Akron Battles League-Leading Miami

Saturday, February 28

Oxford, Ohio

1:00 PM

University of Akron

Miami

February 27 | Women's Basketball

Akron (7-21, 4-11 MAC) vs Miami (23-5, 14-1 MAC)
Saturday, Feb. 28
Millett Hall
Oxford, Ohio

Series History: RedHawks lead series 43-24
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 travels to Oxford, Ohio, for a showdown versus league-leading Miami on Saturday (Feb. 28). The 1:00 p.m. tilt will be broadcast on ESPN+ as well as on 640 WHLO AM with Jim Clark on the radio call.

HEAD COACHES
Miami: Glenn Box (Southeast Missouri State, 1998), Overall Record: 51-37 (Third Season), Record at Miami: 51-37 (Third Season)
Akron: Ryan Gensler (Saint Joseph's, 2009), Overall Record: 28-60 (Third Season), Record at Akron: 28-60 (Third Season)

SCOUTING MIAMI
Miami enters play versus Akron on Saturday (Feb. 28) at 23-5 on the campaign, including 14-1 in the Mid-American Conference, following an 78-60 victory at Eastern Michigan on Wednesday (Feb. 25).

Four RedHawks are averaging double figures in scoring as junior Amber Tretter, senior Amber Scalia and sophomores Ilse De Vries and Tamar Singer are posting 14.6, 14.0, 12.9 and 10.8 points per night, respectively. Tretter also paces Miami in rebounding pulling down 8.2 caroms per game. As a team, the RedHawks are recording 71.2 points, 32.6 rebounds, 16.2 assists, 10.8 steals and 3.6 blocks per tilt.

As a unit, Miami is rated 23rd in the NCAA in winning percentage (.821), 28th in turnover margin (4.93), 32nd in three pointers (8.4), 40th in steals (10.8), 41st in three-point percentage (.349) and free throw percentage (.762), 43rd in field goal percentage (.449), 45th in assists (16.3) and scoring defense (58.4), and 50th in scoring margin (12.8). Individually, Singer is ranked fourth in assists (204) and assists per contest (7.3) and 34th in steals (73) and steals per contest (2.61), while De Vries is 30th in blocks (49) and 31st in blocks per game (1.75).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Miami are meeting for the 68th time in program history with the RedHawks owning a 43-24 series lead. Earlier this season, Miami edged the Zips, 79-56, on Jan. 10 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (JAN. 10, 2026 – AKRON, OHIO)
Akron got a trio of double-figure scoring efforts, including a team-high 13-point effort from junior Keiryn McGuff (Dublin, Ohio), but fell 79-56 to Miami in Mid-American Conference action at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 10.

The Zips were led by McGuff, who had 13 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Ni'Rah Clark (Toledo, Ohio) added 11 points and redshirt senior Kam'Ren Rhodes (Chandler, Ariz.) helped out with a season-high 11 points off the bench.

Akron out-rebounded Miami, 38-30, in Saturday's game, paced by McGuff's six boards. The Zips also grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and scored 12 second-chance points.

The Akron defense forced 17 Miami turnovers and those takeaways turned into nine points on the offensive end of the floor. Junior Ella Wigal (Granville, Ohio) led the way individually for the Zips with two steals.

CARDINALS TRIUMPH PAST ZIPS
Akron got a 12-point and 10-rebound performance from Keiryn McGuff but fell 88-55 at Ball State on Wednesday (Feb. 25).

The Zips had two players score in double figures, led by McGuff, who had a double-double, her second of the season. Sophomore Liz Murphy (Yackandandah, Australia) tacked on 11 points off the bench and sophomore Izzy Callaway (Copley, Ohio) added six points and six rebounds.

Akron forced 15 Ball State turnovers turning those takeaways into nine points on the offensive end of the floor. Senior Maddie Vejsicky (New Concord, Ohio) led the way individually with two steals.

