Akron Faces Georgia Southern in MAC-SBC Challenge

Saturday, February 8

Statesboro, Ga.

11:00 AM

University of Akron

Georgia Southern

Akron Faces Georgia Southern in MAC-SBC Challenge

February 07 | Women's Basketball

Akron (9-14) at Georgia Southern (10-14)
Saturday, Feb. 8
Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center
Statesboro, Ga.

Series History: Series tied 1-1
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 travels to Statesboro, Ga., to take part in the Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Conference Challenge at Georgia Southern on Saturday (Feb. 8). The 11 a.m. tilt with the Eagles will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as on GoZips.com with Jim Clark on the radio call.

HEAD COACHES
Georgia Southern: Hana Haden (Western Carolina, 2014), Overall Record: 38-18 (Second Season), Record at Georgia Southern: 10-14 (First Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 20-32 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 20-32 (Second Season)

SCOUTING GEORGIA SOUTHERN
Georgia Southern enters action against Akron on Saturday (Feb. 8) at 10-14 on the campaign, including 3-9 in the Sun Belt Conference, following a 49-42 victory at Southern Miss on Wednesday (Feb. 5).

Senior Indya Green leads a pair of Eagles averaging double figures in scoring posting a team-high 12.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Adding 11.6 points per contest is senior Nicole Gwynn. As a team, Georgia Southern is recording 65.5 points, 39.5 rebounds, 13.3 assists, 9.3 steals and 3.1 blocks per tilt.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Georgia Southern are meeting for the third time in program history. The series is tied 1-1. The Eagles bested the Zips, 85-61, on Dec. 12, 1987, as part of the Lady Herd Classic in Huntington, W. Va., before Akron earned a 94-81 overtime triumph past Georgia Southern in the opening game of the SMU Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 26, 2010.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 26, 2010 – DALLAS, TEXAS)
Akron registered a 94-81 overtime triumph past Georgia Southern in the opening game of the SMU Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 26, 2010.

BROWN SCORES CAREER-HIGH 32 AGAINST WESTERN MICHIGAN
Akron redshirt senior Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.) totaled a career-best 32 points, but the Zips fell to Western Michigan, 70-64, at James A. Rhodes Arena on Wednesday (Feb. 5).

Brown added a career-high 19 rebounds and a season-best five steals to her 32-point game to lead the Zips (9-14, 3-8). Senior Alexus Mobley (Indianapolis, Ind.) added 16 points and seven rebounds and freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) chipped in with eight points.

Brown pulled down nine offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, grabbing 15 boards and turning them into 13 second-chance points.

Akron forced 18 Western Michigan turnovers. The Zips turned those takeaways into 18 points on the offensive end of the floor. Brown's five steals led the way for Akron.

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

The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by Shelbee Brown, who had 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Ni'Rah Clark tacked on 10 points, two steals and two blocks, while Alexus Mobley 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.

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
• 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 also represents the second-highest scoring effort in the conference this season behind only a 33-point night from Kent State's Jenna Batsch against Eastern Michigan (Jan. 29).
• 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.
• Freshman Liz Murphy (Yackandandah, Australia) scored a career-high eight points at Kent State (Feb. 1).
• Shelbee Brown has scored in double figures in seven straight games and 13 of 15 overall.
• Junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) 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 18 of Akron's 23 games this season, including nine 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.
• 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).
• Senior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) 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 (3.22) and fifth in offensive rebounds (11.61) and rebounding margin (3.30).
• Individually, Shelbee Brown is fourth in rebounding (8.61), defensive rebounds (6.09) and offensive rebounds (2.52) and fifth in steals (2.13), Liisa Taponen is eighth in blocked shots (0.78) and ninth in offensive rebounds (2.09), 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 (11.64), fourth in blocked shots (2.73) and fifth in rebounding margin (4.18).
• In conference-only tilts, Ni'Rah Clark is rated third in the league in blocked shots (1.45). Additionally, Emily Hall is third in minutes played (34.86) and Shelbee Brown is second in rebounding (9.36), third in offensive rebounding (3.00), fourth in defensive rebounding (6.36) and seventh in scoring (15.91).
• 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 (16), Alexus Mobley (15), 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 143 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 23 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), .357 (Miami-1), .340 (Kent State-1), .333 (Binghamton), .292 (Central Michigan-1).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 23 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), .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 21.0 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 11.0 rebounds per contest, while Ni'Rah Clark is shooting a team-high 58.3 percent from the field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 32.2 points per game for 740 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 – 32.2 ppg (740) | Season-High - 46 vs. Cleveland State | Miami Hamilton
Points off Turnovers – 14.5 ppg (333) | Season-High - 24 vs. Cleveland State
Second-Chance Points – 10.6 ppg (244) | Season-High - 20 vs. Slippery Rock
Fast-Break Points – 6.8 ppg (157) | Season-High - 15 vs. Miami Hamilton
Bench Points – 16.2 ppg (373) | 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 travels to Toledo, Ohio, to battle Toledo on Saturday (Feb. 15) at 2 p.m.