Akron Squares off Against Buffalo

Saturday, January 25

Akron, Ohio

4:30 PM

University of Akron

Buffalo

January 24 | Women's Basketball

Akron (9-10, 3-4 MAC) vs. Buffalo (16-2, 5-2 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 25
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio

Series History: Buffalo leads 35-26
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 Buffalo to James A. Rhodes Arena on Saturday (Jan. 25) for a Mid-American Conference clash. The 4:30 p.m. tilt with the Bulls 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 Bulls 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
Buffalo: Becky Burke (Louisville, 2012), Overall Record: 160-87 (Ninth Season), Record at Buffalo: 47-32 (Third Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 20-28 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 20-28 (Second Season)

SCOUTING BUFFALO
Buffalo enters action against Akron on Saturday (Jan. 25) at 16-2 on the campaign, including 5-2 in the Mid-American Conference, following a 72-55 victory over Ohio on Wednesday (Jan. 22).

Redshirt senior Chellia Watson leads a pair of Bulls averaging in double figures posting a team-high 19.4 points per game. Adding 13.6 points per contest is sophomore Kirsten Lewis-Williams. As a team, Buffalo is recording 76.1 points, 38.0 rebounds, 16.8 assists, 10.7 steals and 1.6 blocks per tilt.

The Bulls are rated sixth in the NCAA in free throws made per game (16.89), 10th in free throw percentage (.784), 13th in turnover margin (8.22), 14th in winning percentage (.889), 16th in free throw attempts per tilt (21.56), 19th in field goal percentage defense (.361) and turnovers forced (22.22), 23rd in three point defense (.259), 31st in assist/turnover ratio (1.20) and scoring margin (18.1), 38th in steals per outing (10.7), 39th in assists per contest 16.8) and 48th in scoring offense (76.1).

Individually, Watson is ranked 15th in the NCAA in field goal attempts (303), 27th in points per game (19.4), 34th in field goals made (131) and 35th in total points (349), while redshirt senior Lani Cornfield is rated 30th in assists per tilt (5.2) and 48th in total assists (89).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Buffalo are meeting for the 62nd time in program history. The Bulls lead the series, 35-26, after Buffalo triumphed, 59-57, on Jan. 13, 2024, in Buffalo, before the Zips posted a 65-54 triumph over the Bulls on Feb. 17, 2024, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (FEB. 17, 2024 – AKRON, OHIO)
Led by a then career-high 19-point performance from sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) posted an impressive 65-54 victory over Buffalo at James A. Rhodes Arena on Feb. 17, 2024.

Akron's defensive efforts kept Buffalo to just 9.5 percent from three-point range in a 2-for-21 shooting performance as part of an overall .316 shooting mark.

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Clarke, who had 19 points. Lanae Riley tacked on 12 points and seven rebounds, while Reagan Bass chipped in with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Akron piled up 15 assists on 25 made field goals. Individually, senior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) dished out four assists. The Akron defense held Buffalo shooters to only 31.6 percent from the field, including 9.5 percent from three-point range.

MIAMI RALLIES PAST AKRON
Akron garnered a 15-point and 11-rebound performance from redshirt senior Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.) to lead three Zips scoring in double figures, but fell 76-54 at Miami on Wednesday (Jan. 22).

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Brown, who put together her team-leading fifth double-double of the season. Zakia Rasheed added 13 points, while freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) chipped in as well with 12 points off the bench.

Led by senior Alexus Mobley's (Indianapolis, Ind.) three offensive rebounds, Akron did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 10 boards.

ZIPS FALL AT BALL STATE
The Zips scored in double figures led by 16 points from Alexus Mobley, but Akron fell to league-leading Ball State, 80-57, on the road on Jan. 18.

Mobley led the Zips with 16 points. Junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) added 14 points off the bench, including four three pointers, while Shelbee Brown chipped in with 13 points.

Akron did a great job disrupting Ball State shots in the contest, coming away with five blocks. Junior Liisa Taponen's (Tampere, Finland) two rejections led the way individually for the Zips.

SIMMONS GARNERS TOPCONNECT GALA HONORS
Kelly Simmons of the Akron women's basketball program was among 21 graduate assistants who participated in the TopConnect Graduate Assistant Leadership Academy with coach Josh Pastner.

Simmons completed eight sessions and is among the future leaders in college basketball.