AKRON FALLS TO KENT STATE
Akron was unable to overcome a second-quarter scoring run by rival Kent State as the Golden Flashes rallied to post an 80-61 triumph over the Zips on Feb. 21 at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Akron honored one of its own in pregame ceremonies as the No. 32 jersey of All-American Rachel Tecca (2009-14) was raised to the rafters.

The Zips had two players score in double figures, led by Keiryn McGuff, who had 14 points. Izzy Callaway added 14 points and four assists from the bench and Ni'Rah Clark added nine points and two blocks.

The Akron offense was very productive from three-point land, knocking down nine threes on 23 attempts. Callaway was the most prolific shooter for the Zips, draining four treys in the contest.

Akron forced 13 Kent State turnovers turning those takeaways into 11 points on the other end of the floor. Liz Murphy led the way individually with two steals.

ZIPS HONOR AKRON GREAT RACHEL TECCA
Akron women's basketball all-time great Rachel Tecca had her No. 32 jersey number honored on Saturday (Feb. 21), prior to the Zips' showdown with rival Kent State.

Tecca, No. 32, is the third player in program history to have her jersey number honored, joining the likes of No. 22 Pam Arnold and No. 24 Cheryl Bowles

Tecca represented the Blue and Gold from 2009-14, appearing in 138 games, including 108 as a starter. The Zips registered a 92-68 overall record and a 50-32 mark in the Mid-American Conference, while winning a regular season MAC Eastern Division Championship (2012-13) and MAC Tournament Championship (2013-14), participating in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, which stands as the only appearance in program history. During her career, Tecca amassed 2,317 points, 1,109 rebounds, 189 assists, 183 steals and 75 blocked shots.

Tecca was the fourth player in Akron basketball history to earn All-America honors (2013-14) and added several accolades, including being tabbed the MAC Player of the Year (2012-13), MAC Sixth Player of the Year (2009-10), a three-time First-Team All-MAC selection, MAC All-Freshman Team (2009-10) honoree, two-time MAC All-Tournament Team recipient and MAC Tournament MVP (2013-14).

AKRON HAS RECORD-SETTING NIGHT VERSUS OHIO
• Akron connected on a school-record 20 three pointers.
• Second most triples in an NCAA game this season
• 30th-best single-game effort for NCAA WBB since 1988 (line introduced that season)
• No. 2 mark in Mid-American Conference history for WBB, most versus a MAC opponent
• Most combined points in a game in program history
• Most points scored in program history vs a league opponent
• Fourth-most points scored in a game in program history.

JONES SELECTED TO WBCA NEXT GENERATION INSTITUTE
Akron women's basketball assistant coach Sarah Jones was among a select group of coaches selected to participate in the 2026 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Next Generation Institute.

Now in its fourth year, the Institute is a high-level education program for experienced assistant coaches who aspire to become collegiate head coach. The curriculum of the WBCA Next Generation Institute focuses on the CEO attributes needed to lead a program and be a problem-solver in today's ever-changing landscape of higher education and the enterprise of intercollegiate athletics. The Institute is held in conjunction with the WBCA Convention, which this year takes place April 2-5 in Phoenix, Ariz.

