Akron Inks 4 in Early Signing Period!!!

The University of Akron women's basketball program and head coach Jodi Kest have announced the signings of four student-athletes to the 2012-13 recruiting class.

"I am really excited to welcome DiAndra, Katie, DeAnna and Jasmine to our Akron family," said Coach Kest. "These four talented student-athletes bring great size and versatility to our program. They will be great additions, and we are very happy that they have chosen to be Zips!"

The Zips signees include:


5'11" Guard DiAndra Gibson Ravenna H.S. (Ohio)

6'0" Forward Katie Nunan Fairmont H.S. (West Virginia)

6'0" Forward/Center Jasmine Wood Lansing Waverly H.S. (Michigan)

6'2" Center DeAnna Thompson Vincennes Junior College (Indiana)

We recently hosted 3 out of the 4 signees this past weekend. Here is a pic of our future zips with Coach Kest!

Rachel Tecca Earns MAC East Player of the Week!!!

Akron junior forward Rachel Tecca earned Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week honors, as announced by the league office on Monday. Tecca, a native of Tallmadge, Ohio, helped the Zips (5-3) to wins over Cleveland State and Saint Peter's last week.

In her best performances of the season, Tecca averaged 25.5 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game while shooting 71.4 percent in UA's two wins. She recorded her second double-double of the season with 26 points and 10 rebounds at Cleveland State, including 8-of-9 from the free throw line. She followed that up with 25 points and eight boards in a decisive home victory over Saint Peter's on 11-of-14 field goals. For the season, Tecca boasts 17.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg and a 55.9 field goal percentage.

Keeping Up With Women's Basketball - Episode 1

Take a look at the first episode of "Keeping Up with Akron Women's Basketball". Hanna and Carly give us an inside look at our trip to Seattle over Thanksgiving!

Taylor garners MAC Player of the Week Honors!!!

Taylor Ruper was named Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week on Monday for her standout performance at the Seattle University Thanksgiving Tournament. Ruper, a junior guard from North Royalton, Ohio, earned Most Valuable Player honors after helping the Akron women's basketball team go 2-0 and win the tournament title. This is the first conference weekly award for UA this season and the first of Ruper's career.

In Seattle, Ruper totaled 35 points almost completely on 3-pointers, going an impressive 11-for-17 (.647) from behind the arc. She finished 11-of-20 (.550) from the field and added three assists, six rebounds, two blocks and a pair of steals over both games. After scoring a team-high 20 points and drilling six triples against Loyola-Chicago, Ruper came back the next night and sank five from long distance for a 15-point performance against host team Seattle.

Thanksgiving Tournament CHAMPS!!!

With an 85-74 victory over Seattle, The University of Akron women's basketball team won the Seattle University Thanksgiving Tournament title on Saturday night. Junior guard Taylor Ruper earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors, while classmate Rachel Tecca made the All-Tournament squad.

We had a great time out in Seattle. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at the Space Needle restaurant. The views from the Space Needle were incredible. We also enjoyed some time at Pike Fish Market and some of the other local shopping areas.

Overall we could not have asked for a better trip to the Northwest! GO ZIPS!

Zips Hold Annual Halloween Bash!

Last friday night we held our annual Halloween party at Coach Kest's house. It was another great team event as we all dressed up in costume. We had a great dinner and played some games as a team. It is always a fun time when this group gets together! They have great team chemistry and are alot of fun to be around! They also are very creative in their costumes. Above is a pic of the entire team dressed up as well as the coaching staff! What is your favorite?

Akron Picked 3rd in MAC East

The University of Akron women's basketball team was tabbed third in the East division, as announced in the 2011-12 preseason poll by the Mid-American Conference on Tuesday. In addition, junior forward Rachel Tecca was selected to the Preseason All-MAC Team.

"I'm happy for Rachel, because she deserves this honor," said sixth-year head coach Jodi Kest. "She had a great season last year and will be an even better player this year."

