Akron Opens Homestand Battling Miami

Wednesday, February 19

Akron, Ohio

6:00 PM

University of Akron

Miami

February 18 | Women's Basketball

Akron (9-16, 3-9 MAC) vs. Miami (15-8, 7-5 MAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 19
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio

Series History: Miami leads 41-24
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 opens a two-game homestand welcoming Miami to James A. Rhodes Arena on Wednesday (Feb. 19). The 6 p.m. tilt with the RedHawks will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps on the call as well as on GoZips.com with Bill Morgan on the radio call.

Tickets for the contest against the RedHawks 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
Miami: Glenn Box (Southeast Missouri State, 1998), Overall Record: 24-28 (Second Season), Record at Miami: 24-28 (Second Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 20-34 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 20-34 (Second Season)

SCOUTING MIAMI
Miami enters action against Akron on Wednesday (Feb. 19) at 15-8 on the campaign, including 7-5 in the Mid-American Conference, following a 64-62 victory at Kent State on Saturday (Feb. 15).

Sophomore Enjulina Gonzalez leads three RedHawks averaging in double figures posting a team-high 17.1 points per game. Adding 10.3 points and pulling down a team-best 8.2 rebounds per contest is sophomore Amber Tretter, while redshirt senior Maya Chandler is posting 10.1 points per night. As a team, Miami is recording 65.7 points, 34.3 rebounds, 13.0 assists, 12.0 steals and 2.9 blocks per tilt.

The RedHawks are rated 15th in the NCAA in forced turnovers (21.78), 16th in steals per game (12.0), 31st in scoring defense (56.2), 40th in free throw percentage (.762) and 45th in field goal percentage defense (.375).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Miami are meeting for the 66th time in program history. The RedHawks lead the series, 41-24, after the Miami bettered the Zips, 76-54, on Jan. 22, 2025, in Oxford, Ohio.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (JAN. 22, 2025 – OXFORD, OHIO)
Akron garnered a 15-point and 11-rebound performance from redshirt senior Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.) to lead three Zips scoring in double figures, but fell 76-54 at Miami on Jan. 22 in Oxford, Ohio.

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Brown, who put together her team-leading fifth double-double of the season. Senior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) added 13 points, while freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) chipped in as well with 12 points from the bench.

Led by senior Alexus Mobley's (Indianapolis, Ind.) three offensive rebounds, Akron did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 10 boards. Akron forced 13 Miami turnovers. The Zips turned those takeaways into 10 points on the other end of the floor. Brown's four steals led the way for Akron.

ROCKETS RALLY PAST ZIPS
Akron went into halftime tied 27-27 with Toledo but could not take control in the second half and fell 75-54 to the Rockets on the road on Saturday (Feb. 15).

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Ni'Rah Clark, who had a career-high 16 points. Zakia Rasheed added 11 points and Alexus Mobley chipped in as well with 10 points from the bench.

Junior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) pulled down three offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, grabbing 13 boards and turning them into 11 second-chance points.

SHORT-HANDED AKRON FALLS AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN
Akron's Shelbee Brown scored 19 points and freshman Liz Murphy (Yackandandah, Australia) had six more, but the Zips fell to Georgia Southern, 60-36, as part of the Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Challenge on Feb. 8.

Brown recorded her team-leading eighth double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Zips. Murphy tacked on six points off of the bench and Ni'Rah Clark helped out with five points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

SIMMONS GARNERS TOPCONNECT GALA HONORS
Kelly Simmons of the Akron women's basketball program was among 21 graduate assistants who participated in the TopConnect Graduate Assistant Leadership Academy with coach Josh Pastner.

Simmons completed eight sessions and is among the future leaders in college basketball.

