Akron Squares off Versus Ball State

Wednesday, February 25

Muncie, Ind.

6:30 PM

University of Akron

Ball State

February 24 | Women's Basketball

Akron (7-20, 4-10 MAC) vs Ball State (22-6, 13-2 MAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Worthen Arena
Muncie, Ind.

Series History: Cardinals lead series 32-19
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 visits Muncie, Ind., for an encounter with Ball State on Wednesday (Feb. 25). The 6:30 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as on 640 WHLO AM with Jim Clark on the radio call.

HEAD COACHES
Ball State: Brady Sallee (Thomas More, 1993), Overall Record: 422-271 (22nd Season), Record at Ball State: 286-161 (14th Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (Saint Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 28-59 (Third Season), Record at Akron: 28-59 (Third Season)

SCOUTING BALL STATE
Ball State comes into action against Akron on Wednesday (Feb. 25) at 22-6 on the campaign, including 13-2 in the Mid-American Conference, following a 68-64 loss at Miami on Saturday (Feb. 21).

Senior Bree Salenbien leads the Cardinals averaging a team-best 15.7 points per game, while senior Tessa Towers and sophomore Grace Kingery are registering 14.8 and 13.2 points per contest, respectively. As a team, Ball State is recording 78.8 points, 43.7 rebounds, 19.3 assists, 7.8 steals and 3.5 blocks per tilt.

As a team, Ball State is ranked fifth in the NCAA in rebounding (43.68), sixth in assists (19.3), seventh in defensive rebounding (30.4), 11th in rebounding margin (9.6), 19th in field goal percentage (.465), 24th in scoring offense (78.8), 34th in winning percentage (.786), 41st in field goal percentage defense (.371) and 46th in scoring margin (13.2). Individually, Towers is rated 18th in field goal percentage (.580) and 44th in field goals made (181), while junior Karsyn Norman is 35th in total assists (138) and 42nd in assists per game (4.9), and Kingery is 14th in triples (81), 16th in three pointers per night (2.89), 27th in three-point percentage (.420) and 43rd in three-point attempts (193).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Ball State are meeting for the 52nd time in program history with the Cardinals owning a 32-19 series lead. In the last meeting between the two schools, Ball State earned an 102-73 triumph past the Zips on Dec. 31, 2025, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (DEC. 31, 2025 – AKRON, OHIO)
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.

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. Sophomore Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) 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.

AKRON FALLS TO KENT STATE
Akron was unable to overcome a second-quarter scoring run by rival Kent State as the Golden Flashes rallied to post an 80-61 triumph over the Zips on Feb. 21 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Akron honored one of its own in pregame ceremonies as the No. 32 jersey of All-American Rachel Tecca (2009-14) was raised to the rafters.

The Zips had two players score in double figures, led by junior Keiryn McGuff (Dublin, Ohio), who had 14 points. Sophomore Izzy Callaway (Copley, Ohio) added 14 points and four assists from the bench and Ni'Rah Clark added nine points and two blocks.

The Akron offense was very productive from three-point land, knocking down nine threes on 23 attempts. Callaway was the most prolific shooter for the Zips, draining four treys in the contest.

Akron forced 13 Kent State turnovers turning those takeaways into 11 points on the other end of the floor. Sophomore Liz Murphy (Yackandandah, Australia) led the way individually with two steals.

ZIPS TRIUMPH OVER BOBCATS IN DOUBLE OVERTIME
Keiryn McGuff put Akron ahead for good on a basket with 13 seconds left in the second overtime to give the Zips a 108-105 win over Ohio at James A. Rhodes Arena on Feb. 18.

The Zips overcame a 13-point third-quarter deficit to secure its second consecutive victory, both in overtime.

Akron connected on a school-record 20 three pointers in the contest with Liz Murphy, Izzy Callaway and McGuff draining six, five and four triples, respectively. The Zips bested the previous mark of 16 set against Ohio on March 5, 2018.

ZIPS HONOR AKRON GREAT RACHEL TECCA
Akron women's basketball all-time great Rachel Tecca had her No. 32 jersey number honored on Saturday (Feb. 21), prior to the Zips' showdown with rival Kent State.