The Zips return 10 letterwinners from last year's squad that finished 14-16 overall and 6-10 in the conference, making it to the MAC Tournament quarterfinals. Tecca, an All-MAC First Team honoree after a tremendous sophomore campaign, joins senior Jasmine Mushington (Co-Sixth Player of the Year) and sophomore Carly Young (All-MAC Freshman team) as returning players who earned league postseason honors last year.

21 Questions with Candace Martino

We asked freshman guard, Candace Martino, a few questions about herself! Candace is a 5'8" guard from Bethel Park, PA. Check out her answers below!

1. Nickname?
Can

2. How did you chose your number?

Got stuck with it in 3rd grade, had it ever since

3. What has impressed you the most about Coach Kest and her staff?

Organization, passion and thier knowledge of the game

4. Funniest Teammate?

Hanna

5. What is your favorite shot on the court?

Left 3 point wing

6. What motto do you try to live by?

A set back is always a bridge to comeback

7. Who is your role model and why?

Gannon Baker because he has faith, confidence, persistence and love for the game. Never met someone with so much passion in life!

8. Who is your favorite professional athlete?

Can't decide between Tim Tebow and Derrick Rose

9. What is your dream job?

To play overseas or be a D1 College Coach

10. Tell me about your position coach?

Brings positive energy to the court and will help me improve my game

11. Hometown? What is something unqiue about it/your favorite thing to do there?

Pittsburgh! Eating at Fioris Pizza and Primanti Brothers... it is a must!

12. What's on your ipod?
Anything ranging from the 50's to present day, besides rock, I love it all

13. Who got you in to playing basketball?

My neighbors playing outside when I was 3. I would watch everyday and have them hold me up so I could shoot. Fell in love ever since.

14. Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?

Same song play list, same meal, drink red gatorade before the game

15. If I had to take a road trip I'd go?

Somewhere West Coast

16. My favorite Halloween costume?

I don't have one

17. The reality TV show I would most like to be on?

Not sure I'd even want to be on one! If I had to pick probably a competitive one!

18. The best thing about being a Zip?
Representing Women's Basketball and getting opportunities

19. Favorite place on campus?
The gym, but also Luigis, it's off campus but its the best italian food around!

20. Favorite Restaurant?

Hibachi Grill

21. Favorite Class?
Psychology

Happy Halloween!!!

Coach Kest would like to wish everyone a Happy Halloween!!! We love Halloween at Akron! We will have our annual team party friday night, so look for pictures coming soon of all the fun costumes! We are also looking forward to Halloween Hoops on Saturday night from 5pm-7pm at the JAR! Hope to see you there! Go Zips

Coach Kest Recaps First Week of Practice

Click on the link to hear Coach Kest talk about our great first week of practice! The girls went hard and are looking better than ever. We are soo excited for the season. All their hard work this summer is paying off and showing on the basketball court! Keep it up Zips!

Exchange Dorms

Freshmen Candace Martino and Brittani Thomas show you what freshmen living is like at Akron! Check out the amazing amenties that our players have in their first year of college. It doesn't get much better than this :)

Akron Women's Basketball Team Lounge

Rachel Tecca shows you the finished project! We are very fortunate to have such a great space for our team to use. They have really enjoyed the lounge thus far!

21 Questions with Brittani Thomas

It's that time of year again! Over the next few weeks we will take a look at our three newcomers to our program. This week we start with freshman guard Brittani Thomas! Enjoy!

1. Nickname?
Britt

2. How did you choose your number?

#21-Randomly choosen

3. What has impressed you the most about Coach Kest and her staff?
The desire to get better and work ethic

4. Funniest Teammate?
Jasmine

5. What is your favorite shot on the court?
15 footer and fast break layup

6. What motto do you try to live by?
No pain, no gain

7. Who is your role model and why?

My mother because she has been my sole provider in the 18 years of my life. Being a single parent she has remained strong.