This academy identifies up-and-coming coached in the country and provides them the necessary skills and relationships to assist them on their career path.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Ni'Rah Clark scored a career-high 16 points against her hometown Rockets on Saturday (Feb. 15).
• Shelbee Brown registered back-to-back double-doubles with a 19-point and 10-rebound effort at Georgia Southern (Feb. 8) and a career-best 32-point and 19-rebound performance against Western Michigan (Feb. 5). She has now turned in double-doubles in four of Akron's last seven games and eight times overall on the campaign.
• After Ni'Rah Clark dished out a career-best three assists versus Western Michigan (Feb. 5), nine different Zips have led Akron in dishing out assists in a game this season.
• Shelbee Brown posted the 10th-best single-game rebounding effort in program history pulling down a career-high 19 rebounds versus Western Michigan (Feb. 5). Her effort stands as the top single-game mark in the Mid-American Conference this season.
• Shelbee Brown's 32-point performance against Western Michigan (Feb. 5) is the highest-scoring output for a Zip since Reagan Bass netted 33 versus Tennessee State on Dec. 3, 2023. It represents the second-highest scoring effort in the MAC this season behind.
• Liz Murphy scored a career-high eight points at Kent State (Feb. 1).
• Shelbee Brown has scored in double figures in eight of Akron's last nine games and 14 of 17 overall.
• Junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) has made a team-high 45 three pointers this season, including one in all but three contests on the campaign.
• Shelbee Brown has connected on 40 percent or better from the field in 19 of Akron's 25 games.
• Liz Murphy scored her first collegiate points connecting on a fourth quarter three pointer at Miami (Jan. 22).
• Ni'Rah Clark has posted two or more blocks in seven games this season, including in five of 12 league contests.
• Senior Ellen Kinnaird (Lewis Center, Ohio) registered her first career points with a pair of made free throws against Ball State (Jan. 18). A five-year member of the Akron volleyball team, she joined the Zips' squad in time for the squad's game at Eastern Michigan (Jan. 11)
• Liisa Taponen recorded her second career double-figure rebounding game at Ball State (Jan. 18) pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds.
• Emily Hall recorded a season-high 17 points at Eastern Michigan (Jan. 11).
• Zakia Rasheed connected on a career-high 21 points on seven three pointers versus Northern Illinois (Jan. 8). Her seven triples stand as the fourth-best single-game effort in program history.
• Alexus Mobley was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Dec. 31.
• Liisa Taponen recorded a career-best 17-point effort at Ohio (Jan. 1).
• Ni'Rah 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 shined in the classroom during the fall semester as Akron recorded a 3.04 team GPA, including three Zips turning in a perfect 4.0 GPA.
• Liisa Taponen recorded a career-best 11 rebounds against No. 20 Michigan (Dec. 20), while also posting a career-high three blocks.
• Akron is rated second in the Mid-American Conference in blocked shots (3.08) and fourth in offensive rebounds (11.68).
• Individually, Shelbee Brown is fourth in rebounding (8.52), defensive rebounds (5.92) and offensive rebounds (2.60) and eighth in steals (2.08), Liisa Taponen is eighth in offensive rebounds (2.16) and ninth in blocked shots (0.72), while Ni'Rah Clark is second in blocked shots (1.13).
• In league-only games, Akron is ranked second in the MAC in offensive rebounding (11.75) and fifth in blocked shots (2.58) and in rebounding margin (3.75).
• In conference-only tilts, Ni'Rah Clark is rated third in the league in blocked shots (1.33). Additionally, Emily Hall is third in minutes played (35.20) and Shelbee Brown is third in offensive rebounding (3.00), fourth in rebounding (9.00), fifth in defensive rebounding (6.00) and eighth in scoring (15.25).
• The Zips have posted seven 20+ scoring games this season. Shelbee Brown tallied 32, 22, 21 and 20 points, respectively, versus Western Michigan (Feb. 5), Bowling Green (Jan. 29), Buffalo (Jan. 25) and Central Michigan (Jan. 15). Sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) poured in 20 against both Ohio (Jan. 1) and Cleveland State (Nov. 16), while Alexus Mobley added 30 and 23 versus Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28) and Toledo (Jan. 4). Zakia Rasheed posted 21 against Northern Illinois (Jan. 8) and junior Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) tallied 26 points against Georgia State (Nov. 4).
• The 2024-25 season marks the 51st season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
• The Zips own season-high marks in scoring (88-GSU), field goals made (32-CSU), triples (10-SRU), offensive rebounds (19-SRU | OHIO-1), defensive rebounds (39-MIAH), rebounds (51-MIAH), assists (22-CAN), steals (9-CAN) and blocks (10-TSU | MIAH).
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led Shelbee Brown (17), Alexus Mobley (16), Maddie Vejsicky (9), Teniesha Clarke (8), Zakia Rasheed (8), Ni'Rah Clark (5), Kam'Ren Rhodes (4), Liisa Taponen (4) and Emily Hall (1).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 108 of its last 145 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high 10 triples in an 79-43 victory over Slippery Rock (Dec. 4).

