Akron Hosts Central Michigan in Midweek MACtion

Wednesday, January 21

Akron, Ohio

6:00 PM

University of Akron

Central Michigan

Buy Tickets

January 20 | Women's Basketball

Akron (3-15, 0-6 MAC) vs Central Michigan (10-4, 4-2 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 21
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio

Series History: Central Michigan leads 29-22
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 welcomes Central Michigan to James A. Rhodes Arena on Wednesday (Jan. 21). The 6 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps on the call as well as on 640 WHLO AM with Jim Clark on the radio call.

Tickets for the contest against the Chippewas 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
Central Michigan: Kristin Haynie (Michigan State, 2005), Overall Record: 30-45 (Third Season), Record at Central Michigan: 30-45 (Third Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (Saint Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 24-54 (Third Season), Record at Akron: 24-54 (Third Season)

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan comes into action against Akron on Wednesday (Jan. 21) at 10-6 on the campaign, including 4-2 in the Mid-American Conference, following an 77-64 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday (Jan. 17).

Sophomores Madi Morson and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington are averaging a team-best 17.9 and 14.4 points per game, respectively, for the Chippewas, while senior Taylor Anderson and Darrington are pulling down a team-high 7.9 rebounds per contest. As a team, Central Michigan is recording 69.2 points, 40.9 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 5.9 steals and 2.1 blocks per tilt.

As a unit, the Chippewas rated 31st in the NCAA in rebounding margin (8.1) and 47th in three-point percentage (.348) and three-point defense (.273). Individually, Darrington is 17th in field goal percentage (.584) and 22nd in offensive rebounding (3.9).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Kent State are meeting for the 52nd in program history with the Chippewas leading the series by a 29-22 margin. A year ago, the Chippewas posted an 70-61 home triumph in Mount Pleasant, Mich., on March 8 after besting the Zips by a 75-55 score on Jan. 15 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (MARCH 8, 2025 – MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH.)
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 sophomore Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) 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.

GOLDEN FLASHES OUTLAST ZIPS
Ni'Rah Clark scored 22 points, but the Zips fell to Kent State, 91-79, on the road on Saturday (Jan. 17).

Clark added six rebounds, two steals, and two blocks to her 22-point game to lead the Zips. Freshman Shaena Brew (Rialto, Calif.) helped out with 13 points and three steals, and freshman Corinne Reed (Chicago, Ill.) chipped in with eight points and two steals.

Junior Keiryn McGuff (Dublin, Ohio) pulled down three offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, grabbing 11 boards and turning them into 22 second-chance points.

AKRON FALLS AT MASSACHUSETTS
Ni'Rah Clark scored a career-high 25 points, but the Zips fell to Massachusetts, 82-68, on the road on Jan. 14.

Clark added seven rebounds to her 25-point game to lead the Zips. Freshman Monique Mitchell (South Bend, Ind.) helped out with 11 points and two steals and Keiryn McGuff chipped in with seven points, four assists and two steals. Sophomore Liz Murphy (Yackandandah, Australia) tallied an eight-point effort off the bench for the Zips.

Akron out-rebounded UMass 39-36, led by Clark's seven boards. The Zips also grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and scored 11 second-chance points.

OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES
Ni'Rah Clark leads Akron over the last five games averaging a 14.0 points per contest. Keiryn McGuff is pulling down a team-best 7.4 rebounds, while Corinne Reed is shooting a team-high 46.2 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 10 contests on the campaign.
• Ni'Rah Clark and junior Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) are averaging 9.5 and 8.0 points per contest in their careers against Central Michigan.
• Ni'Rah Clark poured in a career-high 25 points at Massachusetts (Jan. 14) on 11-of-16 shooting, while Keiryn McGuff dished out a career-best four assists.
• Shaena Brew has recorded three or more assists in 11 games this season.
• Corinne Reed has pulled down four or more rebounds in nine contests on the campaign, including seven of the last nine games.
• Keiryn McGuff has registered four or more rebounds 14 times this season, including 10 straight games.
• Ni'Rah Clark has shot 40 percent or better in 12 games on the campaign en route to maintaining a team-best .517 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.
• 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 Liz Murphy 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), while in league-only affairs the Zips are ranked fourth in offensive rebounding (14.0) and fifth in three pointers made (7.3).
• Individually, Ni'Rah Clark is ninth in field goal percentage (.517), Shaena Brew is eighth in assists (3.6) and 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.2) and sophomore Izzy Callaway (Copley, Ohio) is second in three-point percentage (.438) and seventh in triples made (1.6).
• In league-only contests Corinne Reed is fourth in three-point percentage (.583), Keiryn McGuff is seventh in rebounding (7.0), Monique Mitchell is sixth in free throw percentage (.840) and Shaena Brew is ninth in assists (3.5).
• Akron is 33rd in the NCAA in bench scoring (25.9) and 48th in triples attempted (24.6).
• 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. 28 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 junior Ella Wigal (Granville, Ohio) pulled down a career-high 10 and nine rebounds, respectively.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Ni'Rah Clark (9), Shaena Brew (8), Monique Mitchell (7), 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 (7), 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 (8), Clark (7), Brew (4), Reed (4), 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 seven 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 Kent State (Jan. 17), 25 points at Massachusetts (Jan. 14), 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 128 of its last 169 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 18 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), .443 (Kent State-1), .440 (Robert Morris), .438 (Michigan), .414 (South Alabama), .410 (Geneva), .400 (Ball State-1), 30 percent: .370 (Delaware), .367 (UMass-1), .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' 18 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .593 (Kent State-1), .559 (Youngstown State), .558 (Miami-1), .500 (Ohio-1), .500 (Ball State-1), 40 percent: .493 (UMass-1), .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 31.6 points per game for 568 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 – 31.6 ppg (568) | Season-High - 62 vs. Heidelberg
Points off Turnovers – 14.9 ppg (269) | Season-High - 39 vs. Heidelberg
Second-Chance Points – 10.8 ppg (195) | Season-High - 29 vs. Geneva
Fast-Break Points – 10.6 ppg (191) | Season-High - 36 vs. Heidelberg
Bench Points – 27.0 ppg (486) | 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 faces a road test at Bowling Green on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.