Akron Concludes Campaign with Matinee Affair at Central Michigan

Saturday, March 8

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1:00 PM

University of Akron

Central Michigan

Akron Concludes Campaign with Matinee Affair at Central Michigan

March 07 | Women's Basketball

Akron (10-20, 4-13 MAC) at Central Michigan (13-16, 8-9 MAC)
Saturday, March 8
McGuirk Arena
Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Series History: Central Michigan leads 28-22
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 closes out its 2024-25 campaign traveling to Mount Pleasant, Mich., to battle Central Michigan on Saturday (March 8). The 1 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as on GoZips.com with Jim Clark on the radio call.

HEAD COACHES
Central Michigan: Kristin Haynie (Michigan State, 2005), Overall Record: 19-38 (Second Season), Record at Central Michigan: 19-38 (Second Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (St. Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 21-38 (Second Season), Record at Akron: 21-38 (Second Season)

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan comes into play versus Akron on Saturday (March 8) at 13-16 on the campaign, including 8-9 in the Mid-American Conference, following a 69-66 overtime victory past Miami on Wednesday (March 5).

Freshman Madi Morson leads the Chippewas averaging a team-best 16.4 points per game. As a team, Central Michigan is recording 64.4 points, 43.5 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 6.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per tilt.

The Chippewas are rated fifth in the NCAA in rebounding margin (10.9), sixth in rebounds per game (43.52), eighth in offensive rebounding (16.3) and 32nd in three-point defense (.277).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Central Michigan are meeting for the 51st time in program history. The Chippewas lead the series, 28-22, after Central Michigan dealt the Zips a 75-55 setback on Jan. 15, 2025, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (JAN. 15, 2025 – AKRON, OHIO)
Senior Shelbee Brown (Memphis, Tenn.) totaled a career-best 20 points, but Akron fell to Central Michigan, 75-55, at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 15, 2025.

Brown added a team-high nine rebounds to her 20-point game to lead the Zips. Freshman Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) added 12 points and three blocks, while junior Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) chipped in with four points and six rebounds.

Taponen pulled down four offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, grabbing 18 boards and turning them into 13 second-chance points.

Akron forced 15 Central Michigan turnovers. The Zips turned those takeaways into nine points on the other end of the floor. Junior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) led the way with two steals.

AKRON TRIUMPHS OVER EASTERN MICHIGAN ON SENIOR NIGHT
Shelbee Brown secured a double-double with 27 points and a career-best 19 rebounds to help Akron take down Eastern Michigan, 70-53, at James A. Rhodes Arena on Wednesday (March 5).

In addition to Brown's solid performance, the Zips were led by senior Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.), who had 15 points, and by senior Alexus Mobley (Indianapolis, Ind.), who added eight points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Brown pulled down eight offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, grabbing 19 boards and turning them into 22 second-chance points.

The Akron defense held Eastern Michigan shooters to only 33.9 percent from the field, including 21.9 percent from three-point range. The Zips also kept Olivia Smith to 6-of-20 shooting in the game.

KENT STATE EARNS RIVALRY WIN OVER AKRON
Alexus Mobley and Shelbee Brown combined to score 28 total points, but the Zips fell to Kent State, 64-44, at James A. Rhodes Arena on March 1.

Mobley registered 16 points with two rebounds, a block and a steal, while Brown posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Zips. Liisa Taponen and freshman Liz Murphy (Yackandandah, Australia) added five points and one assist each, while grabbing five and three rebounds, respectively.

Brown pulled down six offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second-chance opportunities for Akron, grabbing 15 boards and turning them into nine second-chance points. Zakia Rasheed led Akron with two steals.

AKRON HONORS FOUR ZIPS ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips' contest versus Eastern Michigan on Wednesday (March 5) marked Senior Night in the careers of seniors Emily Hall (Phoenix, Ariz.), Ellen Kinnaird (Lewis Center, Ohio), Alexus Mobley and Zakia Rasheed.

Hall has appeared in 27 games as a Zip, including 17 starts, recording 3.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per outing.

Kinnaird joined the squad in January and has played in 10 games after a decorated career on the Akron volleyball team.

Mobley has played in 55 career games at Akron, including 37 starts, recording 9.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals per outing.