AKRON UNVEILS TALENTED SEVEN-MEMBER NEWCOMER CLASS
Akron under the leadership of second-year head coach Ryan Gensler, boast a talented seven-member newcomer class for 2024.

Donning the Akron uniform this season will be freshmen Kyara Bakker (Leiderdorp, Netherlands) and Ni'Rah Clark, Emily Hall, junior Caroline Lyles (Argyle, Texas), Kam'Ren Rhodes, Maddie Vejsicky and sophomore Ella Wigal (Granville, Ohio).

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 25 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .492 (Cleveland State), .483 (Canisius), .481 (Northern Illinois), .469 (Bowling Green), .464 (Bellarmine), .463 (Miami Hamilton), .444 (Ohio-1), .439 (Iona), .436 (Buffalo), .420 (Toledo-1), .420 (Slippery Rock), .417 (Eastern Michigan-1), .404 (Western Michigan-1), 30 percent: .396 (Michigan), .389 (Ball State), .388 (Colgate), .379 (Tennessee State), .377 (Georgia State), .361 (Robert Morris), .360 (Toledo-2), .357 (Miami-1), .340 (Kent State-1), .333 (Binghamton), .292 (Central Michigan-1), .244 (Georgia Southern).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 25 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .538 (Ball State), .532 (Kent State-1), .522 (Western Michigan-1), .500 (Miami-1), 40 percent: .491 (Cleveland State), .485 (Michigan), .483 (Northern Illinois), .469 (Robert Morris), .466 (Bowling Green ), .463 (Bellarmine), .459 (Toledo-1), .455 (Toledo-2), .453 (Buffalo), .444 (Eastern Michigan-1), .433 (Central Michigan-1), .414 (Binghamton), .403 (Tennessee State), 30 percent: .393 (Colgate), .383 (Georgia Southern), .368 (Ohio-1), .361 (Georgia State), .310 (Miami Hamilton), .310 (Iona), 20 percent: .298 (Canisius), .278 (Slippery Rock).

MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Zips under second-year head coach Ryan Gensler, were picked to finish ninth as a team behind preseason league and tournament favorite preseason favorite Ball State (10 first-place votes and 120 points). The Cardinals were followed by Kent State (2 first-place votes and 104 points), Buffalo (98), Bowling Green (96), Toledo (82), Northern Illinois (64), Ohio (64), Miami (44), Akron (43), Western Michigan (34), Eastern Michigan (23) and Central Michigan (20).

OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES
Led by 19.2 points per game from Shelbee Brown, a pair of Zips are averaging double-figures in scoring over the last five games. Joining Brown with 10.8 points per outing is Alexus Mobley. Brown is pulling down a team-best 10.6 rebounds per contest, while Ni'Rah Clark is shooting a team-high 48.6 percent from the field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 31.3 points per game for 782 total points. This season, the Zips posted a season-best 46 points in the paint in a 84-74 victory over Cleveland State (Nov. 16) as well as an 80-52 triumph past Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28). Additional inside the numbers for the Zips this season are below.

Points in Paint – 31.3 ppg (782) | Season-High - 46 vs. Cleveland State | Miami Hamilton
Points off Turnovers – 14.1 ppg (352) | Season-High - 24 vs. Cleveland State
Second-Chance Points – 10.4 ppg (260) | Season-High - 20 vs. Slippery Rock
Fast-Break Points – 6.5 ppg (162) | Season-High - 15 vs. Miami Hamilton
Bench Points – 15.6 ppg (389) | Season-High - 36 vs. Canisius

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 19 seasons. When playing on its home court, Akron owns a 139-93 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are 6-6 in the JAR, averaging 69.3 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 42 percent (.419) of their attempts from the field, while recording 38.3 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 6.3 steals and 3.8 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron welcomes Ohio to James A. Rhodes Arena for a 2 p.m. tilt on Saturday (Feb. 22).

AKRON ATHLETICS NOW CASHLESS
The University of Akron Athletics Department announced its transition to cashless payments for all ticketing, concessions, and merchandise purchases at all Akron athletic venues, concession stands, and gear shops, beginning with the start of the 2024-25 sports seasons. For more information click here.