Zips and Raiders Battle for Colgate Thanksgiving Tournament Title

Akron (3-4) at Colgate (5-2)
Saturday, Nov. 30
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 is set to battle Colgate in the title game of the Colgate Thanksgiving Tournament on Saturday (Nov. 30) in Hamilton, N.Y. The 4 p.m. tilt with the Raiders will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as on GoZips.com with Jim Clark calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Colgate: Ganiyat Adeduntan (Florida State, 2006), Overall Record: 55-97 (Sixth Season), Record at Colgate: 47-54 (Fourth Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 14-22 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 14-22 (Second Season)

SCOUTING COLGATE
Colgate enters action against Akron on Saturday (Nov. 30) at 5-2 on the campaign following a 75-49 victory over UMBC on Friday (Nov. 29).

A trio of Raiders are registering double figures in scoring as senior Taylor Golembiewski, junior Anne Bair and senior Sophia Diehl are posting 14.1, 14.0 and 10.6 points per contest. Diehl in Colgate's leading rebounder pulling down 5.9 caroms a night. As a team, the Raiders are recording 74.4 points, 34.1 rebounds, 15.0 assists, 7.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per tilt.

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

AKRON POWERS PAST IONA, 64-51
Akron had four players score in double figures on the way to a 64-51 win over Iona at the Colgate Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday (Nov. 29).

Sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) led Akron with a game-high 13 points. Senior Alexus Mobley (Indianapolis, Ind.) tacked on 12 points to go along with seven rebounds, while senior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) and junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) each added 11-point efforts.

Junior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) pulled down three offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, who grabbed 10 offensive boards and turning them into seven second-chance points.

Akron's defense held Iona to only 31 percent shooting from the field. The Zips also limited Zoey Ward to 4-of-15 shooting and nine points in the game. The Gaels did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as Akron cleared 34 defensive rebounds.

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

The Zips had two players score in double figures, led by Alexus Mobley, who had 18 points. Liisa Taponen tacked on a career-high13 points and two blocks, while Maddie Vejsicky 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.

ZIP TIDBITS
• The Zips posted seven career-best totals in Akron's win over Iona (Nov. 29) with junior Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) pulling down a career-high six rebounds and Maddie Vejsicky dishing out a career-best three assists.
• 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 (3.00), fourth in three-point percentage (.333) and turnover margin (-0.71) and fifth in scoring defense (66.7) and free throw percentage (.728).
• Individually, Teniesha Clarke is ranked second in the league in free throw percentage (.929), Kam'Ren Rhodes is fifth in minutes played (34.4), fifth in steals (2.4), seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.1), ninth in assists (3.1) and 10th in free throw percentage (.808), Shelbee Brown is fourth in rebounding (8.9), Maddie Vejsicky is second in triples per night (2.7) and third in three-point percentage (.500), while Liisa Taponen is seventh in blocked shots (0.9).
• 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 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.
• Individually, Maddie Vejsicky is ranked 22nd in the NCAA in three-point percentage (.500), 45th in total triples (19) and 43rd in triples per outing (2.71).
• 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 (34-IONA), 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 (6), Teniesha Clarke (4), Maddie Vejsicky (4), Shelbee Brown (3), Kam'Ren Rhodes (3), Zakia Rasheed (2) and Liisa Taponen (1).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 99 of its last 128 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 seven games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .492 (Cleveland State), .464 (Bellarmine), .439 (Iona), 30 percent: .379 (Tennessee State), .377 (Georgia State), .361 (Robert Morris), .333 (Binghamton).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' seven 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), .310 (Iona), 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 14.0 points per game from Alexus Mobley, a pair of Zips are averaging double-figures in scoring over the last five games. Joining Mobley with 11.6 points per outing is Teniesha Clarke. Shelbee Brown is pulling down a team-best 7.4 rebounds per contest, while Liisa Taponen is shooting a team-high 68.8 percent from the field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 33.1 points per game for 232 total points. This season, the Zips posted a season-best 46 points 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 – 33.1 ppg (232) | Season-High - 46 vs. Cleveland State
Points off Turnovers – 14.6 ppg (102) | Season-High - 24 vs. Cleveland State
Second-Chance Points – 10.1 ppg (71) | Season-High - 13 vs. Cleveland State
Fast-Break Points – 6.1 ppg (43) | Season-High - 11 vs. Cleveland State
Bench Points – 17.7 ppg (124) | 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 hosts Slippery Rock on Wednesday (Dec. 4) in a 6 p.m. tilt at James A. Rhodes Arena.

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.

The University of Akron Athletics

Zips and Raiders Battle for Colgate Thanksgiving Tournament Title

Players Mentioned

Kyara Bakker

Shelbee Brown

Ni'Rah Clark

Teniesha Clarke

Emily Hall

Caroline Lyles

Alexus Mobley

Zakia Rasheed

Kam'Ren Rhodes

Liisa Taponen

Maddie Vejsicky

Ella Wigal

Related Videos