A four-year member of the Akron squad, Rasheed has appeared in 102 career games, including earning 40 starts, and has recorded 4.3 points, 1.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds per 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
• Led by a career-high 19 rebounds from Shelbee Brown versus Eastern Michigan (March 5), the Zips posted 50 rebounds for the second time this season. Akron enjoyed a 19-11 edge on the offensive glass and a 31-17 margin on the defensive end, en route to recording 42 points in the paint.
• The Zips will be ending the season at Central Michigan for the third consecutive campaign while going in search of Akron's fourth straight win at McGuirk Arena.
• Akron shot a season-best 50 percent from the field at Western Michigan (Feb. 26).
• Zakia Rasheed played in her 100th career game as a Zip at Western Michigan (Feb. 25) and surpassed the century mark in three pointers for her Akron career versus Eastern Michigan (March 5).
• Shelbee Brown and Emily Hall enter play versus Central Michigan having recorded 669 and 633 career points, respectively, while Alexus Mobley needs four points to reach the 500-point plateau for her career as a Zip.
• Shelbee Brown comes into action against Central Michigan two rebounds shy of collecting 500 for her career.
• Alexus Mobley matched a career-high mark with five assists at Western Michigan (Feb. 26), while Maddie Vejsicky recorded a career-best three steals versus the Broncos.
• Akron posted season-high marks in three pointers (10) and steals (11) versus Ohio (Feb. 22).
• Shelbee Brown recorded a season-best five steals, while Emily Hall dished out a season-high five assists against Ohio (Feb. 22).
• Emily Hall equaled a season-best pulling down eight rebounds against Miami (Feb. 19).
• Ni'Rah Clark scored a career-high 16 points against her hometown Rockets on Feb. 15.
• Shelbee Brown has turned in double-doubles in six of Akron's last 11 games and 10 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 12 of Akron's last 14 games and 21 of 30 overall.
• Maddie Vejsicky has made a team-high 45 three pointers this season, including one in all but four contests on the campaign.
• Shelbee Brown has connected on 40 percent or better from the field in 22 of Akron's 30 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.
• Ellen Kinnaird 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 offensive rebounds (12.23) and fourth in blocked shots (2.83) and in rebounding margin (4.23).
• Individually, Shelbee Brown is third in offensive rebounds (2.97), fourth in rebounding (9.00) and fifth in defensive rebounds (6.03) and in steals (2.23), Liisa Taponen is ninth in offensive rebounds (2.03), while Ni'Rah Clark is third in blocked shots (1.00).
• In league-only games, Akron is ranked second in the MAC in offensive rebounding (12.71) and in rebounding margin (5.76).
• In conference-only tilts, Ni'Rah Clark is rated fourth in the league in blocked shots (1.06). Additionally, Emily Hall is sixth in minutes played (35.51) and Shelbee Brown is fourth in offensive rebounding (3.53) and in rebounding (9.71), sixth in defensive rebounding (6.18) and eighth in steals (2.12) and in scoring (16.00).
• The Zips have posted 12 20+ scoring games this season. Shelbee Brown tallied 32, 27, 24, 22, 21 and 20 points, respectively, versus Western Michigan (Feb. 5), Eastern Michigan (March 5), Miami (Feb. 19), 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 | OHIO-2), offensive rebounds (19-SRU | OHIO-1), defensive rebounds (39-MIAH), rebounds (51-MIAH), assists (22-CAN), steals (11-OHIO-2) and blocks (10-TSU | MIAH).
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led Shelbee Brown (21), Alexus Mobley (18), Maddie Vejsicky (12), Zakia Rasheed (9), Teniesha Clarke (8), Ni'Rah Clark (7), Kam'Ren Rhodes (4), Liisa Taponen (4) and Emily Hall (3).
• Akron connected on five or more three pointers in 110 of its last 150 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high 10 triples in an 79-43 victory over Slippery Rock (Dec. 4) and in a 70-62 setback against Ohio (Feb. 22).

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 30 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .500 (Western Michigan-2), 40 percent: .492 (Cleveland State), .483 (Canisius), .481 (Northern Illinois), .469 (Bowling Green), .464 (Bellarmine), .463 (Miami Hamilton), .448 (Eastern Michigan-2), .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 (Miami-2), .388 (Colgate), .379 (Tennessee State), .377 (Georgia State), .361 (Robert Morris), .360 (Toledo-2), .357 (Miami-1), .345 (Ohio-2), .340 (Kent State-1), .333 (Binghamton), .292 (Central Michigan-1), .286 (Kent State-2), .244 (Georgia Southern).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 30 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .551 (Western Michigan-2), .538 (Ball State), .532 (Kent State-1), .522 (Western Michigan-1), .509 (Miami-2), .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), .436 (Kent State-2), .433 (Central Michigan-1), .417 (Ohio-2), .414 (Binghamton), .403 (Tennessee State), 30 percent: .393 (Colgate), .383 (Georgia Southern), .368 (Ohio-1), .361 (Georgia State), .339 (Eastern Michigan-2), .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
Shelbee Brown leads Akron over the last five games averaging a team-best 17.8 points per contest, while Alexus Mobley has added 9.8 points per night. Brown is pulling down a team-best 11.4 rebounds and is shooting a team-high 45.8 percent from the field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Akron has once proved to be strong in the paint averaging 31.4 points per game for 942 total points. This season, the Zips posted a season-best 46 points in the paint in a 77-66 setback at Western Michigan (Feb. 26), as well as 84-74 victory over Cleveland State (Nov. 16) and an 80-52 triumph past Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28). Additional inside the numbers for the Zips this season are below.

Points in Paint – 31.4 ppg (942) | Season-High - 46 vs. Cleveland State | Miami Hamilton | W. Michigan
Points off Turnovers – 14.3 ppg (430) | Season-High - 24 vs. Cleveland State
Second-Chance Points – 11.1 ppg (333) | Season-High - 22 vs. Eastern Michigan (2)
Fast-Break Points – 6.5 ppg (194) | Season-High - 15 vs. Miami Hamilton
Bench Points – 15.6 ppg (468) | 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 140-96 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.

This season, the Zips are averaging 66.6 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 41 percent (.406) of their attempts from the field, while recording 39.0 rebounds, 11.9 assists, 6.6 steals and 3.3 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Saturday's game at Central Michigan marks the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign for Akron.