8. Who is your favorite professional athlete?

Lebron James


9. What is your dream job?

I want to work on ESPN

10. Tell me about your position coach?

Coach A is always smiling and always has a positive attitude.


11. Hometown? What is something unique about it/favorite thing to do there?

My hometown is Columbus, OH but I was born in Youngstown, OH. My favorite thing to do in Columbus is go to Easton Mall to shop or sometimes see a movie.


12. What's on your ipod?

Hip Hop and R & B


13. Who got you into playing basketball?

Myself


14. Do you have any pre-gam rituals or superstitions?

I have to listen to my ipod up until gametime, chew gum during warm-ups, and say a prayer to myself before the game.


15. If I had to take a road trip I'd go?

Bahamas. Not really a road trip but this is where I would go :)


16. My favorite Halloween costume?

When I was about 2 or 3 years old I was Baby Bop from Barney


17. The reality TV show I would most like to be on?

Keeping Up with the Kardashians


18. The best thing about being a Zip is?
Being able to represent the school as a whole and all the nice things we get like our new team lounge!

19. Favorite place on campus?

Starbucks


20. Favorite restaurant?

Red Lobster and Chipotle


21. Favorite Class?
First Aid and CPR

Team Tailgate!

We LOVE football saturdays at Akron!!! Here is a look at some pics from this past weekend's team tailgate. We had a great time enjoying good food, cornhole, and football. Football season is here and that means that our season is just around the corner! We can't wait to see you on the court!

Take a look at the 2011-2012 Schedule!

Two early-season tournaments and a total of 14 regular season home games at James A. Rhodes Arena highlight the 2011-12 University of Akron women's basketball schedule.

"We feel with 10 returning players that it would benefit our team to play a more competitive schedule to get us ready for our conference games," said Kest. "Playing programs from the Big East and ACC will test our team early in the season and help us grow prior to MAC play."

The Zips will face stiff competition, as they are scheduled to play at least 15 games against teams that participated in postseason play a year ago. Four of Akron's opponents played in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, while five made it to the WNIT and three competed in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI).

Click on the link below for the complete 2011-2012 schedule!

http:///www.gozips.com/sports/wbkb/2011-12/schedule

WBB WINS ZIPPY CUP!!!

Last night The University of Akron held its welcome back picnic for all the athletic teams. It was a great night filled with good food and fun games. To cap off the evening Athletic Director Tom Wistrcill announced the recipent of last year's Zippy Cup Winners. The Zippy Cup is an competiition amongest all the athletic teams. The compeition is based on hours of community service, academic standards, and supporting other athletic teams. We are pleased to announce that our team took top honors! Our team did 678 hours of community service last year! This is a great accomplishment and we are so proud of our girls for all the work they have done off the court! With winning the Zippy Cup we received a trophy and a 1,000 check that will be used for our program!

Zips Welcome New Staff Members!!!

Head Coach Jodi Kest has announced the hiring of assistant coach Ashley Armstrong and graduate assistant Tyler Tully to the women's basketball staff. Armstrong joins the Zips after spending last season as the director of women's basketball operations at Rice University, while Tully previously served as the video coordinator for the Rutgers women's basketball program.

"We are very excited to have Ashley as part of our Akron basketball family," said Coach Kest. "She will bring instant enthusiasm, passion and a winning attitude to our program. Ashley has been a part of successful programs in high school and college, and we believe that success will carry over to our program." Her major responsibilities for the Zips will be equipment and scheduling, assisting with recruiting and scouting, and working with the guards.

"I am really looking forward to joining a program that is on the upswing," said Armstrong. "Coach Kest has brought her successful ways to Akron and has already done so much to bring Akron women's basketball to the top. I am thrilled to be a part of a program and team that will work its way to the top and find a way to stay there. It is especially rewarding to be able to return to my home state, particularly northeast Ohio. This should prove to be nothing short of an exciting and winning season."