OVER THE LAST FIVE GAMES
Freshmen Shaena Brew (Rialto, Calif.) and Corinne Reed (Chicago, Ill.), Ni'Rah Clark and Keiryn McGuff lead Akron over the last five games averaging a 14.0, 12.0, 11.4 and 10.8 points per contest, respectively. McGuff is pulling down a team-best 7.2 rebounds, while Reed is shooting a team-high 64.3 percent from the field.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Ni'Rah Clark surpassed the 500-point plateau for her Akron career with a six-point effort at Ball State (Feb. 25) and enters play at Miami with 502 career points.
• Five Zips scored in double figures against Ohio (Feb. 18) as Keiryn McGuff posted a career-best 22 points to go along with a career-high 20-point effort from Liz Murphy. Additionally, Izzy Callaway, Ni'Rah Clark and Shaena Brew tallied19, 18 and 17 points, respectively.
• Akron established 10 career-high marks against the Bobcats (Feb. 18).
• Shaena Brew set an Akron freshman record with 15 assists versus Ohio (Feb. 18).
• Natalie Johnson poured in an Akron career-high 18 points at Northern Illinois (Feb. 14) for the Zips.
• Akron freshmen Shaena Brew, Corinne Reed and freshman Monique Mitchell (South Bend. Ind.) each tallied career-high scoring totals at Central Michigan as the trio recorded 26, 23 and 15 points, respectively. It marked the first time in their young Akron careers that the Zips' starting trio all surpassed the double-figure scoring plateau in the same game.
• 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 17 contests on the campaign.
• Keiryn McGuff, Kam'Ren Rhodes, junior Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) and Ni'Rah Clark are averaging 13.0, 12.0, 10.0 and 9.7 points per contest in their careers against Miami.
• Shaena Brew's career-high nine assists versus Toledo (Feb. 4) are the most by a Zip since Jordyn Dawson dished out 10 dimes against Bowling Green on Jan. 8, 2022.
• Shaena Brew equaled a career high with a 20-point effort against Buffalo (Jan. 31), while Maddie Vejsicky posted a career-best three blocks.
• Liz Murphy equaled a career high in rebounds pulling down three at Bowling Green, while Keiryn McGuff matched a career-best two steals versus the Falcons.
• Ni'Rah Clark poured in a career-high 25 points at Massachusetts (Jan. 14) on 11-of-16 shooting, while Keiryn McGuff dished out a career-best four assists.
• Shaena Brew has recorded three or more assists in 17 games this season.
• Corinne Reed has pulled down four or more rebounds in 12 contests on the campaign, including 10 of the last 16 games.
• Keiryn McGuff has registered four or more rebounds 23 times this season, including 19 of the last 20 games.
• Ni'Rah Clark has shot 40 percent or better in 20 games on the campaign en route to maintaining a team-best .514 shooting mark from the field.
• Keiryn McGuff pulled down a career-best 12 rebounds at Western Michigan (Jan. 7), while also recording a career-high four blocked shots. Her four blocks stand as the 11th-best single-game effort in program history matching a four-block performance from Ni'Rah Clark versus Miami Hamilton (Dec. 28, 2024).
• Akron posted seven career-high marks at Ohio (Jan. 3), including a then career-best 14-point effort from Corinne Reed, while also equaling a career- and season-high five assists.
• The Zips shot a season-best 58.8 percent from the field versus Le Moyne (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).
• 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 third in the Mid-American Conference in triples made (7.5) and fourth in scoring (70.5), while in league-only affairs the Zips are ranked fourth in three pointers (7.5) and in defensive rebounding (24.7).
• Individually, Izzy Callaway is fourth in three-point percentage (.405), Ni'Rah Clark is eighth in field goal percentage (.514), Shaena Brew is seventh in assists (4.0).
• In league-only contests Shaena Brew is seventh in assists (4.1) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3), and Keiryn McGuff is ninth in rebounding (7.1) and 10th in three-point percentage (.386).
• Akron is 32nd in the NCAA in bench scoring (25.1), 38th in triples attempted (24.9) and 39th in free throws attempted (20.59).
• 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. 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 Ella Wigal pulled down a career-high 10 and nine rebounds, respectively.
• Nine different Akron players have scored in double figures this season led by Shaena Brew (15), Ni'Rah Clark (13), Izzy Callaway (12), Keiryn McGuff (11), Monique Mitchell (11), Corinne Reed (6), Liz Murphy (4), Natalie Johnson (3), Kam'Ren Rhodes (1) and Maddie Vejsicky (1).
• Seven different Zips have led the squad in scoring this season led by Ni'Rah Clark (10), Shaena Brew (6), Keiryn McGuff (6), Monique Mitchell (4), Izzy Callaway (3), Corinne Reed (1) and Maddie Vejsicky (1), while eight different Akron players have paced the team in rebounding headlined by McGuff (17), Clark (9), Brew (5), Reed (4), Ella Wigal (2), Natalie Johnson (1) and 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 13 20+ scoring games this season. Keiryn McGuff tallied 22 points against Ohio (Feb. 18) and 20 points versus Le Moyne (Dec. 21). Izzy Callaway netted 36 against Heidelberg (Dec. 3) and Shaena Brew tallied 26 at Central Michigan (Feb. 11) and 20 versus both Heidelberg (Dec. 3) and Buffalo (Jan. 31). Ni'Rah Clark scored 21 at Northern Illinois (Feb. 14), 22 points at Kent State (Jan. 17), 25 points at Massachusetts (Jan. 14), 22 points at Robert Morris (Nov. 7) and 21 points versus Geneva (Dec. 16), while Monique Mitchell tallied 23 points at Central Michigan (Feb. 11), 21 points against South Alabama (Nov. 3) and 20 versus Le Moyne (Dec. 21) and Liz Murphy posted 20 versus Ohio (Feb. 18).
• The 2025-26 season marks the 52nd season of competition for the Akron women's basketball program.
• The Zips own season-high marks in scoring (117-HEID), field goals made (44-HEID), triples (20-OHIO), offensive rebounds (28-GEN), defensive rebounds (34-GEN), rebounds (62-GEN), assists (22-OHIO/LEMO), steals (14-HEID) and blocks (5-HEID).
• Akron has connected on five or more three pointers in 135 of its last 179 contests overall. The Zips hit on a season-high and program record 20 triples in an 108-105 victory versus Ohio (Feb. 18).

