Akron Seeks to Extend Win Streak Hosting Central Michigan

Wednesday, January 15

Akron, Ohio

6:00 PM

University of Akron

Central Michigan

Akron Seeks to Extend Win Streak Hosting Central Michigan

January 14 | Women's Basketball

Akron (9-7, 3-1 MAC) vs. Central Michigan (5-10, 1-3 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 15
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio

Series History: Central Michigan leads 27-22
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 Central Michigan to James A. Rhodes Arena for a Mid-American Conference showdown on Wednesday (Jan. 15). The 6 p.m. tilt with the Chippewas 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 Chippewas 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
Central Michigan: Kristin Haynie (Michigan State, 2005), Overall Record: 11-32 (Second Season), Record at Central Michigan: 11-32 (Second Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 20-25 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 20-25 (Second Season)

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan comes into play versus Akron on Wednesday (Jan. 15) at 5-10 on the campaign, including 1-3 in the Mid-American Conference, following a 71-66 setback versus Toledo on Saturday (Jan. 11).

Freshman Madi Morson leads the Chippewas averaging a team-best 13.5 points per game. As a team, Central Michigan is recording 60.6 points, 42.0 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 7.5 steals and 1.7 blocks per tilt.

The Chippewas are rated 21st in the NCAA in offensive rebounding (15.3), 25th in rebounding (42.00), 42nd in three-point defense (.266) and 50th in rebounding margin (6.4).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Central Michigan are meeting for the 50th time in program history. The Chippewas lead the series, 27-22, after the Zips dealt the Chippewas a 70-62 setback on Jan. 11, 2024, at James A. Rhodes Arena as well as a 65-57 triumph on March 9, 2024, in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (MARCH 9, 2024 – MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH.)
Akron senior Alexus Mobley (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored a then career-high 23 points to help lead the Zips over Central Michigan, 65-57, on March 9, 2024, in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Mobley added eight rebounds and five steals to her 23-point game to lead the Zips. Reagan Bass helped with 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) chipped in with eight points and four steals.

Clarke pulled down four offensive rebounds to help the Zips racked up 15 offensive caroms which were turned into nine second-chance points.

The Akron defense forced 19 Central Michigan turnovers and turned those takeaways into 15 points on the other end of the floor. Mobley's five steals led the way individually for the Zips.

ZIPS EARNS ROAD WIN AT EASTERN MICHIGAN, 61-56
Akron senior Emily Hall (Phoenix, N.Y.), junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, N.Y.) and senior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) combined to score 46 of Akron's 61 total points as the Zips knocked off Eastern Michigan, 61-56, on the road on Saturday (Jan. 11).

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Hall, who had a season-high 17 points. Vejsicky tacked on a career-high 15 points off the bench, while Rasheed chipped in as well with 14 points.

Redshirt senior Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.) pulled down three offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, grabbing 13 boards and turning them into five second-chance points.

The Akron defense forced 15 Eastern Michigan turnovers converting those miscues into 19 points on the offensive end of the floor. Brown led the way individually for the Zips with two steals.

AKRON OUTLASTS NORTHERN ILLINOIS, 73-71
Zakia Rasheed, Shelbee Brown and Alexus Mobley combined to score 55 of Akron's 73 total points as the Zips took down Northern Illinois, 73-71, at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 8.

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Rasheed, who had a career-high 21 points, including connecting on seven three pointers. Her seven triples stands as the fourth-best single-game effort in program history. Brown added her fourth double-double of the season with a season-high 17-point and 11-rebound performance, while Mobley chipped in as well with 17 points, four assists and two steals.

Brown pulled down three offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, grabbing 10 boards and turning them into seven second-chance points.