Joining the staff as a graduate assistant, Tully hails from Cincinnati, Ohio. As the video coordinator at Rutgers, Tully was responsible for all of the team's video needs, including opponent and self scouting, film exchange and assisting the office in day-to-day internal operations.

"We are very lucky to have Tyler on our staff," said Kest. "He is very experienced, and his knowledge of video production will be a great asset to our team."

My Summer- Jasmine

My name is Jasmine Mushington and I am a member of the University of Akron Women’s basketball team. During the summer I spent 3 weeks at home with my family. During this time I hung out with my friends, went on vacation to the beach and spent quality time with my family. Once I got back to school I moved in my apartment with my roommates Natasha and Denver. Although, I was at summer school I was also working out and completing 300 hours for my internship. The organization I interned with was the Mental Health Recovery and Services Board of Stark County. As an intern at MHRSB I did a lot of projects and assignments. I sat in on over 25 job interviews, updated performance appraisals, updated attendance records, formatted forms that were in the hand book but the company did not have yet, created spread sheets for resumes that where coming in and did many revisions on the hand book.

New Weightroom!!!

We have shown you some of the pictures of the construction of the new team lounge. Now it's time to show you some pics of our brand new weightroom. This weightroom will be located in the JAR right next to the team lounge. This weightroom will be used by both the men's and women's basketball teams as well as women's volleyball. We are excited about our new additions and can't wait to show you the final project!

My Summer- Tasha

My name is Natasha Williams and I am part of the University of Akron women’s basketball team. During this summer I spent about a month home with my family. I would hang out with my friends, play basketball and relax at home. Once I returned back to school for the summer, I moved in with my two roommates Jasmine and Denver. While at some school, I am doing basketball summer workouts and I also had an internship with the Stow Police Department.

During the internship, I did ride-a-longs with the police, went to the courthouse, worked with the youth services program, and spent a day in dispatch. The ride-a-longs were fun and interesting. We arrested several people and gave people speeding tickets. At the courthouse, I had the opportunity to sit in on cases and to meet the judges and magistrates. I went to the Stow area middle schools and talked to the children. I also got an opportunity to work at the dispatch where I got to listen to the police calls. Between my internship and summer workouts, this took up most of my time during the first summer session.

Team GPA Among Best In The Nation!!!

The University of Akron women's basketball program was recognized by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) for its 3.405 team GPA. This ranked the team 14th nationally.

"I'm very proud of our team and excited for our program," said Kest. "To be ranked 14th in the country academically among all Division I programs shows how committed our young ladies are both on and off the court. All the hard work and dedication has paid off, and we are very lucky to be surrounded by outstanding academic support at The University of Akron."

The WBCA Academic Top 25 annually recognizes NCAA Divisions I, II and III; NAIA; and junior college/community college teams across the nation that carry the highest combined grade point averages (GPAs) inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2010-11 season is the 14th in which the WBCA has presented the standings.

A team's GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of hours attempted by all team members in the academic terms (semesters or quarters) that the season spans. Weighted grades are converted to a 4.0 scale. The GPAs are rounded to the nearest thousandth of a point. Teams are nominated for the honor by a WBCA-member head coach. A team must have a 3.000 or better GPA to be nominated.

JAR Renovations 061011

More renovations!!! The lounge is looking good and on pace to be finished at the end of June! We are sooooo excited!

My Summer- Carly

It was amazing to spend some time at home this summer. It was extremely relaxing. There’s not much to do in little ol’ Frazeysburg Ohio, but I kept myself busy. I spent a lot of time with my family and friends, and I work at the Dairy Queen in town. Gotta make that money! When I was not working I was working out with Hanna Luburgh at our old high school weight room.

I spent a lot of time at the pool perfecting my tan :). My friends and I just went to Heath pool in Newark. There’s a lot of slides there and a lazy river. Most of my friends were still in school because they were on quarters, but we still made time to see each other. There’s always the occasional summer party and cookout. But the most fun I had this summer was when I went to Powerline with some of my girlfriends. Three words that describe Powerline: Four wheelers, mud, and camping. I was a complete muddy mess all weekend, and loved every minute of it. Yes, I am kind of a hillbilly.

