Akron Squares Off Versus Robert Morris

Friday, November 7

Moon Township, Pa.

6:00 PM

University of Akron

Robert Morris

November 06 | Women's Basketball

Akron (0-1) at Robert Morris (1-0)
Friday, Nov. 7
UPMC Events Center
Moon Township, Pa.

Series History: Akron leads 16-9
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 travels to Moon Township, Pa., to battle Robert Morris on Friday (Nov. 7). The 6 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as on GoZips.com with Jim Clark on the radio call.

HEAD COACHES
Robert Morris: Chandler McCabe (Providence, 2012), Overall Record: 16-16 (Second Season), Record at Robert Morris: 16-16 (Second Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (Saint Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 21-40 (Third Season), Record at Akron: 21-40 (Third Season)

SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS
Robert Morris comes into play versus Akron on Friday (Nov. 7) at 1-0 on the campaign following a 78-63 victory at Illinois at Chicago on Monday (Nov. 3).

Senior Aislin Malcolm is the leading the Colonials in scoring (26.0), while ranking third in rebounding (5.0). Seniors Noa Givon and Bailey Kuhns also average double figures in scoring netting 13.0 points per contest. As a team, Robert Morris is recording 78.0 points, 38.0 rebounds, 18.0 assists, 4.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per tilt.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Robert Morris are meeting for the 26th time in program history, with the Zips owning a 16-9 series edge following a 59-53 setback against the Colonials on Nov. 13, 2024, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 13, 2024 – AKRON, OHIO)
Shelbee Brown collected a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but the Zips fell to Robert Morris, 59-53, at James A. Rhodes Arena on Nov. 13, 2024.

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Brown, with a 15-point and 10-rebound performance. Alexus Mobley added 12 points and junior Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) chipped in as well with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Led by senior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) pulling in three offensive rebounds, Akron crashed the offensive glass, pulling down 12 boards that resulted in 12 second-chance points.

Akron forced 18 Robert Morris turnovers. The Zips turned those takeaways into seven points on the other end of the floor. Brown's two steals led the way for Akron.

Akron fell behind 17-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Akron then started off the second quarter by going on a 7-0 run to narrow its deficit to 17-14. Robert Morris responded and expanded its lead, leaving the Zips trailing 28-22 heading into halftime.

Akron faced a 42-32 deficit heading to the fourth quarter. Akron knocked down two three-pointers in the quarter to score six of its 10 total points.

Robert Morris widened its lead in the fourth, constructing a 50-36 advantage before Akron went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Mobley's three, to shrink the deficit to 50-42 with 4:38 to go in the contest. The Zips kept their comeback going, but Robert Morris managed to hold on for the 59-53 win. Akron fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 21 points.

Brown notched a double-double for the Zips with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Akron defense forced 18 turnovers. Akron cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 12 offensive boards in the game.

ZIPS FALL AT SOUTH ALABAMA IN SEASON OPENER
Freshman Monique Mitchell (South Bend, Ohio) scored a career-high 21 point, but Akron dropped a 87-63 decision to a hot-shooting South Alabama squad in the season opener for both squads on Monday (Nov. 3) as part of the Mid-American Conference-Sub Belt Conference Challenge.

The Jaguars jumped out to an early lead in the contest outscoring the Zips in the opening stanza 29-13 en route to shooting 46.3 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes to maintain a 45-19 halftime advantage.

Akron came out strong in the second half and shot more than 51 percent from the field, led by 15 and eight points, respectively, from Mitchell and freshman Corinne Reed (Chicago, Ill.).

The Zips finished the evening shooting more than 41 percent (.414) from the field, including connecting on six three pointers, while South Alabama shot 47.4 percent from the floor in the game.

Junior Keiryn McGuff (Dublin, Ohio) added nine points for the Zips, while Reed contributed eight points and a team-high five rebounds. Sophomore Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) pulled down five rebounds, while freshman Shaena Brew (Rialto, Calif.) recorded seven points and dished out a game-high five assists.

AKRON BESTED AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN IN SEASON FINALE
Shelbee Brown and Alexus Mobley combined to score 42 total points, but Akron fell to Central Michigan, 70-61, on March 8, 2025, in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Brown led the Zips with 24 points and five steals. Mobley added 18 points and eight rebounds, while Ni'Rah Clark chipped in with seven points and six rebounds.

Clark pulled down four offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, grabbing 13 boards and turning them into 14 second-chance points.

Akron forced 15 Central Michigan turnovers while committing only nine themselves. The Zips turned those takeaways into 11 points on the offensive end of the floor. Brown's five steals led the way for Akron.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Freshmen Monique Mitchell, Corinne Reed and Shaena Brew registered career-high scoring efforts of 21, eight and seven points, respectively, at South Alabama (Nov. 3).
• 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 rated second in the Mid-American Conference in offensive rebounds (12.30) and fourth in rebounding (37.3), blocked shots (2.77) and in rebounding margin (4.0).
• Individually, Shelbee Brown was third in steals (2.3), fourth in offensive rebounds (2.9) and in defensive rebounds (6.0) and fifth in rebounding (8.9), Taponen was ninth in offensive rebounds (2.1), while Clark was fifth in blocked shots (1.00).
• In league-only games, Akron ranked second in the MAC in offensive rebounding (12.7) and third in rebounding margin (5.76) and in rebounding (36.7).
• In conference-only tilts, Clark rated fourth in the league in blocked shots (1.0). Additionally, Emily Hall was fifth in minutes played (35.4) and Shelbee Brown was third in offensive rebounding (3.4), steals (2.3) and in rebounding (9.4), sixth in defensive rebounding (6.1) and seventh in scoring (16.4).
• The Zips have posted 1 20+ scoring games this season. 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.
• The Zips own season-high marks in scoring (63-USA), field goals made (24-USA), triples (6-USA), offensive rebounds (11-USA), defensive rebounds (22-USA), rebounds (33-USA), assists (10-USA), steals (5-USA) and blocks (1-USA).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 111 of its last 152 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high six triples in an 87-63 setback at South Alabama (Nov. 3).

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 one game this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .NA, 40 percent: .414 (South Alabama), 30 percent: NA, 20 percent: NA.

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' one game this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .NA, 40 percent: .474 (South Alabama), 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 32.0 points per game for 32 total points. This season, the Zips posted a season-best 23 points in the paint in a 87-63 setback at South Alabama (Nov. 3). Additional inside the numbers for the Zips this season are below.

Points in Paint – 32.0 ppg (32) | Season-High - 32 at South Alabama
Points off Turnovers – 14.0 ppg (14) | Season-High -14 at South Alabama
Second-Chance Points – 4.0 ppg (4) | Season-High - 4 at South Alabama
Fast-Break Points – 5.0 ppg (5) | Season-High - 5 at South Alabama
Bench Points – 24.0 ppg (24) | 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 19 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 travels to Notre Dame, Ind., to battle Notre Dame on Wednesday (Nov. 12) at 7 p.m.