Akron Set to Take On Tennessee State

Friday, November 22

Nashville, Tenn.

8:00 PM ET

University of Akron

Tennessee State

November 21 | Women's Basketball

Akron (2-2) at Tennessee State (2-3)
Friday, Nov. 22
Gentry Center
Nashville, Tenn.

Series History: Akron leads 1-0
Live Stream: None
Television: None
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com
Live Radio: www.GoZips.com

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team travels to Nashville, Tenn., for a showdown at Tennessee State on Friday (Nov. 22). The 8 p.m. ET game with the Tigers will air only on GoZips.com with Jim Clark on the radio call.

HEAD COACHES
Tennessee State: Candice Dupree (Temple, 2006), Overall Record: 2-3 (First Season), Record at Tennessee State: 2-3 (First Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 13-19 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 13-19 (Second Season)

SCOUTING TENNESSEE STATE
Tennessee State enters action against Akron on Friday (Nov. 22) at 2-3 on the campaign following a 76-58 setback at Dayton on Sunday (Nov. 17).

The trio of redshirt senior Sanaa' St. Andre, senior Saniah Parker and freshman Somah Kamara are leading the Tigers averaging 12.6, 11.8 and 11.4 points, respectively. Senior Lyric Cole is pulling down a team-best 7.6 rebounds per contest.

As a team, Tennessee State is recording 65.2 points, 39.6 rebounds, 12. steals, 10.2 assists and 3.2 blocks per tilt.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Tennessee State are meeting for the second time in program history. A year ago, the Zips posted a 55-49 victory past the Tigers on Dec. 3, 2023, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (DEC. 3, 2023 – AKRON, OHIO)
Reagan Bass collected a career-best 33 points to help lead the Zips past Tennessee State, 55-49, at James A. Rhodes Arena on Dec. 3, 2023.

Bass notched a double-double with 33 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Zips. Senior Alexus Mobley (Indianapolis, Ind.) added four points and two steals, while Morgan Haney helped out with a six-point and seven-rebound performance.

Akron did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 16 boards that resulted in 15 second-chance points.

Akron forced 18 Tennessee State turnovers and turned those takeaways into 13 points on the other end of the floor. Bass' three steals led the way for Akron.

AKRON EARNS 85-74 WIN OVER CLEVELAND STATE
Akron rallied from a third-quarter deficit to register a come-from-behind 85-74 victory over Cleveland State on Saturday (Nov. 16) at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The Zips had four players score in double figures, led by sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario), who had a career-high 20 points. Junior Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) added 18 points, Alexus Mobley chipped in as well with 14 points and two steals off of the bench, while redshirt senior Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.) added 12 points.

Akron shared the ball well racking up 17 assists. Individually, senior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) led the way for the Zips with four assists.

The Akron defense forced 17 Cleveland State turnovers, while committing a season-low 10. Those takeaways turned into 24 points on the offensive end of the floor. Brown's three steals led the way individually for the Zips.

ZIP TIDBITS
• On the strength of a season-best .492 shooting mark, the Zips registered season-high marks in field goals made (32), three pointers (9), assists (17) and steals (7) versus Cleveland State (Nov. 16).
• Led by a career-best 20 points from Teniesha Clarke, four Zips posted double-figure scoring efforts against Cleveland State as Kam'Ren Rhodes, Alexus Mobley and Shelbee Brown scored 18, 14 and 12 points, respectively.
• Akron recorded seven career-best marks against Cleveland State (Nov. 16).
• Shelbee Brown pulled down a career-best and game-high 14 rebounds versus Binghamton.
• Freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) equaled a career-best in rebounding pulling down four at Binghamton.
• Kam'Ren Rhodes, junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) and Ni'Rah Clark tallied career-high scoring efforts of 25, 14 and four points, respectively, against Georgia State.
• The Zips parlayed a 21-0 run over the second and third quarters to erase a 15-point first-half deficit en route to victory.
• Akron registered 13 career-high marks in the squad's 81-73 triumph past Georgia State (Nov. 4).
• Alexus Mobley poured in 13 points against Georgia State to go along with eight rebounds and a game- and career-high three blocks.
• Individually, Shelbee Brown is ranked 20th in the NCAA in double-doubles (2) and defensive rebounding (7.8) and 27th in rebounding (10.5), while Maddie Vejsicky is 21st in three-point percentage (.556) and Kam'Ren Rhodes is 27th in minutes played (36.1).
• The 2024-25 season marks the 51st season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
• Akron tied Marist and Tennessee State for the D1 lead in overtime games playing in five last season. The five overtime contests are the most in a single season in program history.
• The Zips recorded 55 career-high marks last season in point, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and minutes played.
• The Zips own season-high marks in scoring (88-GSU), field goals made (32-CSU), triples (9-CSU), offensive rebounds (14-GSU), defensive rebounds (33-GSU), rebounds (47-GSU), assists (17-CSU), steals (7-CSU) and blocks (4-GSU).
• Six different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led Shelbee Brown (3), Teniesha Clarke (3), Alexus Mobley (3), Kam'Ren Rhodes (2), junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) (2) and Zakia Rasheed (1).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 96 of its last 125 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high nine triples in an 85-74 victory over Cleveland State (Nov. 16).

AKRON UNVEILS TALENTED SEVEN-MEMBER NEWCOMER CLASS
Akron under the leadership of second-year head coach Ryan Gensler, boast a talented seven-member newcomer class for 2024.

Donning the Akron uniform this fall will be freshmen Kyara Bakker (Leiderdorp, Netherlands) and Ni'Rah Clark, redshirt senior Emily Hall (Phoenix, N.Y.), junior Caroline Lyles (Argyle, Texas), Kam'Ren Rhodes, Maddie Vejsicky and sophomore Ella Wigal (Granville, Ohio).

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: .492 (Cleveland State), 30 percent: .377 (Georgia State), .361 (Robert Morris), .333 (Binghamton).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' four games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .NA, 40 percent: .491 Cleveland State, .469 (Robert Morris), .414 (Binghamton), 30 percent: .361 (Georgia State), 20 percent: NA.

MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Zips under second-year head coach Ryan Gensler, were picked to finish ninth as a team behind preseason league and tournament favorite preseason favorite Ball State (10 first-place votes and 120 points). The Cardinals were followed by Kent State (2 first-place votes and 104 points), Buffalo (98), Bowling Green (96), Toledo (82), Northern Illinois (64), Ohio (64), Miami (44), Akron (43), Western Michigan (34), Eastern Michigan (23) and Central Michigan (20).

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 19 seasons. When playing on its home court, Akron owns a 135-89 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are 2-1 in the JAR, averaging 73.0 points per tilt and connecting on more than 41 percent (.413) of their attempts from the field, while recording 36.3 rebounds, 13.3 assists, 5.7 steals and 3.3 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to Louisville, Ky., to battle Bellarmine on Sunday (Nov. 24) at 2 p.m.