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Jan. 6-12, 2025: University of Akron Zips basketball teams sweep Eastern Michigan
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- Jan. 6-12, 2025: University of Akron Zips basketball teams sweep Eastern Michigan
The University of Akron Zips basketball teams swept Eastern Michigan at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti on Saturday.
Akron's women's team played first and topped EMU 61-56 and then the Zips men's team beat the Eagles 105-81.
Akron's Alexus Mobley drives to the basket between Michigan's Greta Kampschroeder, left, and Jordan Hobbs on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.
Emily Hall leads Akron to women's basketball win
Senior Emily Hall scored a season-high 17 points to lead an Akron women's team (9-7, 3-1 Mid-American Conference) that is relying on only seven scholarship players after injuries have altered the rotation.
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Zips junior reserve Maddie Vejsicky scored a career-high 15 points and grabbed five rebounds against EMU (1-13, 0-4).
Akron's Shelbee Brown puts up a shot against Michigan on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.
Senior Zakia Rasheed contributed 14 points, senior Alexus Mobley added nine points, seven rebounds and five assists and redshirt senior Shelbee Brown had four points and eight rebounds.
Akron went on runs of 12-3, 8-0 and 9-0 against EMU. Senior Ellen Kinnaird made her collegiate basketball debut after a standout volleyball career at Akron to help the Zips.
Central Michigan's Ugnius Jarusevicius and University of Akron's James Okonkwo scramble after a loose ball on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Akron, Ohio, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
James Okonkwo guides Akron to men's basketball win
Senior James Okonkwo matched his career-high with 17 points and John Groce won his 150th game as an Akron coach to lead the Zips (10-5, 3-0 MAC) past the Eagles (7-8, 1-2).
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Okonkwo made 9 of 11 free-throw attempts and grabbed five rebounds in 18 minutes.
University of Akron's Sharron Young is fouled by Central Michigan's Damarion Bonds as he drives to the basket on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Akron, Ohio, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Akron's other double-figure scorers were senior Isaiah Gray (13 points, four rebounds, three steals), redshirt junior Nate Johnson (12 points, six rebounds, four assists, four steals), junior Bowen Hardman (11 points), freshman Sharron Young (11 points), junior Tavari Johnson (10 points, 10 assists) and senior Shammah Scott (10 points, six rebounds).
Tavari Johnson became the first Akron player since Dru Joyce III to record a double-double in points and assists. Joyce recorded the feat on November 27, 2004, with 12 points and 13 assists against Hampton.
Michigan's Jakobi Heady defends a 3-point shot by University of Akron's Shammah Scott on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Akron, Ohio, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Akron senior Seth Wilson, junior Amani Lyles and redshirt freshman Marvin Musiime-Kamali added six points apiece and senior Evan Wilson scored three points.Akron's 105 points was the second time an opponent has surpassed 100 points in 377 games at the George Gervin GameAbove Center since 1998-99. Florida Atlantic scored 101 points on Dec. 4, 2022, before making the 2023 Final Four.
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Akron shot 37 of 61 from the field, including 9 of 21 from 3-point range. The Zips also recorded a season-high 54 points in the paint and 47 points from their reserves.
Michigan's Olivia Olson and University of Akron's Alexus Mobley scramble after a first half loose ball on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Akron, Ohio, at James A. Rhodes Arena. [Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal]
Coach Ryan Gensler leads Akron to more women's basketball wins
Akron's women's basketball team is better through 16 games this season (9-7 overall and 3-1 in the MAC) when compared to through 16 games last season (6-10 overall and 1-5 in the MAC).
Akron opened MAC play this season with a 74-61 win over Ohio in Athens. The Zips then lost 74-54 at home to Toledo, won 73-71 at home over Northern Illinois and beat host Eastern Michigan 61-56.
University of Akron coach Ryan Gensler talks with Ni'Rah Clark during the game against Michigan on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Akron.
Sophomore Teniesha Clarke led Akron past Ohio with a career-high 20 points on Jan. 1. Junior Liisa Taponen finished with a career-best 17 points and Mobley contributed 15 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Ni'Rah Clark added eight points and 11 rebounds, Hall had seven points and Brown totaled five points and seven rebounds.
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Mobley scored 23 points and had five steals in the loss to Toledo on Jan. 4. Rasheed and Brown each had 11 points.
Rasheed made seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 21 points in the win over NIU on Jan. 8. Brown totaled 17 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Mobley finished with 17 points, four assists and two steals. Clark had eight points and two blocks and Taponen added five points.
Akron tops Duquesne in women's swimming dual
Akron's women's swim team topped host Duquesne 257-117 on Friday in its first event of 2025.
Akron placed first in the following events:
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200-yard medley relay: Madelyn Gatrall, Claire Cox, Abigail Daniel and Ada Szwabinska, 1:43.21
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200 individual medley: Dominika Kossakowska, 2:09.69
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200 butterfly: Kendall Craig, 2:10.770
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100 butterfly: Rebecca Reid, 56.71
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50 freestyle: Szwabinska, 23.34
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50 butterfly: Gatrall, 26.10
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1000 freestyle: Maggie Patterson, 10.29.76
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100 backstroke: Felicia Klintemar, 58.60
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400 IM: Daniel, 4:33.55
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200 freestyle relay: Szwabinska, Gatrall, Reid and Aislinn Holder, 1:34.90
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50 breaststroke: Dinica Bosman, 30.86
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100 IM: Klintemar, 59.97
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100 freestyle: Szwabinska, 51.94
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200 breaststroke: Daniel, 2:23.36
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100 breaststroke: Gatrall, 1:07.92
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400 medley relay: Reid, Cox, Holder and Hannah Trainer, 3:51.79
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com .
University of Akron coach John Groce encourages the Zips during a game against Central Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Akron.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: University of Akron Zips basketball teams sweep Eastern Michigan
