Akron Set to Host Toledo

Saturday, January 4

Akron, Ohio

2:00 PM

University of Akron

Toledo

January 03 | Women's Basketball

Akron (7-6, 1-0 MAC) vs. Toledo (8-3, 0-1 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 4
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio

Series History: Toledo leads 51-14
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 Toledo to James A. Rhodes Arena for a Mid-American Conference showdown on Saturday (Jan. 4). The 2 p.m. matinee affair with the Rockets will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps calling the action as well as on GoZips.com with Bill Morgan on the radio call.

Tickets for the contest against the Rockets 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
Toledo: Ginny Boggess (Wingate, 2003), Overall Record: 62-45 (Fourth Season), Record at Toledo: 8-3 (First Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 18-24 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 18-24 (Second Season)

SCOUTING TOLEDO
Toledo enters action against Akron on Saturday (Jan. 4) at 8-3 on the campaign, including 0-1 in the Mid-American Conference, following a 59-58 setback versus Northern Illinois on Wednesday (Jan. 1).

Redshirt senior Sammi Mikonowicz leads a trio of Rockets scoring in double figures averaging a team-best 12.8 points per game, while redshirt senior Khera Goss and sophomore Kendall Carruthers are adding 12.0 and 10.7 points per night. As a team, Toledo is recording 72.2 points, 41.0 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.0 blocks per tilt.

The Rockets are rated 32nd in the NCAA in free throw attempts per game (20.73), 33rd in free throws made (14.36), 40th in offensive rebounds (14.5) and 42nd in rebounding margin (8.0).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Toledo are meeting for the 66th time in program history. The Rockets lead the series, 51-14, after Toledo bested the Zips, 88-66, on Jan. 31, 2024, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (JAN. 31, 2024 – AKRON, OHIO)
Akron got four double-digit scoring performances but fell 88-66 to Toledo at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 31, 2024.

The Zips were led by a team-high 15-point and eight-rebound effort from Reagan Bass. Senior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) tacked on a career-high 12 points, while Kaia Woods and junior Lanae Riley (Akron, Ohio) helped out with 11 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench.

The Akron defense caused its share of mistakes forcing 13 Toledo turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 14 points on the offensive end of the floor. Sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) led the way individually for the Zips with one steal and a pair of assists.

CLARKE SCORES 20 IN AKRON'S WIN AT OHIO
Teniesha Clarke scored a career-high 20 points to help lead Akron past Ohio, 74-61, in the Mid-American Conference opener for both schools on Wednesday (Jan. 1).

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Clarke, who had 20 points. Junior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) tacked on a career-best 17 points, including 14 in the decisive second half, while senior Alexus Mobley (Indianapolis, Ind.) helped out with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Led by freshman Ni'Rah Clark's (Toledo, Ohio) five offensive rebounds, Akron did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down a season-high 19 boards that resulted in 19 second-chance points.

Akron did a great job disrupting Ohio shots in the contest, coming away with five blocks. Clark's three rejections led the way individually for the Zips.

MOBLEY'S CAREER-HIGH 30 POINTS SPARK ZIPS PAST MIAMI HAMILTON
Alexus Mobley poured in a career-high 30 points to help lead Akron to an 80-52 triumph past Miami Hamilton at James A. Rhodes Arena on Dec. 28.

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Mobley, who had a 30-point, six-rebound, five-assist, three-steal and two-block performance. Her five assists established a career-high mark. Redshirt Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.) tacked on career-best total in points (17), assists (5) and blocks (2), while narrowly missing her team-leading fourth double double of the season pulling down nine rebounds to go along with three steals. Teniesha Clarke helped out with 11 points.

Akron did a great job disrupting shots in the contest, coming away with 10 blocks. Ni'Rah Clark's career- and Akron season-best four rejections led the way individually for the Zips.

MOBLEY NAMED MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alexus Mobley was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

Mobley poured in a career-high 30 points to help lead the Zips to an 80-52 triumph past Miami Hamilton on Dec. 28.

Mobley posted a 30-point, six-rebound, five-assist, three-steal and two-block performance. Her five assists established a career-high mark, while the three steals stand as a season-best total.

