Akron Battles Western Michigan in Key League Showdown

Wednesday, February 5

Akron, Ohio

6:00 PM

University of Akron

Western Michigan

Akron Battles Western Michigan in Key League Showdown

February 04 | Women's Basketball

Akron (9-13, 3-7 MAC) vs Western Michigan (8-12, 5-5 MAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 5
James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio

Series History: Western Michigan leads 37-13
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 returns to James A. Rhodes Arena to host Western Michigan on Wednesday (Feb. 5). The 6 p.m. tilt with the Broncos 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 Broncos 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
Western Michigan: Shane Clipfell (Eastern Michigan, 2006), Overall Record: 193-215 (14th Season), Record at Western Michigan: 180-203 (13th Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 20-31 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 20-31 (Second Season)

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan enters action against Akron on Wednesday (Feb. 5) at 8-12 on the campaign, including 5-5 in the Mid-American Conference, following a 61-51 setback at Ball State on Saturday (Feb. 1).

Junior Marina Asensio leads a pair of Broncos averaging double figures in scoring posting a team-high 13.5 points per game. Adding 13.0 points per contest is redshirt senior Hannah Spitzley. As a team, Western Michigan is recording 56.9 points, 30.7 rebounds, 12.4 assists, 9.4 steals and 2.6 blocks per tilt.

Individually, Spitzley is rated 22nd in the NCAA in steals per game (2.75) and 34th in total steals (55), while Asensio is 45th in minutes played (35.09).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Western Michigan are meeting for the 51st time in program history. The Broncos lead the series, 37-13. A year ago, Western Michigan bested the Zips, 61-50, on Jan. 24, 2024, in Kalamazoo, Mich.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (JAN. 24, 2024 – KALAMAZOO, MICH.)
Akron came up short in a 60-51 loss at Western Michigan on Jan. 24, 2024. Morgan Haney led the Zips with 13 points and two steals. Reagan Bass also tacked on eight points and nine rebounds, while sophomore Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ohio) added seven points.

Bass pulled down two offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up 11 offensive boards and turned the caroms into eight second-chance points.

The Akron defense forced 15 Western Michigan turnovers. Those takeaways turned into 10 points on the offensive end of the floor. Haney's two steals led the way individually for the Zips.

AKRON FALLS AT RIVAL KENT STATE
Akron fell short in a 73-51 loss to rival Kent State on the road on Saturday (Feb. 1).

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by redshirt Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.), who had 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) tacked on 10 points, two steals and two blocks, while senior Alexus Mobley (Indianapolis, Ind.) chipped in as well with 10 points. Brown finished in double figures in scoring for the sixth consecutive game and for the 12th time in the last 14 contests for the Zips.

Akron forced 17 Kent State turnovers and turned those takeaways into 17 points on the other end of the floor. Redshirt senior Emily Hall (Phoenix, N.Y.) led the way individually with four steals.

BROWN SCORES CAREER-HIGH 22 POINTS AT BOWLING GREEN
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.

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. Senior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) tacked on 14 points, including four three pointers, off the bench, while junior 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.

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
• Freshman Liz Murphy (Yackandandah, Australia) scored a career-high eight points at Kent State (Feb. 1).
• Shelbee Brown has scored in double figures in six straight games and 12 of 14 overall.
• Maddie Vejsicky has made a team-high 45 three pointers this season, including one in all but two contests on the campaign.
• Shelbee Brown has connected on 40 percent or better from the field in 17 of Akron's 22 games this season, including eight straight.
• Led by 11 and seven rebounds from Shelbee Brown and Alexus Mobley, Akron outrebounded Miami (Jan. 12) by nine, 36-27, including a 10-5 advantage on the offensive glass.
• Shelbee Brown equaled a season-high steals at Miami (Jan. 22), while Maddie Vejsicky dished out a team- and season-best three assists.
• 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 six games this season, including in five of 10 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).
• Junior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) recorded her second career double-figure rebounding game at Ball State (Jan. 18) pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds.
• Liz Murphy joined the Akron roster and made her Zips' debut against Central Michigan (Jan. 15).
• Emily Hall recorded a season-high 17 points at Eastern Michigan (Jan. 11) as she led the Zips in scoring.
• A five-year member of the Akron volleyball team, Ellen Kinnaird joined the Zips' squad in time for the squad's game 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 recorded an Akron season-high five steals against Toledo (Jan. 4).
• 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 dished out a career-high two assists to go along with 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 her first career double-digit rebounding game pulling down 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 (3.27) and fifth in offensive rebounds (11.45).
• Individually, Shelbee Brown is fourth in rebounding (8.14) and in defensive rebounds (5.91), seventh in offensive rebounds (2.23) and in steals (2.00), Liisa Taponen is seventh in blocked shots (0.82) and ninth in offensive rebounds (2.18), while Ni'Rah Clark is second in blocked shots (1.14).
• In league-only games, Akron is ranked second in the MAC in offensive rebounding (11.30), third in blocked shots (2.80) and fourth in rebounding margin (3.80).
• In conference-only tilts, Ni'Rah Clark is rated third in the league in blocked shots (1.50). Additionally, Emily Hall is third in minutes played (35.01) and Shelbee Brown is fourth in defensive rebounding (6.00) and in rebounding (8.40) and sixth in offensive rebounding (2.40).
• The Zips have posted seven 20+ scoring games this season. Shelbee Brown tallied 22, 21 and 20 points, respectively, versus 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 (15), Alexus Mobley (14), Maddie Vejsicky (9), Teniesha Clarke (8), Zakia Rasheed (7), Ni'Rah Clark (4), Kam'Ren Rhodes (4), Liisa Taponen (4) and Emily Hall (1).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 108 of its last 142 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 22 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), 30 percent: .396 (Michigan), .389 (Ball State), .388 (Colgate), .379 (Tennessee State), .377 (Georgia State), .361 (Robert Morris), .357 (Miami-1), .340 (Kent State-1), .333 (Binghamton), .292 (Central Michigan-1).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 22 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .538 (Ball State), .532 (Kent State-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), .453 (Buffalo), .444 (Eastern Michigan-1), .433 (Central Michigan-1), .414 (Binghamton), .403 (Tennessee State), 30 percent: .393 (Colgate), .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 17.2 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 and 10.0 points per outing is Alexus Mobley and Maddie Vejsicky. Brown is pulling down a team-best 8.2 rebounds per contest, while Ni'Rah Clark is shooting a team-high 61.1 percent from the field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 31.8 points per game for 700 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 – 31.8 ppg (700) | Season-High - 46 vs. Cleveland State | Miami Hamilton
Points off Turnovers – 14.3 ppg (315) | Season-High - 24 vs. Cleveland State
Second-Chance Points – 10.5 ppg (231) | Season-High - 20 vs. Slippery Rock
Fast-Break Points – 6.9 ppg (151) | Season-High - 15 vs. Miami Hamilton
Bench Points – 16.8 ppg (370) | 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 139-92 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are 6-5 in the JAR, averaging 69.8 points per tilt and connecting on 42 percent (.420) of their attempts from the field, while recording 38.5 rebounds, 13.0 assists, 6.1 steals and 3.9 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to Statesboro, Ga., to battle Georgia Southern as part of the Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Conference Challenge on Saturday (Feb. 8) at 11 a.m.

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.