Akron Visits MAC Newcomer Massachusetts

Wednesday, January 14

Amherst, Mass.

11:00 AM

University of Akron

UMass

January 13 | Women's Basketball

Akron (3-13, 0-4 MAC) at Massachusetts (11-3, 3-1 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 14
Mullins Center
Amherst, Mass.

Series History: First Meeting
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 travels to Amherst, Mass., to battle Massachusetts in a Mid-American Conference showdown on Wednesday (Jan. 14). The 11 a.m. tilt will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as on 640 WHLO AM with Jim Clark on the radio call.

HEAD COACHES
Massachusetts: Mike Leflar (Boston College, 2002), Overall Record: 33-35 (Third Season), Record at Massachusetts: 33-35 (Third Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (Saint Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 24-52 (Third Season), Record at Akron: 24-52 (Third Season)

SCOUTING MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts enters play versus Akron on Wednesday (Jan. 14) at 11-3 on the campaign, including 3-1 in the Mid-American Conference, following an 74-72 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday (Jan. 10).

A trio of Minutewomen are averaging double figures in scoring as sophomore Yahmani McKayle, senior Megan Olbrys and redshirt senior Allie Palmieri are posting 16.1, 14.4 and 11.6 points per night, respectively. Olbrys also paces Massachusetts in rebounding pulling down 7.4 caroms per game. As a team, the Minutewomen are recording 69.1 points, 39.6 rebounds, 16.4 assists, 10.1 steals and 3.9 blocks per tilt.

As a unit, Massachusetts is rated 34th in the NCAA in field goal percentage defense (.363), 41st in offensive rebounding (14.7) and three-point defense (.269), 47th in winning percentage (.786) and 48th in assists (16.4) and scoring defense (57.8). Individually, sophomore Ayanna Franks is 21st in steals per game (3.21) and 35th in steals (45).

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

MIAMI EDGES ZIPS
Akron got a trio of double-figure scoring efforts, including a team-high 13-point effort from junior Keiryn McGuff (Dublin, Ohio), but fell 79-56 to Miami in Mid-American Conference action at James A. Rhodes Arena on Saturday (Jan. 10).

The Zips were led by McGuff, who had 13 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) added 11 points and redshirt senior Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) helped out with a season-high 11 points off the bench.

Akron out-rebounded Miami, 38-30, in Saturday's game, paced by McGuff's six boards. The Zips also grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and scored 12 second-chance points.

The Akron defense forced 17 Miami turnovers and those takeaways turned into nine points on the offensive end of the floor. Junior Ella Wigal (Granville, Ohio) led the way individually for the Zips with two steals.

AKRON FALLS AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
Akron overcame a five-point halftime deficit to assume a fourth quarter lead, but the Zips were unable to secure their first Mid-American Conference victory as Western Michigan escaped with a 55-48 victory on Jan. 7.

Freshman Monique Mitchell (South Bend, Ind.) led the Zips with 14 points, while Keiryn McGuff registered an eight-point, career-high 12 rebound and four-block performance. Freshman Shaena Brew (Rialto, Calif.) chipped in as well with six points.

Led by Mitchell's three offensive rebounds, Akron crashed the offensive glass, pulling down 13 boards that resulted in 10 second-chance points.

OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES
Monique Mitchell leads Akron over the last five games averaging a 11.4 points per contest. Keiryn McGuff is pulling down a team-best 7.2 rebounds, while freshman Corinne Reed (Chicago, Ill.) is shooting a team-high 48.1 percent from the field.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron's starting line-up is the youngest in the Mid-American Conference this season with the Zips having started a trio of freshman in eight contests on the campaign.
• Shaena Brew has recorded three or more assists in 10 games this season.
• Corinne Reed has pulled down four or more rebounds in eight contests on the campaign, including six of the last seven games.
• Keiryn McGuff has registered four or more rebounds 12 times this season, including eight straight games.
• Ni'Rah Clark has shot 40 percent or better in 10 games on the campaign en route to maintaining a team-best .487 shooting mark from the field.
• Keiryn McGuff pulled down a career-best 12 rebounds at Western Michigan (Jan. 7), while also recording a career-high four blocked shots. Her four blocks stand as the 11th-best single-game effort in program history matching a four-block performance from Ni'Rah Clark versus Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28, 2024).
• Akron posted seven career-high marks at Ohio (Jan. 3), including a career-best 14-point effort from Corinne Reed, while also equaling a career- and season-high five assists.
• The Zips shot a season-best 58.8 percent from the field versus Le Moyne (Dec. 21), including shooting 75 percent in the third quarter on 9-of-12 shooting.
• The Zips netted six career-best marks against Le Moyne (Dec. 21).
• On the strength of Akron's 100-65 victory over Geneva (Dec. 16), the Zips have scored 100 or more points twice in a season for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign.
• Akron got double-doubles from both Ni'Rah Clark and Keiryn McGuff marking the first pair of double-doubles in a game from Zips since Reagan Bass (15 points & 13 rebounds) and Molly Neitzel (12 points and 11 rebounds) did so versus Kent State on Feb. 1, 2023.
• The Akron bench came alive against Geneva adding 65 points to its scoring output, en route to five Akron players scored 10 or more points, including a trio off the bench.
• The Zips posted 11 career-best totals versus Geneva (Dec. 16), including 17- and 13-point efforts from sophomore Liz Murphy (Yackandandah, Australia) and Corinne Reed, while Monique Mitchell pulled down a career-high nine rebounds.
• Akron is rated third in the Mid-American Conference in triples made (7.4).
• Individually, Shaena Brew is ninth in assists (3.5) and 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.2) and sophomore Izzy Callaway (Copley, Ohio) is second in three-point percentage (.450) and seventh in triples made (1.7).
• Akron is 24th in the NCAA in bench scoring (28.0).
• Led by career-high 36-, 20- and 16-point scoring performances from Izzy Callaway, Shaena Brew and Liz Murphy, the Zips posted 14 career-high marks against Heidelberg (Dec. 3).
• Akron's 117 points against Heidelberg (Dec. 3) represented its highest scoring game since earning a 118-71 triumph past Tennessee Tech on Nov. 12, 2013.
• Izzy Callaway's 36-point effort against Heidelberg stands as the top scoring performance in the Mid-American Conference this season and rates No. 22 in the NCAA. It also ranks sixth on the all-time single-game scoring list in program history last accomplished by Anita Brown on Jan. 14, 2015, at Toledo.
• Izzy Callaway connected on a league-best 13 field goals and eight three pointers against Heidelberg (Dec. 3).
• The eight three pointers for Izzy Callaway versus Heidelberg are the third-best single-game total in program history matching eight drained by Taylor Ruper against Ball State on Feb. 12, 2011.
• Akron's 44 made field goals against Heidelberg is the fourth-best single-game effort in program history, while the 13 triples represent the eighth highest single-game mark.
• A season-best five Zips in Izzy Callaway (36), Shaena Brew (20), Liz Murphy (16), senior Natalie Johnson (Waldorf, Md.) (13) and Monique Mitchell (13) scored in double-figures against Heidelberg (Dec. 3). Additionally, Brew and Ella Wigal pulled down a career-high 10 and nine rebounds, respectively.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Shaena Brew (7), Ni'Rah Clark (7), Monique Mitchell (6), Izzy Callaway (5), Keiryn McGuff (5), Corinne Reed (5), Natalie Johnson (2), Liz Murphy (2), Kam'Ren Rhodes (1) and Maddie Vejsicky (1).
• Seven different Zips have led the squad in scoring this season led by Ni'Rah Clark (5), Monique Mitchell (4), Keiryn McGuff (3), Shaena Brew (2), Izzy Callaway (2), Corinne Reed (1) and Maddie Vejsicky (1), while eight different Akron players have paced the team in rebounding headlined by McGuff (7), Clark (5), Brew (4), Reed (3), Natalie Johnson (1), senior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) (1), Vejsicky (1) and Ella Wigal (1).
• 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.
• The Zips have posted five 20+ scoring games this season. Keiryn McGuff tallied 20 points versus Le Moyne (Dec. 21). Izzy Callaway and Shaena Brew netted 36 and 20, respectively, against Heidelberg (Dec. 3). Ni'Rah Clark scored 22 points at Robert Morris (Nov. 7) and 21 points versus Geneva (Dec. 16), while Monique Mitchell tallied 21 points against South Alabama (Nov. 3) and 20 versus Le Moyne (Dec. 21).
• 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 (117-HEID), field goals made (44-HEID), triples (13-HEID), offensive rebounds (28-GEN), defensive rebounds (34-GEN), rebounds (62-GEN), assists (22-LEMO), steals (14-HEID) and blocks (5-HEID).
• Akron has connected on five or more three pointers in 126 of its last 167 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high 13 triples in an 117-34 victory versus Heidelberg (Dec. 3).

AKRON BOASTS 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 16 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .588 (Le Moyne), .587 (Heidelberg), .511 (Notre Dame), 40 percent: .469 (Binghamton), .440 (Robert Morris), .438 (Michigan), .414 (South Alabama), .410 (Geneva), .400 (Ball State-1), 30 percent: .370 (Delaware), .356 (Youngstown State), .321 (Cleveland State), .315 (MIami-1), .309 (Ohio-1), 20 percent: .295 (Xavier), .249 (Western Michigan-1).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 16 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .559 (Youngstown State), .558 (Miami-1), .500 (Ohio-1), .500 (Ball State-1), 40 percent: .485 (Michigan), .474 (Delaware), .474 (South Alabama), .472 (Le Moyne), .472 (Cleveland State), .470 (Notre Dame), .434 (Robert Morris), .407 (Xavier), 30 percent: .395 (Binghamton), .373 (Western Michigan-1), .338 (Geneva), 20 percent: .156 (Heidelberg).

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 31.3 points per game for 500 total points. This season, the Zips posted a season-best 62 points in the paint versus Heidelberg (Dec. 3). Additional inside the numbers for the Zips this season are below.

Points in Paint – 31.3 ppg (500) | Season-High - 62 vs. Heidelberg
Points off Turnovers – 15.4 ppg (246) | Season-High - 39 vs. Heidelberg
Second-Chance Points – 10.1 ppg (162) | Season-High - 29 vs. Geneva
Fast-Break Points – 11.1 ppg (177) | Season-High - 36 vs. Heidelberg
Bench Points – 28.1 ppg (450) | Season-High - 81 vs. Heidelberg

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 142-101 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign. This season, the Zips average 80.0 points per tilt and connecting on more than 41 percent (.412) of their attempts from the field, while recording 41.9 rebounds, 13.4 assists, 7.0 steals and 2.1 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to Amherst, Mass., for an 11 a.m. tilt at Massachusetts on Wednesday (Jan. 14).