Akron Set to Host No. 20 Michigan

Friday, December 20

Akron, Ohio

12:00 PM

University of Akron

Michigan

December 19 | Women's Basketball

Akron (5-5) vs. No. 20 Michigan (9-2)
Friday, Dec. 20
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio

Series History: Michigan leads 5-1
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 welcomes No. 20 Michigan to James A. Rhodes Arena on Friday (Dec. 20). The noon matinee affair with the Wolverines will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps on the call as well as on GoZips.com with Bill Morgan on the radio call.

Tickets for the contest against the Wolverine 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
Michigan: Kim Barnes Arico (Montclair State, 1993), Overall Record: 540-341 (29th Season), Record at Michigan: 270-135 (13th Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 16-23 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 16-23 (Second Season)

SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Michigan enters action against Akron on Friday (Dec. 20) at 9-2 on the campaign following a 72-62 setback versus No. 10 Oklahoma on Tuesday (Dec. 17) in Charlotte, N.C.

Freshmen Olivia Olson and Syla Swords lead four Wolverines scoring in double figures as the duo is each pouring in 16.1 points per game, while Swords is pulling down a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game. As a team, Michigan is recording 82.5 points, 43.8 rebounds, 15.9 assists, 9.4 steals and 2.3 blocks per tilt.

The Wolverines are ranked ninth in the NCAA in three-point defense (.232), 11th in rebounding margin (12.8), 22nd in rebounding (43.8), scoring offense (82.5) and scoring margin (26.5), 24th in field goal defense (.351), 31st in defensive rebounding (29.1), 43rd in free throws made (14.2), 44th in winning percentage (.818), 45th in field goal percentage (.464) 46th in offensive rebounding (14.7) and 47th in turnovers forced (20.8).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Michigan are meeting for the seventh in program history with the Wolverines owning a 5-1 series lead. In the last meeting between the two schools, Michigan earned a 93-54 triumph past the Zips on Dec. 5, 2021, in Ann Arbor, Mich.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (DEC. 5, 2021 – ANN ARBOR, MICH.)
Akron dropped a 93-54 decision to No. 12 Michigan on Dec. 5, 2021 at the Crisler Center.

Layne Ferrell led the Zips' offense with a team-high 13 points connecting on 5-of-11 from the floor. Kendall Miller finished with seven points and two boards, while Lonasia Brewer and Molly Neitzel each added six points.

Reagan Bass and Colleen Neitzel paced Akron on the boards collecting four rebounds.

FOUR ZIPS REACH DOUBLE FIGURES IN 82-43 WIN OVER CANISIUS
Akron garnered a career-high 16-point performance from junior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) in a 82-43 win against Canisius on Dec. 7 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The Zips had four players score in double figures, led by Taponen, who had 16 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) tacked on 14 points and freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) helped out with a career-best 13-point and six-rebound effort off the bench. Redshirt senior Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.) added her team-leading third double double of the season with a 10-point and 10-rebound performance.

Led by Clark's four offensive rebounds, Akron did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 10 boards that resulted in 14 second-chance points.

The Akron defense held Canisius shooters to only 29.8 percent from the field, including 26.7 percent from three-point range. The Golden Griffins did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end, as they grabbed only six offensive rebounds and scored five second-chance points while Akron pulled down 29 defensive rebounds.

AKRON OVERPOWER SLIPPERY ROCK, 79-43
Five Zips put up double-digit points as Akron defeated Slippery Rock, 79-43, at James A. Rhodes Arena on Dec. 4.

Junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio), equaled a career-best 15-point and six-rebound effort to lead the Zips. Alexus Mobley tacked on 14 points and seven rebounds, while Teniesha Clarke chipped in as well with 13 points. Additionally, Shelbee Brown and Liisa Taponen added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Akron shared the ball well racking up a season-best 18 assists on 29 made field goals. Individually, senior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) led the way for the Zips with a career-high six assists and junior Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) also chipped in with five assists of her own.

