Akron Faces Non-Conference Showdown at Binghamton

Thursday, November 7

Vestal, N.Y.

7:30 PM

University of Akron

Binghamton

Akron Faces Non-Conference Showdown at Binghamton

November 06 | Women's Basketball

Akron (1-0) at Binghamton (1-0)
Thursday, Nov. 7
Dr. Bai Lee Court
Vestal, N.Y.

Series History: Akron leads 2-0
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 travels to Vestal, N.Y., for a showdown with Binghamton on Thursday (Nov. 7). The 7:30 p.m. tilt with the Bearcats will be broadcast on ESPN+., while Bill Morgan will have the call on GoZips.com.

HEAD COACHES
Binghamton: Mary Grimes (Sienna, 2003), Overall Record: 57-30 (Fourth Season), Record at Binghamton: 1-0 (First Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 12-17 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 12-17 (Second Season)

SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
Binghamton enters action against Akron on Thursday (Nov. 7) at 1-0 on the campaign following a 79-34 victory past Pittsburgh at Johnstown on Monday (Nov. 4). A year ago, the Bearcats posted a 14-17 record, including an 8-8 mark in the America East Conference.

Redshirt junior Jadyn Weltz led Binghamton with a game-high 17-point and eight-rebound performance on Monday, while junior Kaia Goode added a 10-point, five-rebound and five-assist effort.

As a team, Binghamton is recording 79.0 points, 52.0 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 14.0 steals and 5.0 blocks per tilt.

The Bearcats are rated first in the NCAA in winning percentage (1.000), 10th in defensive rebounding (37.0), 14th in scoring defense (34.0), 17th in field goal percentage defense (.235) and rebounding margin (24.0), 21st in rebounds per contest (52.0), 33rd in scoring margin (45.0), 44th in three-point percentage (.421) and 46th in steals per outing (14.0). Individually, freshman Abby Misier is ranked 34th in blocks (3) and blocks per game (3.00).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Binghamton are meeting for the third time in program history. The Zips lead the series, 2-0, after Akron dealt the Bearcats an 80-49 setback on Nov. 14, 2014, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 14, 2014 – AKRON, OHIO)
Akron garnered an 80-49 triumph past Binghamton in the opening game of the Akron Classic on Nov. 14, 2014, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

AKRON RALLIES PAST GEORGIA STATE, 81-73
Akron went into the half trailing Georgia State, 42-34 but fought back from the deficit to defeat the Panthers, 81-73, at James A. Rhodes Arena on Monday (Nov. 4) as part of the Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Conference Challenge.

The Zips had four players score in double figures, led by junior Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.), who had 25 points and five assists. Junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) added 14 points and senior Alexus Mobley (Indianapolis, Ind.) chipped in as well with 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.

Akron grabbed 47 rebounds in Monday's game compared to Georgia State's 36, led by 11 boards from redshirt senior Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.). The Zips also cleaned up the offensive glass, turning 14 rebounds into 10 second-chance points.

The Akron defense held Georgia State shooters to just 36.1 percent from the field.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Kam'Ren Rhodes, Maddie Vejsicky and freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) 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).
• Shelbee Brown pulled down a career-best and game-high 11 rebounds versus Georgia State.
• Alexus Mobley poured in 13 points against Georgia State to go along with eight rebounds and a game- and career-high three blocks.
• The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in winning percentage (1.000), free throws made (33.0) and free throws attempted (41.0), 36th in defensive rebounding (33.0) and 42nd in free throw percentage (.805).
• Individually, Kam'Ren Rhodes is ranked fifth in the NCAA free throws made (11), sixth in free throws attempted (12) and 26th in points (25) and points per game (25.0), while Alexus Mobley is first in free throw percentage (1.000), 34th in blocks (3) and blocks per tilt (3.00)
• 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 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 one game this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: NA, 30 percent: .377 (Georgia State).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' one game this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .NA, 40 percent: NA, 30 percent: .361 (Georgia State), 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 19 seasons. When playing on its home court, Akron owns a 134-88 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are 1-0 in the JAR, averaging 81.0 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 38 percent (.377) of their attempts from the field, while recording 47.0 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 4.0 steals and 4.0 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron returns to James A. Rhodes Arena for a 6 p.m. tilt versus Robert Morris on Wednesday (Nov. 13).