Akron Opens Colgate Thanksgiving Tournament Battling Iona

Friday, November 29

Hamilton, N.Y.

4:00 PM

University of Akron

Iona

Akron Opens Colgate Thanksgiving Tournament Battling Iona

November 28 | Women's Basketball

Akron (2-4) vs Iona (2-4)
Friday, Nov. 29
Cotterell Court
Hamilton, N.Y.

Series History: First Meeting
Live Stream: www.GoZips.com
Television: www.GoZips.com
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com
Live Radio: www.GoZips.com

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team travels to Hamilton, N.Y, for a showdown with Iona as part of the Colgate Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday (Nov. 29). The 4 p.m. tilt with the Gaels will be broadcast on YouTube.com as well as on GoZips.com with Jim Clark calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Iona: Angelika Szumilo (LIU, 2003), Overall Record: 84-68 (Sixth Season), Record at Iona: 12-23 (Second Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 13-22 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 13-22 (Second Season)

SCOUTING IONA
Iona enters action against Akron on Friday (Nov. 29) at 1-4 on the campaign following a 70-51 victory over Wagner on Tuesday (Nov. 26).

The Gaels are led by freshman Destinee Salgado, who is averaging a team-best 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. As a team, Iona is recording 52.2 points, 35.0 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 7.4 steals and 2.4 blocks per tilt.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Iona are meeting for the first time in program history.

ZIPS FALL AT BELLARMINE
Akron dropped a 72-65 decision to Bellarmine on Sunday (Nov. 24) in Louisville, Ky.

The Zips had two players score in double figures, led by senior Alexus Mobley (Indianapolis, Ind.), who had 18 points. Junior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) tacked on a career-high13 points and two blocks, while junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) added nine points and six rebounds.

Akron collected 33 rebounds compared to Bellarmine's 29, led by Vejsicky's six boards. The Zips also put in work on the offensive glass, turning 11 rebounds into 11 second-chance points.

The Akron defense was a problem in Sunday's game, forcing 19 Bellarmine turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 17 points on the other end of the floor. Redshirt senior Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.) led the way individually for the Zips with three steals.

ZIPS COME UP JUST SHORT AT TENNESSEE STATE, 72-68
The University of Akron women's basketball team dropped a 72-68 non-conference decision at Tennessee State on Nov. 22.

The Zips (2-3) had three players score in double figures, led by Maddie Vejsicky, who had a career-high 15-point and six-rebound performance. Alexus Mobley 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 Shelbee Brown. 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.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron recorded nine career-high marks at Bellarmine (Nov. 24) led by a career-best 13 points from Liisa Taponen, while Maddie Vejsicky and Kam'Ren Rhodes equaled career marks pulling down six and four rebounds, respectively.
• Akron is rated third in the Mid-American Conference in blocked shots (3.17), fourth in free throw percentage (.735), three-point percentage (.336) and turnover margin (-0.33) and fifth in scoring defense (69.3).
• Individually, Teniesha Clarke is ranked second in the league in free throw percentage (.917), Kam'Ren Rhodes is third in minutes played (35.8), sixth in free throw percentage (.875) and steals (2.33), seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.00) and ninth in assists (3.17), Shelbee Brown is fourth in rebounding (8.83) and defensive rebounding (6.50), Maddie Vejsicky is fourth in three-point percentage (.531), while Liisa Taponen is eighth in blocked shots (0.83) and 10th in offensive rebounding (2.33).
• 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.
• Led by a career-best 20 points from sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario), 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.
• Individually, Shelbee Brown is ranked 48th in the NCAA in double-doubles (2), while Maddie Vejsicky is 18th in three-point percentage (.531) and 43rd in triples per outing (2.83) and 48th in total triples (17) and Kam'Ren Rhodes is 29th in minutes played (35.8).
• The 2024-25 season marks the 51st season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
• 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 (8 BELL) and blocks (6-TSU).
• Seven different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led Alexus Mobley (5), Shelbee Brown (3), Teniesha Clarke (3), Kam'Ren Rhodes (3), Maddie Vejsicky (3), Zakia Rasheed (1) and Liisa Taponen (1).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 98 of its last 127 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 six games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .492 (Cleveland State), .464 (Bellarmine), 30 percent: .379 (Tennessee State), .377 (Georgia State), .361 (Robert Morris), .333 (Binghamton).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' six games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .NA, 40 percent: .491 Cleveland State, .469 (Robert Morris), .463 (Bellarmine), .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).

OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES
Led by 11.6 points per game from Alexus Mobley, four Zips are averaging double-figures in scoring over the last five games. Joining Mobley with 11.4, 11.4 and 10.2 points per outing are Shelbee Brown, Teniesha Clarke and Maddie Vejsicky. Brown is pulling down a team-best 8.4 rebounds per contest, while Liisa Taponen is shooting a team-high 71.4 percent from the field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 32.3 points per game for 194 total points. This season, the Zips posted a season-best 46points in the paint in a 84-74 victory over Cleveland State (Nov. 16). Additional inside the numbers for the Zips this season are below.

Points in Paint - 32.3 ppg (194) | Season-High - 46 vs. Cleveland State
Points off Turnovers - 15.3 ppg (92) | Season-High - 24 vs. Cleveland State
Second-Chance Points - 10.7 ppg (64) | Season-High - 13 vs. Cleveland State
Fast-Break Points - 5.7 ppg (34) | Season-High - 11 vs. Cleveland State
Bench Points - 17.2 ppg (103) | Season-High - 25 vs. Cleveland State

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 will face either host Colgate or UMBC at 1/4 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 30).