Two weeks ago I started summer school back at Akron. Hanna and I moved all our stuff into our new apartment! We are having a great time!

Women's Basketball to Face Notre Dame in WNIT!!!

The pairings for the 2011 Preseason WNIT were announced and The University of Akron women's basketball team will play at Notre Dame on Friday, Nov. 11 in the opening round. The Fighting Irish posted a 31-8 record last season and made it all the way to the national championship game before falling to Texas A&M.

"We are very excited to be participating in the Preseason WNIT," said head coach Jodi Kest. "Playing Notre Dame in the first round will obviously be a challenge for us. We will find out very early in the season a lot about ourselves."

The Preseason WNIT features a three-game guarantee format. The event opens Nov. 11 with first-round games. Second-round games will be played Nov. 13-14 and sites will be announced following the first round results. Semifinals will be Nov. 16-17, and the championship game is set for Sunday, Nov. 20. Teams that lose in the first two rounds will play consolation games on the second weekend, Nov. 18-19.

Rhodes Arena Renovations 5 27 11

Check out the latest video of the new basketball team lounges!!! We can't wait to move-in in July!!

Zips to Play in Preseason WNIT!!!

The University of Akron women's basketball program has been selected to participate in the 2011 Preseason WNIT, as announced on Thursday morning. The tournament features a 16-team field highlighted by three top-10 teams from last season in Baylor, Notre Dame, and UCLA. The remaining teams are Chattanooga, Detroit, Drexel, ETSU, Hartford, Howard, Indiana State, Long Island, Manhattan, McNeese State, Tennessee Tech, and UAB.

Head coach Jodi Kest, who enters her sixth season at UA, is excited about the selection. "We are very happy to be a part of the Preseason WNIT," said Kest. "This is a tremendous opportunity for our program, and we are looking forward to representing the Mid-American Conference among a field of great teams."

The Preseason WNIT features a three-game guarantee format. The event opens Nov. 11 with first-round games. Second-round games will be played Nov. 13-14; semifinals will be Nov. 16-17; and the championship is set for Sunday, Nov. 20. Teams that lose in the first two rounds will play consolation games on the second weekend, Nov. 18-19. All games are hosted by participating schools.

The full bracket with match-ups and game locations will be announced in June. For more information, please visit the WNIT website.

Women's Basketball Excels in the Classroom!!!

The University of Akron women's basketball team posted high marks in the classroom, finishing with a 3.43 cumulative team GPA. In addition, 10 of 13 student-athletes on the squad made the Dean's List this year.

"I am very proud of our young ladies' accomplishments in the classroom," said Kest. "Academics are very important, and having 10 of 13 student-athletes on the Dean's List shows how disciplined they are. It is not easy to balance classwork and athletics, and these results demonstrate how dedicated this group is to performing at a high level both on and off the court."

Basketball Team Lounges

The University of Akron will convert 5,000 square feet in James A. Rhodes Arena into team lounges for the Zips men's and women's basketball programs and construct a 1,650-square-foot strength-training room that will service four varsity teams. The University's Board of Trustees approved the project on April 28. The lounges will provide enhanced facilities for team activities and be located in proximity to each squad's locker room and arena floor

The project is scheduled to begin in mid-May and conclude in late-July."One of our primary objectives in Zips Athletics is to create a meaningful and memorable experience for our student-athletes, and the addition of team lounges and a new strength and conditioning center certainly meets that goal," Director of Athletics Tom Wistrcill said. "This project, which would not be possible without the generous support of our donors, will provide amenities that benefit both basketball programs and their student-athletes, and will allow our coaching staffs to continue to recruit successfully."

