Akron Hosts Heidelberg

Wednesday, December 3

Akron, Ohio

11:00 AM

University of Akron

Heidelberg

Buy Tickets

December 02 | Women's Basketball

Akron (0-7) vs Heidelberg (1-5)
Wednesday, Dec. 3
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio

Series History: First Meeting
Live Stream: No Stream
Television: No Stream
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 welcomes Heidelberg to James A. Rhodes Arena on Wednesday (Dec. 3). The 11 a.m. tilt will be broadcast on GoZips.com with Jim Clark on the radio call.

Tickets for the contest against the Student Princes 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
Heidelberg: Erin Eaton (Elmira, 2005), Overall Record: 98-175 (12th Season), Record at Heidelberg: 4-27 (Second Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (Saint Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 21-46 (Third Season), Record at Akron: 21-46 (Third Season)

SCOUTING HEIDELBERG
Heidelberg comes into play versus Akron on Wednesday (Dec. 3) at 1-5 on the campaign following a 84-50 victory over Earlham on Sunday (Nov. 30).

Junior Mya Jones directs the Student Princes in scoring averaging 13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. As a team, Heidelberg is recording 55.7 points, 40.7 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.5 blocks per tilt.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Heidelberg are meeting for the first time in program history.

YOUNGSTOWN STATE EDGES AKRON
Akron got a 23-point showing from the bench but fell 90-63 to the Youngstown State at James A. Rhodes Arena on Sunday (Nov. 30).

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by senior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio), who had 11 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Izzy Callaway (Copley, Ohio) tacked on 11 points from the bench and freshman Corinne Reed (Chicago, Ill.) chipped in as well with 10 points.

The Akron offense was strong from three-point land, pouring in eight threes on 20 attempts. Callaway hit three treys for the Zips in the contest.

Akron struggled out of the gate, falling behind 22-9 at the end of the first quarter. Youngstown State kept adding to that lead, building a 36-16 advantage before Akron went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a bucket from senior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland), to narrow its deficit to 36-22. The Zips were unable to narrow the gap any further but did not lose ground either and entered halftime with a 38-24 deficit.

Akron's deficit continued to grow after halftime, and the Zips faced a 72-47 disadvantage heading to the fourth quarter. Akron's bench made the most of its minutes in the period, as non-starters totaled eight of the team's 23 third-quarter points.

Youngstown State kept widening its lead in the fourth, constructing an 89-57 advantage before Akron went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Callaway's three, to shrink the deficit to 89-63 with 42 seconds to go in the contest. Youngstown State responded and outscored the Zips the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 90-63. Akron got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring 10 of its 16 total points.

AKRON COMEBACK FALLS SHORT VERSUS XAVIER
Akron held Xavier to just 16.7 percent from deep in a 3-for-18 shooting performance but fell 64-57 to the Musketeers at James A. Rhodes Arena on Nov. 24.

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by freshman Shaena Brew (Rialto, Calif.) with 14 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) added 13 points and six rebounds, while Izzy Callaway scored 10 points off the bench. Brew and senior Natalie Johnson (Waldorf, Md.) led the squad on the glass, each pulling down eight rebounds. Brew pulled down three offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second chance opportunities for Akron, grabbing 15 boards and turning them into four second-chance points.

After falling behind 17-7, Akron went on a 7-0 run with 3:42 left in the first quarter to narrow its deficit to 17-14. The Zips continued to close the gap, cutting the Xavier lead to 19-17 by the end of the first period.

Xavier kept adding to that lead, building a 29-17 advantage before Akron went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a three from Callaway, to narrow its deficit to 29-23. Xavier responded and expanded its lead, leaving the Zips trailing 35-25 heading into halftime.

Akron and Xavier both put up 16 points in the third quarter, keeping the deficit even at 51-41 entering the fourth. Akron turned five offensive rebounds into four second chance points on the way to scoring 16 total points in the quarter.