This academy identifies up-and-coming coached in the country and provides them the necessary skills and relationships to assist them on their career path.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Teniesha Clarke is averaging 12.0 points per contest in a pair of career contests against Buffalo, while Zakia Rasheed is tallying 5.0 points per game and Liisa Taponen pulling down 4.5 caroms in a pair of tilts versus the Bulls.
• Led by 11 and seven rebounds from Shelbee Brown and Alexus Mobley, Akron outrebounded Miami (Jan. 12) by nine, 36-27, including a 10-5 advantage on the offensive glass.
• Shelbee Brown equaled a season-high steals at Miami (Jan. 22), while Maddie Vejsicky dished out a team- and season-best three assists.
• Freshman Liz Murphy (Yackandandah, Australia) scored her first collegiate points connecting on a fourth quarter three pointer at Miami (Jan. 22).
• Ni'Rah Clark has posted two or more blocks in five games this season, including in four of seven league contests.
• Senior Ellen Kinnaird (Lewis Center, Ohio) registered her first career points with a pair of made free throws against Ball State (Jan. 18).
• Liisa Taponen recorded her second career double-figure rebounding game at Ball State (Jan. 18) pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds.
• Liz Murphy joined the Akron roster and made her Zips' debut against Central Michigan (Jan. 15).
• Senior Emily Hall (Phoenix, N.Y.) recorded a season-high 17 points at Eastern Michigan (Jan. 11) as she led the Zips in scoring.
• A five-year member of the Akron volleyball team, Ellen Kinnaird joined the Zips' squad in time for the squad's game at Eastern Michigan (Jan. 11).
• 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.
• Alexus Mobley recorded an Akron season-high five steals against Toledo (Jan. 4).
• Alexus Mobley was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Dec. 31.
• Liisa Taponen 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.
• 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).
• Akron is rated second in the Mid-American Conference in blocked shots (3.53), fourth in free throw percentage (.738) and fifth in defensive rebounds (26.05), offensive rebounds (11.84) and rebounding margin (3.63).
• Individually, Shelbee Brown is third in rebounding (8.11), fourth in defensive rebounds (5.95) and eighth in offensive rebounds (2.16) and in steals (2.00), Liisa Taponen is sixth in blocked shots (0.89) and in offensive rebounds (2.37), while Ni'Rah Clark is second in blocked shots (1.11).
• In league-only games, Akron is ranked second in the MAC in blocked shots (3.29), third in offensive rebounding (12.29) and in rebounding margin (5.57).
• In conference-only tilts, Ni'Rah Clark is rated second in the league in blocked shots (1.57). Additionally, Liisa Taponen is fifth in offensive rebounding (2.43), Alexus Mobley is ninth in steals (2.00), Emily Hall is third in minutes played (35.44) and Shelbee Brown is second in rebounding (8.43) and in defensive rebounding (6.14) and seventh in offensive rebounding (2.29).
• The Zips have posted seven 20+ scoring games this season. Shelbee Brown tallied 20 points versus Central Michigan (Jan. 15). Sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) 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 Shelbee Brown (12), Alexus Mobley (12), Teniesha Clarke (8), Maddie Vejsicky (7), Zakia Rasheed (6), Kam'Ren Rhodes (4), Liisa Taponen (4), Ni'Rah Clark (3) and Emily Hall (1).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 106 of its last 139 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 19 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), .389 (Ball State), .388 (Colgate), .379 (Tennessee State), .377 (Georgia State), .361 (Robert Morris), .357 (Miami-1), .333 (Binghamton), .292 (Central Michigan-1).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 19 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .538 (Ball State), .500 (Miami-1), 40 percent: .491 (Cleveland State), .485 (Michigan), .483 (Northern Illinois), .469 (Robert Morris), .463 (Bellarmine), .459 (Toledo-1), .444 (Eastern Michigan-1), .433 (Central 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 13.8 points per game from Shelbee Brown, three Zips are averaging double-figures in scoring over the last five games. Joining Brown with 11.8 and 10.8 points per outing is Zakia Rasheed and Alexus Mobley. Brown is pulling down a team-best 8.8 rebounds per contest, while Ni'Rah Clark is shooting a team-high 52.6 percent from the field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 32.3 points per game for 614 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 – 32.3 ppg (614) | Season-High - 46 vs. Cleveland State | Miami Hamilton
Points off Turnovers – 14.3 ppg (271) | Season-High - 24 vs. Cleveland State
Second-Chance Points – 10.9 ppg (208) | Season-High - 20 vs. Slippery Rock
Fast-Break Points – 6.9 ppg (131) | Season-High - 15 vs. Miami Hamilton
Bench Points – 17.1 ppg (325) | 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 139-91 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are 6-4 in the JAR, averaging 69.7 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 42 percent (.419) of their attempts from the field, while recording 39.1 rebounds, 12.9 assists, 6.0 steals and 4.2 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to Bowling Green to battle the Falcons in a 7 p.m. tilt on Wednesday (Jan. 29).

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.