Akron Squares Off Against Western Michigan

Wednesday, January 7

Kalamazoo, Mich.

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Western Michigan

January 06 | Women's Basketball

Akron (3-11, 0-2 MAC) at Western Michigan (4-8, 1-1 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 7
University Arena
Kalamazoo, Mich.

Series History: Western Michigan leads 39-13
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team travels to Kalamazoo, Mich., for a showdown at Western Michigan on Wednesday (Jan. 7). The 7 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as on 640 WHLO AM with Jim Clark on the radio call.

HEAD COACHES
Western Michigan: Kate Achter (Bowling Green, 2008), Overall Record: 108-174 (10th Season), Record at Western Michigan: 4-8 (First Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (Saint Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 24-50 (Third Season), Record at Akron: 24-50 (Third Season)

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan comes into action against Akron on Wednesday (Jan. 7) at 4-8 on the campaign, including 1-1 in the Mid-American Conference, following an 83-65 victory past Buffalo on Saturday (Jan. 3).

Sophomore Kailey Starks leads the Broncos averaging a team-best 10.3 points per game. Sophomore D'Myjah Bolds is pulling down a team-high 6.0 rebounds per contest, while senior Alli Carlson paces the squad in assists (4.8) and steals (1.6). As a team, Western Michigan is recording 57.1 points, 35.3 rebounds, 13.3 assists, 6.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per tilt.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Western Michigan are meeting for the 53rd time in program history with the Broncos owning a 39-13 series lead. A year ago, Western Michigan edged the Zips, 77-66, on Feb. 26, 2025, in Kalamazoo, Mich., after besting Akron, 70-64, on Feb. 5, 2025, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (FEB. 26, 2025 – KALAMAZOO, MICH.)
Akron got a 19-point and nine-rebound showing from Shelbee Brown, but fell 77-66 to Western Michigan on the road on Feb. 26, 2025, in Kalamazoo, Mich.

The Zips had four players score in double figures, led by Brown, who had 19 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Alexus Mobley added 14 points, six rebounds and five assists off the bench, while sophomore Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) chipped in as well with 11 points and six rebounds. Senior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) rounded out Akron's double-figure scorers with 10 points.

Akron out-rebounded Western Michigan 35-22, paced by Brown's nine boards. The Zips also pulled down 14 offensive rebounds and scored 19 second-chance points.

OHIO RALLIES PAST ZIPS
Akron erased an 11-point halftime deficit but was unable to overcome Ohio down the stretch as the Bobcats earned a 73-56 triumph over the Zips in Mid-American Conference action on Saturday (Jan. 3).

Freshman Corinne Reed (Chicago, Ill.) led the Zips with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. Ni'Rah Clark tacked on an eight-point, seven-rebound and two-steal performance, while junior Keiryn McGuff (Dublin, Ohio) chipped in as well with eight points and nine rebounds.

Clark pulled down four offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up 17 offensive boards and turning them into 15 second-chance points.

The Akron defense was effective at taking away the basketball forcing 19 Ohio turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 12 points on the offensive end of the floor. Clark's two steals led the way individually for the Zips.

AKRON FALLS TO BALL STATE IN LEAGUE OPENER
Akron received a 25-point performance from the bench but fell 102-73 to Ball State in its Mid-American Conference opener at James A. Rhodes Arena on Dec. 31, 2025.

The Zips had two players score in double figures, led by freshman Monique Mitchell (South Bend, Ind.), who had 15 points on 50-percent shooting from the floor (5-of-10) and beyond the arc (2-of-4). Mitchell added four rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. Freshman Shaena Brew (Rialto, Calif.) followed in scoring with 12 points, five assists and four rebounds. Ni'Rah Clark added nine points and five rebounds, while senior Natalie Johnson (Waldorf, Md.) notched eight points and a steal.

Junior Ella Wigal (Granville, Ohio) pulled down four offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, grabbing 11 boards and turning them into seven second-chance points. Wigal recorded six total rebounds.

OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES
Ni'Rah Clark, Monique Mitchell, Corinne Reed and Keiryn McGuff lead Akron over the last five games averaging a 11.6, 11.2, 10.4 and 10.0 points per contest, respectively. McGuff is pulling down a team-best 6.6 rebounds, while Reed is shooting a team-high 54.5 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 six contests on the campaign.
• Ni'Rah Clark are Maddie Vejsicky are averaging 9.5 and 7.5 points per contest in their careers against Western Michigan.
• 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 (7.5) and fourth in field goal percentage (.421), scoring (71.9) and three-point percentage (.308).
• Individually, Ni'Rah Clark is sixth in field goal percentage (.525), Shaena Brew is second in three-point percentage (.424), eighth in assists (3.6) and ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.2) and sophomore Izzy Callaway (Copley, Ohio) is first in three-point percentage (.446) and sixth in triples made (1.8).
• Akron is 21st in the NCAA in bench scoring (29.4).
• 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. 18 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), Natalie Johnson (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.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Shaena Brew (7), Ni'Rah Clark (6), Izzy Callaway (5), Monique Mitchell (5), Corinne Reed (5), Keiryn McGuff (4), Natalie Johnson (2), Liz Murphy (2) and Maddie Vejsicky (1).
• Seven different Zips have led the squad in scoring this season led by Ni'Rah Clark (5), Monique Mitchell (3), Shaena Brew (2), Izzy Callaway (2), Keiryn McGuff (2), Corinne Reed (1) and Maddie Vejsicky (1), while eight different Akron players have paced the team in rebounding headlined by Clark (5), McGuff (5), Brew (4), Reed (2), Natalie Johnson (1), senior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) (1), Vejsicky (1) and Ella Wigal (1).
• Ni'Rah Clark posted a career-high 22 points at Robert Morris (Nov. 7).
• Monique Mitchell registered a career-high 21-point scoring effort at South Alabama (Nov. 3).
• 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 124 of its last 165 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 14 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), .309 (Ohio-1), 20 percent: .295 (Xavier).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 14 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .559 (Youngstown State), .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), .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 33.4 points per game for 468 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 – 33.4 ppg (468) | Season-High - 62 vs. Heidelberg
Points off Turnovers – 15.9 ppg (222) | Season-High - 39 vs. Heidelberg
Second-Chance Points – 10.0 ppg (140) | Season-High - 29 vs. Geneva
Fast-Break Points – 11.9 ppg (166) | Season-High - 36 vs. Heidelberg
Bench Points – 29.5 ppg (413) | 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 142-100 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign. This season, the Zips average 84.0 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 43 percent (.425) of their attempts from the field, while recording 42.5 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 6.8 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron welcomes Miami to James A. Rhodes Arena for a noon contest on Saturday (Jan. 10).