Akron Set to Open Home Campaign Against Binghamton

Thursday, November 20

Akron, Ohio

6:00 PM

University of Akron

Binghamton

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Akron Set to Open Home Campaign Against Binghamton

November 19 | Women's Basketball

Akron (0-4) vs Binghamton (2-2)
Thursday, Nov. 20
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio

Series History: Akron leads 2-1
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
Purchase Tickets: www.GoZips.com/Tickets

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team is set to commence its home campaign welcoming Binghamton to James A. Rhodes Arena on Thursday (Nov. 20). The 6 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps on the call as well as on GoZips.com with Jim Clark on the radio call.

Tickets for the contest against the Bearcats 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
Binghamton: Mary Grimes (Sienna, 2003), Overall Record: 73-47 (Fifth Season), Record at Binghamton: 17-17 (Second Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (Saint Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 21-43 (Third Season), Record at Akron: 21-43 (Third Season)

SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
Binghamton comes into play versus Akron on Thursday (Nov. 20) at 2-2 on the campaign following a 120-50 setback at No. 6 Michigan on Tuesday (Nov. 18).

Juniors Bella Pucci and Kendall Bennett are the leading the Bearcats in scoring averaging 15.3 and 10.5 points per game, with Bennett pulling down a team-best 6.5 rebounds per contest. As a team, Binghamton is recording 73.3 points, 31.0 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 15.3 steals and 0.5 blocks per tilt.

As a team, Binghamton is rated 14th in the NCAA in steals per contest (15.3), 23rd in turnovers forced (25.25) and 39th in turnover margin (8.25).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Binghamton are meeting for the fourth time in program history. The Zips lead the series, 2-1, after Akron dropped a 66-50 road decision to the Bearcats on Nov. 7, 2024, in Vestal, N.Y.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 7, 2024 – VESTAL, N.Y.)
Shelbee Brown, senior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) and junior Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) combined to score 39 of Akron's 50 total points, but the Zips fell to Binghamton, 66-50, on Nov. 7, 2024, in Vestal, N.Y.

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Brown, who had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Vejsicky added 13 points and Clarke chipped in as well with 12 points.

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

The Akron defense was effective at taking away the basketball forcing 14 Binghamton turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 15 points on the offensive end of the floor. Brown's three steals led the way individually for the Zips.

Akron kept it close in the first quarter but entered the second frame down 15-13 and faced a 32-26 halftime deficit.

Akron came out of halftime on fire, going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Brown, to tie things up at 32 with 8:08 to go in the third. The Zips could not advance their rally further as the Bearcats took a 45-38 lead into the fourth quarter. Akron played well near the basket, scoring six of its 12 points in the paint.

Akron could not pull any closer in the fourth, losing by a final of 66-50. Akron took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring six of its 12 points in the paint.

The Akron defense forced 14 turnovers, with the Zips cleaning up on the offensive glass, collecting 10 offensive boards in the game.

ZIPS FALL AT CLEVELAND STATE
Akron fell 76-55 to Cleveland State on the road on Sunday (Nov. 16).

Junior Keiryn McGuff (Dublin, Ohio) led the Zips with career-high 15-point, six-rebound and two-steal performance. Freshman Monique Mitchell (South Bend, Ind.) added four points and three steals, and freshman Shaena Brew (Rialto, Calif.) helped out with five points, a career-best six rebounds and four assists.

Akron outrebounded Cleveland State, 36-35, in Sunday's game, paced by McGuff's six boards. The Zips also pulled down 16 offensive rebounds and scored 12 second-chance points.

The Akron defense forced 20 Cleveland State turnovers. Those takeaways turned into eight points on the offensive end of the floor. Mitchell's three steals led the way individually for the Zips.

Akron fell behind 22-5 at the end of the first quarter. Akron then cut the Vikings lead to 30-18 before going on a 7-0 run to narrow its deficit to 30-25. Cleveland State responded and expanded its lead, leaving the Zips trailing 38-26 heading into halftime.

Akron's deficit continued to grow after halftime, and the Zips faced a 59-41 disadvantage heading to the fourth quarter. Akron played well near the basket, scoring eight of its 15 points in the paint.

Cleveland State widened its lead in the fourth, constructing a 72-49 advantage before Akron went on a 5-0 run, finished off by sophomore Liz Murphy's (Yackandandah, Australia) three, to shrink the deficit to 72-54 with 2:07 to go in the contest. Cleveland State responded and outscored the Zips the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 76-55. Akron fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 14 points.

Maddie Vejsicky and sophomore Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) each added nine points for the Zips.

NO. 17/18 NOTRE DAME EDGES AKRON
Akron kept No. 17/18 Notre Dame to just 20 percent from beyond the arc in a 4-for-20 shooting performance but fell 85-58 to the Fighting Irish on the road on Nov. 12.

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Ni'Rah Clark, who had 13 points. Shaena Brew added a career-high 12 points and two steals, and freshman Corinne Reed (Chicago, Ill.) helped out with a career-best 11 points from the bench.

Akron's defense held Notre Dame to only 20 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Zips also limited Vanessa de Jesus to 0-of-7 shooting from downtown and four points in the game.

Akron fell behind early in the contest and trailed 25-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Notre Dame kept adding to that lead, building a 46-27 advantage before Akron went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from Clark, to narrow its deficit to 46-34. Notre Dame responded and expanded its lead, leaving the Zips trailing 48-34 heading into halftime.

Akron's deficit continued to grow as the Zips faced a 70-45 disadvantage heading to the fourth quarter. Akron played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 11 points in the paint.