ZIPS' OFFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In Akron's 28 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .588 (Le Moyne), .587 (Heidelberg), .533 (Central Michigan-2), .511 (Notre Dame), 40 percent: .469 (Binghamton), .468 (Toledo-1), .465 (Ohio-2), .443 (Kent State-1), .440 (Robert Morris), .438 (Michigan), .433 (Buffalo-1), .422 (Northern Illinois-1), .414 (South Alabama), .410 (Geneva), .404 (Louisiana), .400 (Ball State-1), 30 percent: .375 (Kent State-2), .370 (Delaware), .367 (UMass-1), .356 (Youngstown State), .352 (Central Michigan-1), .349 (Bowling Green-1), .321 (Cleveland State), .318 (Ball State-2), .315 (Miami-1), .309 (Ohio-1), 20 percent: .295 (Xavier), .249 (Western Michigan-1).

ZIPS' DEFENSIVE PROGRESS REPORT
In the Zips' 28 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared defensively: 50 percent: .593 (Kent State-1), .559 (Youngstown State), .558 (Miami-1), .500 (Louisiana), .500 (Ohio-1), .500 (Ball State-1), 40 percent: .493 (UMass-1), .485 (Michigan), .484 (Toledo-1), .481 (Central Michigan-2), .474 (Delaware), .474 (South Alabama), .472 (Le Moyne), .472 (Cleveland State), .470 (Notre Dame), .458 (Buffalo-1), .452 (Central Michigan-1), .451 (Ohio-2), .448 (Kent State-2), .434 (Robert Morris), .429 (Bowling Green-1), .419 (Ball State-2), .407 (Xavier), 30 percent: .395 (Binghamton), .393 (Northern Illinois-1), .373 (Western Michigan-1), .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 31.1 points per game for 870 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 – 31.1 ppg (870) | Season-High - 62 vs. Heidelberg
Points off Turnovers – 14.5 ppg (407) | Season-High - 39 vs. Heidelberg
Second-Chance Points – 10.4 ppg (292) | Season-High - 29 vs. Geneva
Fast-Break Points – 10.2 ppg (286) | Season-High - 36 vs. Heidelberg
Bench Points – 25.2 ppg (706) | 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 145-104 record dating back to the 2004-05 campaign. This season, the Zips average 77.4 points per tilt and connecting on nearly 42 percent (.416) of their attempts from the field, while recording 38.5 rebounds, 13.4 assists, 6.6 steals and 2.5 blocks per game.

UP NEXT
Akron welcomes Massachusetts to James A. Rhodes Arena for a 6 p.m. tilt on Wednesday (March 4).