Akron did a great job disrupting Northern Illinois shots in the contest, coming away with six blocks. Freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) led the way individually for the Zips with two rejections.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Alexus Mobley is averaging 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals per contest against Central Michigan.
• Akron has won six straight in the series versus the Chippewas dating back to the 2021-22 campaign.
• Zakia Rasheed connected on a career-high 21 points on seven three pointers versus Northern Illinois (Jan. 8). Her seven triples stand as the fourth-best single-game effort in program history.
• A five-year member of the Akron volleyball team, Ellen Kinnaird (Lewis Center, Ohio) joined the Zips' squad in time for the squad's game at Eastern Michigan (Jan. 11).
• Alexus Mobley recorded an Akron season-high five steals against Toledo (Jan. 4).
• Akron set nine season-high and three career-best marks at Ohio (Jan. 1).
• Alexus Mobley was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Dec. 31.
• Emily Hall recorded season-high marks in scoring (7), assists (3), steals (2) and minutes played (38) in her first career start as a Zip against Ohio (Jan. 1).
• Junior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) dished out a career-high two assists to go along with a career-best 17-point effort at Ohio (Jan. 1).
• Ni'Rah Clark's four blocked shots versus Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28) stand as the 11th-best single-game effort in program history matching a four-block performance from Shelbee Brown at Colgate (Nov. 30).
• The Zips shined in the classroom during the fall semester as Akron recorded a 3.04 team GPA, including three Zips turning in a perfect 4.0 GPA.
• Akron registered nine career-high marks against Miami Hamilton, including Ni'Rah Clark setting milestones in rebounds (13), blocks (4), assists (2) and minutes played (25).
• Emily Hall pulled down a season-high eight rebounds against Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28) after recording a team season-best four steals versus Canisius (Dec. 7).
• The Zips recorded season-high marks in rebounds (51), defensive rebounds (39) and blocks (10) versus Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28).
• Shelbee Brown equaled a then season-best 14-point scoring effort versus No. 20 Michigan (Dec. 20).
• Liisa Taponen recorded her first career double-digit rebounding game pulling down a career-best 11 rebounds against No. 20 Michigan (Dec. 20), while also posting a career-high three blocks.
• Ni'Rah Clark posted a career-high scoring 13 points against Canisius (Dec. 7).
• Zakia Rasheed dished out a team season-high six assists in back-to-back contests against Canisius (Dec. 7) and Slippery Rock (Dec. 4).
• The Zips recorded season-high marks in triples (10) versus Slippery Rock (Dec. 4), while Maddie Vejsicky connected on five three pointers.
• Akron is rated first in the Mid-American Conference in blocked shots (3.56), fifth in free throw percentage (.734), defensive rebounds (26.38), offensive rebounds (11.81) and scoring defense (64.06).
• Individually, Shelbee Brown is fourth in rebounding (8.06) and in defensive rebounds (5.88), eighth in offensive rebounds (2.19) and in steals (2.06), Maddie Vejsicky is seventh in three-point percentage (.400), Liisa Taponen is sixth in offensive rebounds (2.44) and seventh in blocked shots (0.88), while Ni'Rah Clark is second in blocked shots (1.07).
• In league-only games, Akron is ranked first in the MAC in rebounding margin (9.0), second in field goal percentage (.441), third in blocked shots (3.25), fourth in defensive rebounding (25.50) and fifth in offensive rebounding (12.50) and scoring defense (65.50).
• In conference-only tilts, Ni'Rah Clark is rated first in the league in blocked shots (1.75). Additionally, Liisa Taponen is fifth in offensive rebounding (2.75), Alexus Mobley is fifth in steals (2.25) and ninth in scoring (16.00), Zakia Rasheed is fifth in three-point percentage (.438), Emily Hall is ninth in minutes played (34.55) and Shelbee Brown is third in rebounding (8.50), fourth in defensive rebounding (6.00) and sixth in offensive rebounding (2.50).
• The Zips have posted six 20+ scoring games this season. Teniesha Clarke poured in 20 against both Ohio (Jan. 1) and Cleveland State (Nov. 16), while Alexus Mobley added 30 and 23 versus Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28) and Toledo (Jan. 4). Zakia Rasheed posted 21 against Northern Illinois (Jan. 8) and junior Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) tallied 26 points against Georgia State (Nov. 4).
• 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 | OHIO-1), defensive rebounds (39-MIAH), rebounds (51-MIAH), assists (22-CAN), steals (9-CAN) and blocks (10-TSU | MIAH).
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led Alexus Mobley (11), Shelbee Brown (9), Teniesha Clarke (8), Maddie Vejsicky (6), Zakia Rasheed (5), Kam'Ren Rhodes (4), Liisa Taponen (4), Ni'Rah Clark (1) and Emily Hall (1).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 104 of its last 136 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 season 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 16 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .492 (Cleveland State), .483 (Canisius), .481 (Northern Illinois), .464 (Bellarmine), .463 (Miami Hamilton), .444 (Ohio-1), .439 (Iona), .420 (Toledo-1), .420 (Slippery Rock), .417 (Eastern Michigan-1), 30 percent: .396 (Michigan), .388 (Colgate), .379 (Tennessee State), .377 (Georgia State), .361 (Robert Morris), .333 (Binghamton).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 16 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .NA, 40 percent: .491 (Cleveland State), .485 (Michigan), .483 (Northern Illinois), .469 (Robert Morris), .463 (Bellarmine), .459 (Toledo-1), .444 (Eastern Michigan-1), .414 (Binghamton), .403 (Tennessee State), 30 percent: .393 (Colgate), .368 (Ohio-1), .361 (Georgia State), .310 (Miami Hamilton), .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 18.8 points per game from Alexus Mobley, four Zips are averaging double-figures in scoring over the last five games. Joining Mobley with 11.2, 11.0 and 10.8 points per outing is Zakia Rasheed, Teniesha Clarke and Shelbee Brown. Brown is pulling down a team-best 8.6 rebounds per contest, while Clark is shooting a team-high 57.9 percent from the field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 34.1 points per game for 546 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) as well as an 80-52 triumph past Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28). Additional inside the numbers for the Zips this season are below.

Points in Paint – 34.1 ppg (546) | Season-High - 46 vs. Cleveland State | Miami Hamilton
Points off Turnovers – 14.5 ppg (232) | Season-High - 24 vs. Cleveland State
Second-Chance Points – 11.1 ppg (178) | Season-High - 20 vs. Slippery Rock
Fast-Break Points – 6.8 ppg (108) | Season-High - 15 vs. Miami Hamilton
Bench Points – 17.2 ppg (275) | 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 139-90 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are 6-3 in the JAR, averaging 71.3 points per tilt and connecting on more than 43 percent (.434) of their attempts from the field, while recording 38.9 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to Muncie, Ind., to battle league-leading Ball State in an 11:30 a.m. tilt on Saturday (Jan. 18).

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.