Akron's defense held Slippery Rock to only 27.8 percent shooting from the field, including 23.5 percent from beyond the arc.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron has held its last two opponents under 30 percent shooting from the field as Canisius and Slippery Rock connected at 29.8 and 27.8 percent clips.
• Liisa Taponen and Ni'Rah Clark both posted career-high scoring marks against Canisius (Dec. 7) netting 16 and 13 points, respectively.
• Akron redshirt senior Emily Hall (Phoenix, N.Y.) recorded a team season-best four steals versus Canisius (Dec. 7).
• Zakia Rasheed has dished out a team season-high six assists in back-to-back contests against Canisius (Dec. 7) and Slippery Rock (Dec. 4).
• Ni'Rah Clark posted career-best marks in rebounds (6), blocks (1) and minutes played (17) versus Slippery Rock (Dec. 4).
• The Zips recorded season-high marks in triples (10) and rebounds (50) versus Slippery Rock (Dec. 4), while Maddie Vejsicky connected on a team season-best five three pointers.
• Akron is rated second in the Mid-American Conference in blocked shots (3.10), third in scoring defense (61.5) and free throw percentage (.744), fourth in turnover margin (-0.30) and fifth in scoring margin (5.70), assist/turnover ratio (0.79) and offensive rebounds (11.60).
• Individually, Kam'Ren Rhodes is seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.11), eighth in minutes played (32.65) and 10th in free throw percentage (.808), Shelbee Brown is second in steals (2.40), third in rebounding (8.3), fourth in defensive rebounding and 10th in offensive rebounding (2.00), Maddie Vejsicky is second in triples per night (2.9) and in three-point percentage (.452), while Liisa Taponen is sixth in blocked shots (0.8) and eighth in offensive rebounding (2.30).
• Individually, Maddie Vejsicky is ranked 27th in the NCAA in three pointers per game (2.80), 31st in three-point percentage (.452) and 35th in total triples (28).
• Kam'Ren Rhodes was an All-Tournament selection at the Colgate Thanksgiving Tournament.
• The Zips posted seven career-best totals in Akron's win over Iona (Nov. 29) with Kam'Ren Rhodes 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.
• 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).
• 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.
• 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 (10-SRU), offensive rebounds (19-SRU), defensive rebounds (34-IONA), rebounds (50-SRU), assists (22-CAN), steals (9-CAN) and blocks (6-TSU).
• Eight different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led Alexus Mobley (7), Teniesha Clarke (6), Maddie Vejsicky (5), Shelbee Brown (5), Kam'Ren Rhodes (4), Liisa Taponen (3), Zakia Rasheed (2) and Ni'Rah Clark (1).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 100 of its last 130 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high 10 triples in an 79-43 victory over Slippery Rock (Dec. 4).

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, Emily Hall, junior Caroline Lyles (Argyle, Texas), Kam'Ren Rhodes, Maddie Vejsicky and sophomore Ella Wigal (Granville, Ohio).

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 10 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .492 (Cleveland State), .483 (Canisius), .464 (Bellarmine), .439 (Iona), .420 (Slippery Rock), 30 percent: .388 (Colgate), .379 (Tennessee State), .377 (Georgia State), .361 (Robert Morris), .333 (Binghamton).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 10 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: .393 (Colgate), .361 (Georgia State), .310 (Iona), 20 percent: .298 (Canisius), .278 (Slippery Rock).

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 11.0 points per game from Teniesha Clarke, a pair of Zips are averaging double-figures in scoring over the last five games. Joining Mobley with 10.6 points per outing is Alexus Mobley. Shelbee Brown is pulling down a team-best 6.6 rebounds per contest, while Liisa Taponen is shooting a team-high 75.9 percent from the field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 33.4 points per game for 334 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 – 33.4 ppg (334) | Season-High - 46 vs. Cleveland State
Points off Turnovers – 15.3 ppg (153) | Season-High - 24 vs. Cleveland State
Second-Chance Points – 11.3 ppg (113) | Season-High - 20 vs. Slippery Rock
Fast-Break Points – 6.2 ppg (62) | Season-High - 11 vs. Cleveland State
Bench Points – 19.1 ppg (191) | Season-High - 36 vs. Canisius

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 137-89 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are 4-1 in the JAR, averaging 76.0 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 43 percent (.429) of their attempts from the field, while recording 39.6 rebounds, 16.0 assists, 6.4 steals and 3.4 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron hosts Miami Hamilton on Saturday (Dec. 28) in a 2 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.