Akron Opens MAC Play Hosting Ball State

Wednesday, December 31

Akron, Ohio

12:00 PM

University of Akron

Ball State

Buy Tickets

December 30 | Women's Basketball

Akron (3-9, 0-0 MAC) vs Ball State (9-4, 1-0 MAC)
Wednesday, Dec. 31
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio

Series History: Ball State leads 31-19
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
Purchase Tickets: www.GoZips.com/Tickets

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron women's basketball team opens Mid-American Conference play welcoming Ball State to James A. Rhodes Arena on Wednesday (Dec. 31). The 12 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 Cardinals 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
Ball State: Brady Sallee (Thomas More, 1993), Overall Record: 409-269 (22nd Season), Record at Ball State: 273-159 (14th Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (Saint Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 24-48 (Third Season), Record at Akron: 24-48 (Third Season)

SCOUTING BALL STATE
Ball State comes into action against Akron on Wednesday (Dec. 31) at 9-4 on the campaign, including 1-0 in the Mid-American Conference, following a 78-74 victory past Eastern Michigan on Dec. 20.

Senior Bree Salenbien leads the Cardinals averaging a team-best 15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, while senior Tessa Towers and sophomore Grace Kingery are registering 12.6 and 11.8 points per contest, respectively. As a team, Ball State is recording 75.5 points, 46.9 rebounds, 18.5 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.0 blocks per tilt.

As a team, Ball State is ranked fifth in the NCAA in defensive rebounding (32.1), sixth in rebounding (46.92), 13th in rebounding margin (12.5), 24th in assists (18.5), 41st in offensive rebounding (14.8) and 48th in field goal percentage defense (.361). Individually, Towers is rated 21st in double-doubles (5) and 49th in total rebounds (110), while junior Karsyn Norman is 47th in total assists (61) and Kingery is 46th in three pointers (33).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Ball State are meeting for the 51st time in program history with the Cardinals owning a 31-19 series lead. In the last meeting between the two schools, Ball State earned an 80-57 triumph past the Zips on Jan. 18, 2025, in Muncie, Ind.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (JAN. 18, 2025 – MUNCIE, IND.)
The Zips scored in double figures led by 16 points from Alexus Mobley, but Akron fell to league-leading Ball State, 80-57, on the road on Jan. 18, 2025, in Muncie, Ind.

Mobley led the Zips with 16 points and two steals. Senior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) was dialed in from beyond the arc adding 14 points off the bench, including four three pointers, while Shelbee Brown chipped in with 13 points.

The Akron offense made eight threes in the contest. Akron did a great job disrupting Ball State shots in the contest, coming away with five blocks. Senior Liisa Taponen's (Tampere, Finland) two rejections led the way individually for the Zips.

ZIPS SOAR PAST LE MOYNE, 94-68
Akron garnered four double-digit scoring performances led by 20 points apiece from junior Keiryn McGuff (Dublin, Ohio) and freshman Monique Mitchell (South Bend, Ind.) to register a 94-68 triumph past Le Moyne at the 30th Annual Hawk Classic hosted by Saint Joseph's on Dec. 21 in Philadelphia, Pa.

The Zips were led by Mitchell, who had 20 points. McGuff added a career-high 20 points, while sophomore Izzy Callaway (Copley, Ohio) helped out with 14 points from the bench. Freshman Shaena Brew (Rialto, Calif.) chipped in with 11 points.

Akron shared the ball well racking up a season-best 22 assists. Individually, Maddie Vejsicky dished out five assists, while freshman Corinne Reed (Chicago, Ill.) chipped in with five assists of her own.

Akron forced 16 Le Moyne turnovers and turned those takeaways into 18 points. Sophomore Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) led the way individually with two steals.

LATE SURGE POWERS DELAWARE OVER AKRON
A fourth-quarter scoring run helped Delaware break open a four-point ballgame and lift the Blue Hens past Akron, 75-56, on Dec. 20 as part of the 30th Annual Hawk Classic hosted by Saint Joseph's.

The Zips had two players score in double figures, led by Ni'Rah Clark, who had 16 points and six rebounds. Corinne Reed added 10 points, while Monique Mitchell contributed eight points.

Akron grabbed 34 rebounds compared to Delaware's 31, led by Clark's six boards. Akron forced 13 Delaware turnovers. The Zips turned those takeaways into 11 points.

OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES
Izzy Callaway leads Akron over the last five games averaging a team-best 16.2 points per contest, while Ni'Rah Clark, Keiryn McGuff, sophomore Liz Murphy (Yackandandah, Australia), Monique Mitchell and Shaena Brew have added 11.3, 11.0, 11.0, 10.6 and 10.2 points, respectively, per night. McGuff is pulling down a team-best 5.8 rebounds, while Callaway is shooting a team-high 62.2 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 four contests on the campaign.
• The Zips shot a season-best 58.8 percent from the field versus the Dolphins (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).
• Maddie Vejsicky and Teniesha Clarke are averaging 14.0 and 5.0 points per contest in their careers against Ball State.
• 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 second in the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage (.434), third in scoring (73.1) and fourth in three-point percentage (.312), triples made (7.4).
• Individually, Ni'Rah Clark is third in field goal percentage (.563) and 10th in free throw percentage (.820), Shaena Brew is eighth in assist/turnover ratio (1.3) and ninth in assists (3.6) and Izzy Callaway is first in three-point percentage (.472) and fifth in triples made (2.1).
• Akron is 16th in the NCAA in bench scoring (31.0), 41st free throw attempts (21.17) and in free throws made (15.00), while Izzy Callaway is rated 17th in three-point percentage (.472).
• 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. 15 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 Ni'Rah Clark (6), Shaena Brew (6), Izzy Callaway (5), Corinne Reed (4), Keiryn McGuff (4), Monique Mitchell (4), Natalie Johnson (2), Liz Murphy (2) and Maddie Vejsicky (1).
• Six different Zips have led the squad in scoring this season led by Ni'Rah Clark (5), Shaena Brew (2), Izzy Callaway (2), Keiryn McGuff (2), Monique Mitchell (2) and Maddie Vejsicky (1), while seven different Akron players have paced the team in rebounding headlined by Clark (5), Brew (4),McGuff (4), Corinne Reed (2), Natalie Johnson (1), 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 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.
• Clark's four blocked shots versus Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28) stand as the 11th-best single-game effort in program history matching a four-block performance from Shelbee Brown at Colgate (Nov. 30).
• 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 122 of its last 163 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 12 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), 30 percent: .370 (Delaware), .356 (Youngstown State), .321 (Cleveland State), 20 percent: .295 (Xavier).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 12 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .559 (Youngstown State), 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 34.0 points per game for 408 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 – 34.0 ppg (408) | Season-High - 62 vs. Heidelberg
Points off Turnovers – 16.6 ppg (199) | Season-High - 39 vs. Heidelberg
Second-Chance Points – 9.8 ppg (118) | Season-High - 29 vs. Geneva
Fast-Break Points – 12.8 ppg (154) | Season-High - 36 vs. Heidelberg
Bench Points – 31.0 ppg (372) | 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 142-99 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips average 86.2 points per tilt and connecting on 43 percent (.430) of their attempts from the field, while recording 44.0 rebounds, 14.6 assists, 7.8 steals and 2.2 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to Ohio for a 1 p.m. tilt on Saturday (Jan. 3).