).
• 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 (88-BELL), field goals made (29-OAK | PITT | BELL), triples (14-BELL), offensive rebounds (19-RMU | BELL), defensive rebounds (34-OAK), rebounds (49-OAK | RMU), assists (18-OAK | PITT), steals (11-CAN) and blocks (5-RMU | CSU | CAN).
• Seven different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Reagan Bass (11), Morgan Haney (6), Alexus Mobley (4), Lanae Riley (4), Kaia Woods (4), Zakia Rasheed (2) and Teniesha Clarke (1).
• The 19-rebound effort from Reagan Bass against Robert Morris (Nov. 15) represented not only a career-high mark, but also the highest single-game effort for a Zip since Susan Dobson pulled down 19 rebounds versus Malone on Dec. 3, 1984.
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 80 of its last 105 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high 14 triples in an 88-65 victory over Bellarmine (Dec. 21, 2023).
• Reagan Bass, Alexis Stewart, Zakia Rasheed and Tahmala Thorpe have appeared in 68, 60, 55 and 35 career games, respectively, for the Zips. Bass is Akron's leading active scorer averaging 15.6 points and 7.7 rebounds.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 12 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .460 (Pittsburgh), .460 (Wichita State), .453 (Bellarmine), .439 (Southern Miss), .414 (Ball State-1), .408 (Oakland), .404 (Ohio-1), 30 percent: .381 (Robert Morris), .368 (Youngstown State), .339 (Cleveland State), .333 (Canisius), .320 (Tennessee State), 20 percent: NA

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 12 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .500 (Pittsburgh), 40 percent: .478 (Southern Miss), .468 (Oakland), .424 (Bellarmine), .410 (Cleveland State), 30 percent: .393 (Ohio-1), .393 (Tennessee State), .387 (Ball State-1), .364 (Wichita State), .356 (Youngstown State), .345 (Canisius), .318 (Robert Morris), 20 percent: NA.

INSIDE THE PAINT
Akron have once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 31.3 points per game for 376 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 130-82 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are 2-2 in the JAR, averaging 73.5 points per tilt and connecting on 40 percent (.403) of their attempts from the field, while recording 43.3 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 5.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. Individually, Reagan Bass and Morgan Haney are averaging double figures inside James A. Rhodes Arena recording 26.0 and 14.3 points per game.

UP NEXT
Akron visits Buffalo for a 2 p.m. tilt on Saturday (Jan. 13).