Akron could not pull any closer in the fourth, losing by a final of 85-58. Akron got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring four of its 13 total points.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Maddie Vejsicky and Teniesha Clarke each netted double-figure scoring nights versus Binghamton a season ago tallying 13 and 12 points, respectively.
• The Zips tallied 10 career-high marks at Cleveland State (Nov. 16) led by a career-best 15 points from Keiryn McGuff.
• Ni'Rah Clark and Monique Mitchell have each posted a pair of double-figure scoring performances this season.
• Three different Zips have led the squad in scoring this season led by Ni'Rah Clark (2), Keiryn McGuff (1) and Monique Mitchell (1), while four different Akron players have paced the team in rebounding headlined by Clark (2), McGuff (2), Shaena Brew (1) and Corinne Reed (1).
• Akron recorded 10 career-high marks against Notre Dame (Nov. 12), including Shaena Brew and Corinne Reed scoring career-high totals in scoring netting 12 and 11 points, respectively.
• The Zips shot a season-best 51.1 percent from the field versus the Fighting Irish (Nov. 12), including shooting more than 69 percent (.691) in the second quarter on 9-of-13 shooting.
• Five Akron players posted career-high marks at Robert Morris (Nov. 7), including a career-best 22-point effort from Ni'Rah Clark.
• Monique Mitchell registered a career-high 21-point scoring effort at South Alabama (Nov. 3).
• Ni'Rah Clark is rated eighth in the NCAA in field goal percentage (.724).
• The Zips garnered 12 career-high marks at South Alabama, with Brew dishing out a career- and game-high five assists, while junior Ella Wigal (Granville, Ohio) posted a season-best two steals.
• The 2024-25 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll included Akron, who under head coach Ryan Gensler earned special mention nods for having a 3.225 overall team GPA for the 2024-25 academic year.
• Akron is rated fifth in the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage (.417) and sixth in triples made (6.8) and three-point defense (.288).
• Individually, Ni'Rah Clark is second in field goal percentage (.724), Keiryn McGuff is eighth in blocks (0.8) and Shaena Brew is fourth in three-point percentage (.500) and eighth in assists (3.5).
• The Zips have posted 2 20+ scoring games this season. Ni'Rah Clark scored 22 points at Robert Morris (Nov. 7), while Monique Mitchell tallied 21 points versus South Alabama (Nov. 3).
• The 2025-26 season marks the 52nd season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
• 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 own season-high marks in scoring (63-USA), field goals made (24-USA | Notre Dame), triples (7-CSU), offensive rebounds (16-CSU), defensive rebounds (22-USA | RMU), rebounds (36-CSU), assists (14-RMU), steals (10-CSU | Notre Dame) and blocks (3-CSU | Notre Dame).
• Five different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led Monique Mitchell (2), Ni'Rah Clark (2), Shaena Brew (1), Keiryn McGuff (1) and Corinne Reed (1).
• Akron has connected on five or more three pointers in 114 of its last 155 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high seven triples in an 76-55 setback at Cleveland State (Nov. 16).

AKRON UNVEILS TALENTED SEVEN-MEMBER NEWCOMER CLASS
Akron under the leadership of third-year head coach Ryan Gensler, boast a talented seven-member newcomer class for 2025-26.

Donning the Akron uniform this season will be senior Natalie Johnson (Waldorf, Md.), Keiryn McGuff, sophomore Izzy Callaway (Copley, Ohio) and freshmen Kailee Bransford (Cincinnati, Ohio), Shaena Brew, Corinne Reed and Monique Mitchell.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's four games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .511 (Notre Dame), 40 percent: .440 (Robert Morris), .414 (South Alabama), 30 percent: .321 (Cleveland State), 20 percent: NA.

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' four games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .NA, 40 percent: .474 (South Alabama), .472 (Cleveland State), .470 (Notre Dame), .434 (Robert Morris), 30 percent: .NA, 20 percent: NA.

MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Zips under third-year head coach Ryan Gensler, were picked to finish eighth as a team behind preseason league and tournament favorite preseason favorite Kent State (5 first-place votes and 133 points). The Golden Flashes were followed by Toledo (2 votes, 118 points), UMass (3 votes, 115), Ball State (3 votes, 112), Central Michigan (105), Bowling Green (101), Miami (86), Akron (51), Western Michigan (48), Ohio (44), Buffalo (42), Eastern Michigan (36) and Northern Illinois (23).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 28.5 points per game for 114 total points. This season, the Zips posted a season-best 32 points in the paint at Notre Dame (Nov. 12), Robert Morris (Nov. 7) and South Alabama (Nov. 3). Additional inside the numbers for the Zips this season are below.

Points in Paint – 28.5 ppg (114) | Season-High - 32 at South Alabama | at Robert Morris | at Notre Dame
Points off Turnovers – 12.8 ppg (51) | Season-High -16 at Robert Morris
Second-Chance Points – 6.5 ppg (26) | Season-High - 12 at Cleveland State
Fast-Break Points – 8.0 ppg (32) | Season-High - 15 at Cleveland State
Bench Points – 21.0 ppg (84) | Season-High - 24 at South Alabama

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 20 seasons. When playing on its home court, Akron owns a 140-96 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

Last season, the Zips averaged 66.6 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 41 percent (.406) of their attempts from the field, while recording 39.0 rebounds, 11.9 assists, 6.6 steals and 3.3 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron hosts Xavier in a 6 p.m. game on Monday (Nov. 24) at James A. Rhodes Arena.