She connected on nearly 65 percent of her shots from the field hitting an Akron season-best 11 shots on 17 attempts, including a pair of three pointers. She recorded a 5-1 assist to turnover ratio in the game and finished with the third-highest point total by a league player this season.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Liisa Taponen scored seven points and pulled down five rebounds in her lone career showdown with Toledo a year ago, while Teniesha Clarke and Zakia Rasheed are posting 7.0 and 4.0 points per contest in one and three career games versus the Rockets, respectively.
• Akron set nine season-high and three career-best marks at Ohio (Jan. 1).
• Redshirt senior Emily Hall (Phoenix, N.Y.) 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).
• 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.
• 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 both posted a career-high scoring 13 points against 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).
• The Zips recorded season-high marks in triples (10) versus Slippery Rock (Dec. 4), while junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) connected on a team season-best five three pointers.
• Akron is rated first in the Mid-American Conference in blocked shots (3.77), third in free throw percentage (.749), fourth in defensive rebounds (26.8) and fifth in offensive rebounds (12.2) and scoring defense (63.4).
• Individually, Shelbee Brown is fifth in rebounding (7.8), sixth in steals (2.2) and eighth in field goal percentage (.484), Maddie Vejsicky is first in triples per game (2.6) and eighth in three-point percentage (.420), Liisa Taponen is second in blocked shots (1.1), while Ni'Rah Clark is fifth in blocked shots (1.0).
• In league-only games, Akron is ranked first in the MAC in rebounding (48.0), rebounding margin (19.0) and assists (16.00), second in offensive rebounds (19.0) and defensive rebounds (29.0), third in field goal percentage (.444), blocked shots (5.00) and scoring offense (74.0), fourth in scoring margin (13.0) and fifth in field goal percentage defense (.368).
• In conference-only tilts, Ni'Rah Clark is rated first in the league in blocked shots (3.00), field goal percentage (1.000) and offensive rebounding (5.00) and third in rebounding (11.00). Additionally, Teniesha Clarke is first in free throw percentage (1.000), fourth in scoring (20.0) and ninth in field goal percentage (.583), Liisa Taponen is fourth in field goal percentage (.778) and offensive rebounding (4.00) and eighth in scoring (17.00), Alexus Mobley is first in free throw percentage (1.000), Zakia Rasheed is third in assist/turnover ratio (1.67) and eighth in assists (5.00), Emily Hall is seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.50), defensive rebounding (6.00) and minutes played (37.50) and Shelbee Brown is ninth in offensive rebounding (3.00).
• Individually, Maddie Vejsicky is ranked 39th in the NCAA in three pointers per game (2.64) and 48th in three-point percentage (.420).
• The Zips have posted four 20+ scoring games this season. Teniesha Clarke poured in 20 against both Ohio (Jan. 1) and Cleveland State (Nov. 16), while Alexus Mobley and Kam'Ren Rhodes added 30 and 26 points, respectively, versus Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28) and Georgia State (Nov. 4).
• Kam'Ren Rhodes was an All-Tournament selection at the Colgate Thanksgiving Tournament.
• 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).
• Eight different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led Alexus Mobley (9), Teniesha Clarke (8), Shelbee Brown (7), Maddie Vejsicky (5), Kam'Ren Rhodes (4), Liisa Taponen (4), Zakia Rasheed (2) and Ni'Rah Clark (1).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 102 of its last 133 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 14 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), .463 (Miami Hamilton), .444 (Ohio-1), .439 (Iona), .420 (Slippery Rock), 30 percent: .396 (Michigan), .388 (Colgate), .379 (Tennessee State), .377 (Georgia State), .361 (Robert Morris), .333 (Binghamton).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 14 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .NA, 40 percent: .491 (Cleveland State), .485 (Michigan), .469 (Robert Morris), .463 (Bellarmine), .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 14.0 points per game from Alexus Mobley, four Zips are averaging double-figures in scoring over the last five games. Joining Mobley with 12.4, 11.4 and 10.6 points per outing is Teniesha Clarke, Shelbee Brown and Liisa Taponen. Ni'Rah Clark is pulling down a team-best 7.6 rebounds per contest, while also shooting a team-high 76.2 percent from the field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 34.9 points per game for 454 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 – 34.9 ppg (454) | Season-High - 46 vs. Cleveland State | Miami Hamilton
Points off Turnovers – 14.9 ppg (194) | Season-High - 24 vs. Cleveland State
Second-Chance Points – 12.3 ppg (160) | Season-High - 20 vs. Slippery Rock
Fast-Break Points – 6.8 ppg (89) | Season-High - 15 vs. Miami Hamilton
Bench Points – 18.2 ppg (237) | 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 138-90 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are 5-2 in the JAR, averaging 73.6 points per tilt and connecting on 43 percent (.430) of their attempts from the field, while recording 40.3 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.3 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron welcomes Northern Illinois to James A. Rhodes Arena for a 6 p.m. tilt on Wednesday (Jan. 8).

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.