Akron Set to Square off Against Bellarmine

Sunday, November 24

Louisville, Ky.

2:00 PM

University of Akron

Bellarmine

November 23 | Women's Basketball

Akron (2-3) at Bellarmine (4-2)
Sunday, Nov. 24
Knights Hall
Louisville, Ky.

Series History: Akron leads 1-0
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 continues its weekend road trip with match-up at Bellarmine on Sunday (Nov. 24). The 2 p.m. ET game with the Knights will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as on GoZips.com with Jim Clark on the radio call.

HEAD COACHES
Bellarmine: Chancellor Dugan (Eastern Kentucky, 1982), Overall Record: 495-459 (34th Season), Record at Bellarmine: 175-169 (13th Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 13-20 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 13-20 (Second Season)

SCOUTING BELLARMINE
Bellarmine enters action against Akron on Sunday (Nov. 24) at 4-2 on the campaign following a 79-71 victory over Wright State on Thursday (Nov. 21).

The trio of redshirt seniors Hayley Harrison, Erin Toller and Hope Sivori are leading the Knights averaging 15.5, 12.8 and 12.7 points, respectively. Redshirt senior Skylar Treadwell is pulling down a team-best 6.5 rebounds per contest.

As a team, Bellarmine is recording 82.0 points, 41.0 rebounds, 16.2 assists, 9.8 steals and 3.0 blocks per tilt.

The Knights are ranked 34th in the NCAA in free throws made (16.00), 35th in scoring offense (82.0) and 47th in free throw percentage (.762). Individually, Sivori is rated 21st in total assists (30).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Bellarmine are meeting for the second time in program history. A year ago, the Zips posted an 88-65 victory past the Knights on Dec. 21, 2023, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (DEC. 21, 2023 – AKRON, OHIO)
On the strength of a 22-point and 10-rebound performance from Reagan Bass, the Zips edge Bellarmine, 88-65, on Dec. 21, 2023, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Senior Kaia Woods (Tiffin, Ohio) added 15 points, while Morgan Haney posted 15 points, including five three pointers.

Akron connected on a season-high 14 three pointers in the game, the third-best single-game effort in program history.

Bass pulled down five offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, grabbing 19 boards and turning them into 20 second-chance points.

ZIPS COME UP JUST SHORT AT TENNESSEE STATE, 72-68
Akron dropped a 72-68 non-conference decision at Tennessee State on Friday (Nov. 22).

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio), who had a career-high 15-point and six-rebound performance. Senior Alexus Mobley (Indianapolis, Ind.) added 14 points off the bench and junior Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) chipped in as well with 11 points.

Akron out-rebounded Tennessee State 41-39 in Friday's game, paced by eight boards from redshirt senior Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.). The Zips also collected 13 offensive rebounds and scored 10 second-chance points.

Akron forced 15 Tennessee State turnovers. The Zips turned those takeaways into 17 points on the offensive end of the floor. Junior Lanae Riley (Akron, Ohio) led the way individually with one steal.

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 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. Kam'Ren Rhodes added 18 points, Alexus Mobley chipped in as well with 14 points and two steals off of the bench, while Shelbee Brown 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
• Led by a career-best 15-point and six-rebound performance from Maddie Vejsicky, the Zips recorded six career-high marks at Tennessee State (Nov. 22).
• Freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) equaled a career-best in rebounding pulling down four caroms at Tennessee State.
• 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.
• Kam'Ren Rhodes, Maddie Vejsicky 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 defensive rebounding (7.6), 29th in double-doubles (2) and 39th in rebounding (10.0), while Maddie Vejsicky is 44th in total triples (14), 45th in three-point percentage (.519) and 47th in triples per outing (2.80) and Kam'Ren Rhodes is 25th in minutes played (36.0).
• 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-TSU | CSU) and blocks (6-TSU).
• Six different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led Alexus Mobley (4), Shelbee Brown (3), Teniesha Clarke (3), Kam'Ren Rhodes (3), Maddie Vejsicky (3) and Zakia Rasheed (1).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 97 of its last 126 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 five games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .492 (Cleveland State), 30 percent: .379 (Tennessee State), .377 (Georgia State), .361 (Robert Morris), .333 (Binghamton).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' five games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .NA, 40 percent: .491 Cleveland State, .469 (Robert Morris), .414 (Binghamton), .403 (Tennessee State), 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 Hamilton, N.Y., to battle Iona in the opening game of the Colgate Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday (Nov. 29) at 4 p.m.