Tecca, No. 32, is the third player in program history to have her jersey number honored, joining the likes of No. 22 Pam Arnold and No. 24 Cheryl Bowles

Tecca represented the Blue and Gold from 2009-14, appearing in 138 games, including 108 as a starter. The Zips registered a 92-68 overall record and a 50-32 mark in the Mid-American Conference, while winning a regular season MAC Eastern Division Championship (2012-13) and MAC Tournament Championship (2013-14), participating in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, which stands as the only appearance in program history. During her career, Tecca amassed 2,317 points, 1,109 rebounds, 189 assists, 183 steals and 75 blocked shots.

Tecca was the fourth player in Akron basketball history to earn All-America honors (2013-14) and added several accolades, including being tabbed the MAC Player of the Year (2012-13), MAC Sixth Player of the Year (2009-10), a three-time First-Team All-MAC selection, MAC All-Freshman Team (2009-10) honoree, two-time MAC All-Tournament Team recipient and MAC Tournament MVP (2013-14).

AKRON HAS RECORD-SETTING NIGHT VERSUS OHIO
• Akron connected on a school-record 20 three pointers.
• Second most triples in an NCAA game this season
• 30th-best single-game effort for NCAA WBB since 1988 (line introduced that season)
• No. 2 mark in Mid-American Conference history for WBB, most versus a MAC opponent
• Most combined points in a game in program history
• Most points scored in program history vs a league opponent
• Fourth-most points scored in a game in program history.

JONES SELECTED TO WBCA NEXT GENERATION INSTITUTE
Akron women's basketball assistant coach Sarah Jones was among a select group of coaches selected to participate in the 2026 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Next Generation Institute.

Now in its fourth year, the Institute is a high-level education program for experienced assistant coaches who aspire to become collegiate head coach. The curriculum of the WBCA Next Generation Institute focuses on the CEO attributes needed to lead a program and be a problem-solver in today's ever-changing landscape of higher education and the enterprise of intercollegiate athletics. The Institute is held in conjunction with the WBCA Convention, which this year takes place April 2-5 in Phoenix, Ariz.

OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES
Shaena Brew, Ni'Rah Clark, Keiryn McGuff and Monique Mitchell lead Akron over the last five games averaging a 14.6, 14.0, 11.2 and 10.0 points per contest, respectively. McGuff is pulling down a team-best 6.8 rebounds, while Clark is shooting a team-high 58.5 percent from the field.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Ni'Rah Clark enters the Ball State tilt needing four points to reach the 500-point plateau for her Akron career.
• Five Zips scored in double figures against Ohio (Feb. 18) as Keiryn McGuff posted a career-best 22 points to go along with a career-high 20-point effort from Liz Murphy. Additionally, Izzy Callaway, Ni'Rah Clark and Shaena Brew tallied19, 18 and 17 points, respectively.
• Akron established 10 career-high marks against the Bobcats (Feb. 18).
• Shaena Brew set an Akron freshman record with 15 assists versus Ohio (Feb. 18).
• Natalie Johnson poured in an Akron career-high 18 points at Northern Illinois (Feb. 14) for the Zips.
• Akron freshmen Shaena Brew, Corinne Reed and Monique Mitchell each tallied career-high scoring totals at Central Michigan as the trio recorded 26, 23 and 15 points, respectively. It marked the first time in their young Akron careers that the Zips' starting trio all surpassed the double-figure scoring plateau in the same game.
• 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 17 contests on the campaign.
• Monique Mitchell, Shaena Brew and senior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) are averaging 15.0, 12.0 and 10.0 points per contest in their careers against Ball State.
• Shaena Brew's career-high nine assists versus Toledo (Feb. 4) are the most by a Zip since Jordyn Dawson dished out 10 dimes against Bowling Green on Jan. 8, 2022.
• Shaena Brew equaled a career high with a 20-point effort against Buffalo (Jan. 31), while Maddie Vejsicky posted a career-best three blocks.
• Liz Murphy equaled a career high in rebounds pulling down three at Bowling Green, while Keiryn McGuff matched a career-best two steals versus the Falcons.
• 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 17 games this season.
• Corinne Reed has pulled down four or more rebounds in 12 contests on the campaign, including 10 of the last 16 games.
• Keiryn McGuff has registered four or more rebounds 22 times this season, including 18 of the last 19 games.
• Ni'Rah Clark has shot 40 percent or better in 20 games on the campaign en route to maintaining a team-best .526 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 then 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 Monique Mitchell pulled down a career-high nine rebounds.
• Akron is rated third in the Mid-American Conference in scoring (71.1) and in triples made (7.6) and fifth in three-point defense (.304), while in league-only affairs the Zips are ranked third in three pointers (7.8), fourth in three-point defense (.312) and fifth in defensive rebounding (24.3).
• Individually, Izzy Callaway is fourth in three-point percentage (.417) and ninth in triples (1.7), Ni'Rah Clark is sixth in field goal percentage (.526), Shaena Brew is seventh in assists (4.0).
• In league-only contests Shaena Brew is seventh in assists (4.1) and Keiryn McGuff is eighth in rebounding (6.9).
• Akron is 29th in the NCAA in bench scoring (25.4), 39th in free throws attempted (20.59) and 40th in triples attempted (24.7).
• 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. 48 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.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Shaena Brew (15), Ni'Rah Clark (13), Monique Mitchell (11), Izzy Callaway (11), Keiryn McGuff (10), Corinne Reed (6), Liz Murphy (4), Natalie Johnson (3), 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 (10), Shaena Brew (6), Keiryn McGuff (5), Monique Mitchell (4), Izzy Callaway (3), Corinne Reed (1) and Maddie Vejsicky (1), while eight different Akron players have paced the team in rebounding headlined by McGuff (16), Clark (9), Brew (5), Reed (4), Ella Wigal (2), Natalie Johnson (1) and senior 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 13 20+ scoring games this season. Keiryn McGuff tallied 22 points against Ohio (Feb. 18) and 20 points versus Le Moyne (Dec. 21). Izzy Callaway netted 36 against Heidelberg (Dec. 3) and Shaena Brew tallied 26 at Central Michigan (Feb. 11) and 20 versus both Heidelberg (Dec. 3) and Buffalo (Jan. 31). Ni'Rah Clark scored 21 at Northern Illinois (Feb. 14), 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 23 points at Central Michigan (Feb. 11), 21 points against South Alabama (Nov. 3) and 20 versus Le Moyne (Dec. 21) and Liz Murphy posted 20 versus Ohio (Feb. 18).
• 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 (20-OHIO), offensive rebounds (28-GEN), defensive rebounds (34-GEN), rebounds (62-GEN), assists (22-OHIO/LEMO), steals (14-HEID) and blocks (5-HEID).
• Akron has connected on five or more three pointers in 135 of its last 178 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high and program record 20 triples in an 108-105 victory versus Ohio (Feb. 18).

