Akron Set to Open Campaign Hosting Georgia State

Monday, November 4

Akron, Ohio

6:00 PM

University of Akron

Georgia State

Akron Set to Open Campaign Hosting Georgia State

November 03 | Women's Basketball

Akron (0-0) vs. Georgia State (0-0)
Monday, Nov. 4
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio

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 opens its 51st season of intercollegiate basketball welcoming Georgia State to James A. Rhodes Arena as part of the Mid-American Conference – Sun Belt Conference Challenge. The 6 p.m. tilt with the Panthers will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps on the call as well as on GoZips.com with Bill Morgan calling the action.

Tickets for the contest against the Panthers are available for purchase at http://www.gozips.com/Tickets. Fans are asked to park in Lots 1 (Parking Deck) at corner of Carroll and Spicer Streets. For complete parking information click here.

HEAD COACHES
Georgia State: Gene Hill (Coker, 1995), Overall Record: 87-138 (Ninth Season), Record at Georgia State: 75-98 (Seventh Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 11-17 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 11-17 (Second Season)

SCOUTING GEORGIA STATE
Georgia State enters action against Akron on Monday (Nov. 4) following a 15-15 record a season ago, including a 9-9 mark in the Sun Belt Conference.

Sophomore Crystal Henderson headlines the returning starters for the Panthers after being named the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year a year ago. She led all league freshmen in scoring (11.6), assists (4.2) and steals (1.8), and finished top five in assists among all freshmen in the NCAA during the 2023-24 season. She was tabbed to the 2024-25 Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team,

Senior Mikyla Tolivert was named to the 2024-25 preseason All-Sun Belt First Team after leading the Georgia State in scoring (14.1 ppg) a year ago.

As a team, Georgia State recorded 71.7 points, 38.8 rebounds, 13.9 assists, 9.8 steals and 3.3 blocks per tilt.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Georgia State are meeting for the second time in program history. The Zips lead the series, 1-0, after Akron dealt the Panthers a 78-66 setback on Dec. 20, 2016, in Atlanta, Ga.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (DEC. 20, 2016 – ATLANTA, GA.)
Sparked by 25 and 20 points, respectively, Hannah Plybon and Megan Sefcik, Akron opened the Georgia State Classic on Dec. 20, 2016, with a 78-66 triumph past the host Panthers.

The Zips connected on 11 three pointers in the contest en route to shooting 42.1 percent from the field. Fueled by a 53.3 percent shooting mark in the second half, Georgia State made 41.4 percent of its shots on the afternoon.

Akron registered a 34-31 advantage in rebounding, including a 10-7 margin in offensive caroms, which the Zips parlayed into a 14-4 edge in second-chance points.

Plybon led all scorers with a game-high 25 points, while Sefcik poured in career-high marks in scoring (20) and triples made (6). Alex Ricketts also surpassed the double-digit scoring plateau with 15 points. Astaja Tyghter, Makeba Ponder and Haley Gerrrin recorded 16, 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Panthers.

Greta Burry pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for Akron, while Shaunay Edmonds and Brittany Gordon dished out six and five assists, respectively.

ZIP TIDBITS
• 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.
• Akron matched or outrebounded its opponents 14 times last season, including in eight of 18 league games.
• The Zips recorded two or more blocks in 20 games on the 2023-24 campaign.
• The Zips recorded 55 career-high marks last season in point, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and minutes played.
• The Zips owned season-high marks in scoring (88-BELL), field goals made (29-OAK | PITT | BELL), triples (14-BELL), offensive rebounds (24 ASU), defensive rebounds (34-OAK), rebounds (49-OAK | RMU), assists (18-OAK | PITT | BG-2 | NIU-2), steals (13-CMU-2) and blocks (6-NIU-2).
• Seven different Akron players scored in double figures last season led by Reagan Bass (24), Morgan Haney (15), junior Lanae Riley (Akron, Ohio) (11), senior Kaia Woods (Tiffin, Ohio) (9), sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) (6) and seniors Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) (5) and Alexus Mobley (Indianapolis, Ind.) (5).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 94 of its last 122 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high 14 triples in an 88-65 victory over Bellarmine (Dec. 21, 2023).

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

Donning the Akron uniform this fall will be freshman Kyara Bakker (Leiderdorp, Netherlands), redshirt senior Shelbee Brown (Memphus, Tenn.), freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio), redshirt senior Emily Hall (Phoenix, N.Y.), junior Caroline Lyles (Argyle, Texas), juniors Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) and Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) and sophomore Ella Wigal (Granville, Ohio).

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 29 games last season, this is how the Zips fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .460 (Pittsburgh), .460 (Wichita State), .453 (Bellarmine), .443 (Northern Illinois-2), .439 (Southern Miss), .426 (Bowling Green-2), .421 (Northern Illinois-1), .417 (Buffalo-2), .414 (Ball State-1), .408 (Oakland), .407 (Miami), .404 (Ohio-1), .400 (Eastern Michigan-1), 30 percent: .393 (Kent State-1), 381 (Robert Morris), .373 (Ohio-2), .370 (Miami), .368 (Youngstown State), .365 (Bowling Green-1), .362 (Kent State-2), .361 (Central Michigan-1), .358 (Arkansas State), .349 (Central Michigan-2), .345 (Buffalo-1), .339 (Cleveland State), .333 (Western Michigan), .333 (Canisius), .320 (Tennessee State), .314 (Ball State-2), 20 percent: NA

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 29 games last season, this is how the Zips fared defensively: 50 percent: .586 (Toledo), .533 (Arkansas State), .531 (Kent State-2), .512 (Kent State-1), .500 (Bowling Green-2), .500 (Pittsburgh), 40 percent: .478 (Southern Miss), .474 (Ball State-2), .469 (Ohio-2), .468 (Oakland), .453 (Central Michigan-2), .429 (Western Michigan), .429 (Bowling Green-1), .426 (Eastern Michigan-1), .424 (Bellarmine), .410 (Central Michigan-1), .410 (Cleveland State), .404 (Buffalo-1), 30 percent: .396 (Miami), .393 (Ohio-1), .393 (Tennessee State), .387 (Ball State-1), .364 (Wichita State), .356 (Youngstown State), .345 (Canisius), .333 (Northern Illinois-1), .328 (Northern Illinois-2), .318 (Robert Morris), .316 (Buffalo-2), 20 percent: NA.

INSIDE THE PAINT
Akron proved to be strong in the paint a year ago averaging 29.0 points per game for 842 total points. A season ago, the Zips posted a season-best 44 points in the paint in a 91-87 setback to Oakland (Nov. 6).

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 18 seasons. When playing on its home court, Akron owns a 133-88 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

Last season, the Zips were 5-8 in the JAR, averaging 66.9 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 40 percent (.397) of their attempts from the field, while recording 38.4 rebounds, 13.9 assists, 6.0 steals and 2.4 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to Binghamton, N.Y., for a showdown with Binghamton on Thursday (Nov. 7) at 7:30 p.m.

AKRON ATHLETICS NOW CASHLESS
The University of Akron Athletics Department announced its transition to cashless payments for all ticketing, concessions, and merchandise purchases at all Akron athletic venues, concession stands, and gear shops, beginning with the start of the 2024-25 sports seasons. For more information click here.