Akron narrowed its deficit to 61-52 before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Brew's three, to shrink the deficit to 61-57 with 1:14 to go in the contest. Xavier responded and outscored the Zips the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 64-57. Akron took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 10 of its 16 points in the paint.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron is meeting Heidelberg for the first time in program history.
• The Zips garnered a trio of career-high marks versus Youngstown State, including Maddie Vejsicky pulling down a career-best seven rebounds and Corinne Reed dishing out three assists.
• Led by a career-best 14-point and eight-rebound effort from Shaena Brew, the Zips posted five career-high marks against Xavier (Nov. 24).
• The Zips registered nine career-best marks versus Binghamton (Nov. 20).
• A season-high four Zips scored in double figures against Binghamton (Nov. 20) as Ni'Rah Clark, Shaena Brew, Natalie Johnson and junior Keiryn McGuff (Dublin, Ohio) tallied, 19, 14, 13 and 13 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, Shaena Brew, Keiryn McGuff and freshman Monique Mitchell (South Bend, Ind.) have posted four, three, two and two double figure scoring performances this season.
• Six different Zips have led the squad in scoring this season led by Ni'Rah Clark (3), Shaena Brew (1), Izzy Callaway (1), Keiryn McGuff (1), Monique Mitchell (1) and Maddie Vejsicky (1), while six different Akron players have paced the team in rebounding headlined by Clark (3), McGuff (2), Brew (2), Natalie Johnson (1), Corinne Reed (1) and Vejsicky (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).
• 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 fourth in the Mid-American Conference in three-point percentage (.299) and triples made (6.6), fifth in three-point defense (.268) and sixth in field goal percentage (.397).
• Individually, Ni'Rah Clark is third in field goal percentage (.556), Keiryn McGuff is 10th in blocks (0.8), Shaena Brew is second in three-point percentage (.471), ninth in assists (3.4) and 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.0).
• 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 (94-BING), field goals made (30-BING), triples (8-BING | YSU), offensive rebounds (16-CSU), defensive rebounds (31-BING), rebounds (45-BING), assists (14-RMU), steals (10-CSU | Notre Dame) and blocks (3-CSU | Notre Dame | BING).
• Seven different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led Ni'Rah Clark (4), Shaena Brew (3), Izzy Callaway (2), Keiryn McGuff (2), Monique Mitchell (2), Corinne Reed (2), Natalie Johnson (1) and Maddie Vejsicky (1).
• Akron has connected on five or more three pointers in 117 of its last 158 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high eight triples in an 95-94 setback versus Binghamton (Nov. 20) as well as versus Youngstown State (Nov. 30).

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 Natalie Johnson, Keiryn McGuff, Izzy Callaway and freshmen Kailee Bransford (Cincinnati, Ohio), Shaena Brew, Corinne Reed and Monique Mitchell.

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's seven games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .511 (Notre Dame), 40 percent: .469 (Binghamton), .440 (Robert Morris), .414 (South Alabama), 30 percent: .356 (Youngstown State), .321 (Cleveland State), 20 percent: .295 (Xavier).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' seven games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .559 (Youngstown State), 40 percent: .474 (South Alabama), .472 (Cleveland State), .470 (Notre Dame), .434 (Robert Morris), .407 (Xavier), 30 percent: .395 (Binghamton), 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 29.4 points per game for 206 total points. This season, the Zips posted a season-best 44 points in the paint versus Binghamton (Nov. 20). Additional inside the numbers for the Zips this season are below.

Points in Paint – 29.4 ppg (206) | Season-High - 44 vs Binghamton
Points off Turnovers – 13.9 ppg (97) | Season-High -24 vs Binghamton
Second-Chance Points – 8.0 ppg (56) | Season-High - 17 vs Binghamton
Fast-Break Points – 9.7 ppg (68) | Season-High - 19 vs Binghamton
Bench Points – 22.4 ppg (157) | Season-High - 32 vs Binghamton

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 140-99 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips average 71.3 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 38 percent (.375) of their attempts from the field, while recording 37.0 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 4.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron visits Michigan for a 12 p.m. tilt on Dec. 13.