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 27 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .588 (Le Moyne), .587 (Heidelberg), .533 (Central Michigan-2), .511 (Notre Dame), 40 percent: .469 (Binghamton), .468 (Toledo-1), .465 (Ohio-2), .443 (Kent State-1), .440 (Robert Morris), .438 (Michigan), .433 (Buffalo-1), .422 (Northern Illinois-1), .414 (South Alabama), .410 (Geneva), .404 (Louisiana), .400 (Ball State-1), 30 percent: .375 (Kent State-2), .370 (Delaware), .367 (UMass-1), .356 (Youngstown State), .352 (Central Michigan-1), .321 (Cleveland State), .349 (Bowling Green-1), .315 (Miami-1), .309 (Ohio-1), 20 percent: .295 (Xavier), .249 (Western Michigan-1).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 27 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .593 (Kent State-1), .559 (Youngstown State), .558 (Miami-1), .500 (Louisiana), .500 (Ohio-1), .500 (Ball State-1), 40 percent: .493 (UMass-1), .485 (Michigan), .484 (Toledo-1), .481 (Central Michigan-2), .474 (Delaware), .474 (South Alabama), .472 (Le Moyne), .472 (Cleveland State), .470 (Notre Dame), .458 (Buffalo-1), .452 (Central Michigan-1), .451 (Ohio-2), .448 (Kent State-2), .434 (Robert Morris), .429 (Bowling Green-1), .407 (Xavier), 30 percent: .395 (Binghamton), .393 (Northern Illinois-1), .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 31.1 points per game for 840 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 – 31.1 ppg (840) | Season-High - 62 vs. Heidelberg
Points off Turnovers – 14.7 ppg (398) | Season-High - 39 vs. Heidelberg
Second-Chance Points – 10.6 ppg (287) | Season-High - 29 vs. Geneva
Fast-Break Points – 10.5 ppg (284) | Season-High - 36 vs. Heidelberg
Bench Points – 25.5 ppg (688) | 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 145-104 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign. This season, the Zips average 77.4 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 42 percent (.416) of their attempts from the field, while recording 38.5 rebounds, 13.4 assists, 6.6 steals and 2.5 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to league-leading Miami for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday (Feb. 28).