Akron Squares Off Versus Bowling Green

Wednesday, January 28

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Bowling Green

January 27 | Women's Basketball

Akron (3-16, 0-7 MAC) at Bowling Green (10-9, 3-5 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 28
Stroh Center
Bowling Green, Ohio

Series History: Bowling Green leads 60-14
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team visits Bowling Green for a Mid-American Conference showdown on Wednesday (Jan. 28). The 7 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on 640 WHLO AM with Jim Clark on the radio call.

HEAD COACHES
Bowling Green: Fred Chmiel (Excelsior, 2001), Overall Record: 44-37 (Third Season), Record at Bowling Green: 44-37 (Third Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (Saint Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 24-55 (Third Season), Record at Akron: 24-55 (Third Season)

SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
Bowling Green comes into action against Akron on Wednesday (Jan. 28) at 10-9 on the campaign, including 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference, following an 65-64 setback at Massachusetts on Saturday (Jan. 24).

Junior Paige Kohler and sophomore Johnea Donahue average a team-best 13.7 and 11.2 points per game, respectively, for the Falcons, while junior Taya Ellis is pulling down a team-high 6.3 rebounds per contest. As a team, Bowling Green is recording 70.3 points, 13.7 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 11.1 steals and 3.8 blocks per tilt.

As a unit, the Falcons are rated 23rd in the NCAA in free throws made (15.53), 33rd in three pointers attempted (25.7), 34th in free throws attempted (21.21) and 38th in steals per game (11.1). Donahue is third in steals per contest (4.06) and 10th in steals (69).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Bowling Green are meeting for the 75th in program history with the Falcons leading the series by a 60-14 margin. A year ago, the Falcons posted an 82-69 home triumph in Bowling Green, Ohio, on Jan. 29, 2025.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (JAN. 29, 2025 – BOWLING GREEN, OHIO)
Sparked by a career-high 22 points from Shelbee Brown, Akron shot 53.3 percent from beyond the arc, but fell at Bowling Green, 82-69, on Jan. 29, 2025.

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Brown, who notched her team-leading sixth double-double of the season with a 22-point and 12-rebound performance. Zakia Rasheed tacked on 14 points, including four three pointers, off of the bench, while senior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) added 11 points.

The Akron offense was very productive from beyond the arc, making eight threes on 15 attempts. Rasheed was the most prolific shooter for the Zips, draining four treys in the contest.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN BESTS AKRON
Akron fell short in a 74-53 setback to Central Michigan at home at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 21.

Freshman Shaena Brew (Rialto, Calif.) led the Zips with a team-high 16 points. Junior Keiryn McGuff (Dublin, Ohio) also tacked on a nine-point, six-rebound and two-steal performance, while junior Ella Wigal (Granville, Ohio) pulled down a team-high six rebounds to go along with three points off the bench.

Akron forced 17 Central Michigan turnovers turning those takeaways into 12 points on the offensive end of the floor. Sophomore Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) led the way individually with two steals.

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

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

Keiryn McGuff 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.

OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES
Ni'Rah Clark leads Akron over the last five games averaging a 13.4 points per contest. Keiryn McGuff is pulling down a team-best 6.8 rebounds, while Clark is shooting a team-high 49.0 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 11 contests on the campaign.
• Maddie Vejsicky and Ni'Rah Clark are averaging 11.0 and 6.0 points per contest in their careers against Bowling Green.
• 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 12 games this season.
• Corinne Reed has pulled down four or more rebounds in 10 contests on the campaign, including eight of the last 10 games.
• Keiryn McGuff has registered four or more rebounds 15 times this season, including 11 straight games.
• Ni'Rah Clark has shot 40 percent or better in 13 games on the campaign en route to maintaining a team-best .514 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 Liz Murphy and Corinne Reed, while freshman Monique Mitchell (South Bend, Ind.) pulled down a career-high nine rebounds.
• Akron is rated third in the Mid-American Conference in triples made (7.1), while in league-only affairs the Zips are ranked fourth in offensive rebounding (12.9).
• Individually, Shaena Brew is eighth in assists (3.5) and sophomore Izzy Callaway (Copley, Ohio) is second in three-point percentage (.424).
• In league-only contests Corinne Reed is third in three-point percentage (.500), Keiryn McGuff is eighth in rebounding (6.9), Monique Mitchell is seventh in free throw percentage (.840) and Shaena Brew is ninth in assists (3.4) and 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.0).
• Akron is 33rd in the NCAA in bench scoring (26.1), 47th in free throws attempted (20.26) and 49th in triples attempted (24.4).
• Led by career-high 36-, 20- and 16-point scoring performances from Izzy Callaway, Shaena Brew and sophomore Liz Murphy (Yackandandah, Australia), 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. 34 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.
• 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.
• Four Zips scored in double figures against Binghamton (Nov. 20) as Ni'Rah Clark, Shaena Brew, Natalie Johnson and Keiryn McGuff tallied, 19, 14, 13 and 13 points, respectively.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Shaena Brew (9), Ni'Rah Clark (9), Monique Mitchell (7), Izzy Callaway (5), Keiryn McGuff (5), Corinne Reed (5), Natalie Johnson (2), Liz Murphy (2), redshirt senior Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) (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), Shaena Brew (3), Keiryn McGuff (3), Izzy Callaway (2), Corinne Reed (1) and Maddie Vejsicky (1), while eight different Akron players have paced the team in rebounding headlined by McGuff (9), Clark (7), Brew (4), Reed (4), Ella Wigal (2), seniors Natalie Johnson (Waldorf, Md.) (1) and Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) (1) and Vejsicky (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 170 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 19 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), .352 (Central Michigan-1), .321 (Cleveland State), .315 (MIami-1), .309 (Ohio-1), 20 percent: .295 (Xavier), .249 (Western Michigan-1).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 19 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), .452 (Central Michigan-1), .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 31.5 points per game for 598 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 – 31.5 ppg (598) | Season-High - 62 vs. Heidelberg
Points off Turnovers – 14.8 ppg (281) | Season-High - 39 vs. Heidelberg
Second-Chance Points – 10.5 ppg (199) | Season-High - 29 vs. Geneva
Fast-Break Points – 10.4 ppg (198) | Season-High - 36 vs. Heidelberg
Bench Points – 26.2 ppg (497) | 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 142-102 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign. This season, the Zips average 76.6 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 41 percent (.406) of their attempts from the field, while recording 40.6 rebounds, 12.5 assists, 7.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron opens a three-game homestand welcoming Buffalo to James A. Rhodes Arena for a noon contest on Saturday (Jan. 31).