The two team lounges will be symmetrical and feature state-of the-art technology, including multi-screen audio/visual equipment for practice and game video analysis, and opponent scouting. The video systems, designed specifically to meet the needs of the Akron basketball programs, will be synchronized with equipment located in the existing coaching staffs' offices to maximize efficiency in video study and game preparation."These improvements are overdue for our successful programs and will add greatly to our recruiting efforts and day-to-day coaching tasks," Vice President for Capital Planning and Facilities Management Ted Curtis said.

The space in each lounge will be flexible in its usability and will support a variety of functions, including team meetings, individual study time, social interaction and recruiting visits. The focus of the remodel will be on new interior finishes, lighting, casework and furnishings. Graphic elements will be incorporated into the overall design to emphasize the identity of each program and the branding of the University and Zips Athletics. Other amenities include study cubicles with computers and extra tall ceilings.

Women's Basketball Banquet!

The team gave out several specialty awards, starting with Most Outstanding Player, presented to sophomore Rachel Tecca for her stellar season as the team leader in scoring and rebounding. She was also honored for earning All-MAC First Team recognition, only the third Zip to ever make the First Team. Junior Jasmine Mushington was named the team's Most Improved player, and she also received her MAC award for Co-Sixth Player of the Year.

Freshman of the Year honors went to Carly Young, who also made the MAC All-Freshman Team in her first year as a Zip. Classmate Kacie Cassell took home the Community Service award for her work off the court, and Brianna Moyes, also a freshman, was honored with the Coaches' Award. Finally, the Scholar Award was given to Tecca for her excellence in the classroom.

The evening also featured the presentation of commemorative basketballs to Akron's lone senior Kara Murphy for her record-breaking career. The Hartville, Ohio native broke program records for games played (123) and points scored (1,777) over her four years in the Blue & Gold. Murphy also earned All-MAC Honorable Mention honors, placing her on the All-MAC squad all four years of her career.

The team also recognized the academic achievements of Tecca, Taylor Ruper, and Natasha Williams, who earned the MAC Commissioner's Award for student-athletes with GPA's of 3.5 or higher. The following Zips also made the MAC Honor Roll with GPA's of at least 3.0: Murphy, Tecca, Ruper, Williams, and Katie Bubna.

Relay For Life

Last weekend our team volunteer at "Relay for Life". They spent many hours raising money for a great cause. Checkout the footage from the event!

Sina King Fieldhouse Tour

We resume our video series with Freshman, Sina King, showing off our gorgeous indoor fieldhouse! Checkout where the the team does all their preseason and postseason workouts!

2011 Jock Jams Women's Basketball

Our team participated in the annual Jock Jams event! Check out the girls as they showed off their dancing skills to a Michael Jackson Medley!

On the Road with Women's Basketball - Episode 3

In this video series Hanna takes us behind the scenes at the MAC Tourney! The team had a great win in the 1st round vs. Western Michigan. Check out the girls and their journey to The Q!

On the Road with Women's Basketball - Episode 2

Hanna continues her blog as she gets ready for the rival Kent State game. This also is Kara Murphy's senior night. Check out what her teammates and coaches had to say about our lone senior!

On the Road with Women's Basketball

Freshman guard, Hanna Luburgh, takes us behind the scenes of Akron Women's Basketball. In this video check out our road trip to Miami Ohio.

Akron Women's Basketball vs. Bowling Green

It took a last second shot by Lauren Prochaska to beat the Zips 47-45. "I could not have asked any more from my team tonight," said head coach Jodi Kest. "They played their hearts out, and I am so proud of them. This one hurts, but we'll forget about it and move on to the next game."
Sophomore Rachel Tecca - who paced the Zips with a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double - dropped in a baseline hook to give Akron a one-point advantage with eight seconds remaining. Jen Uhl had put the Falcons ahead with 27 ticks to go with a pair of free throws to answer Kara Murphy's pair of freebies with 1:23 to go.
Tecca's 13th double-double of the season ties the program record set by Pam Arnold Davis, who was honored before the game with a banner in the rafters of Rhodes Arena for her accomplishments as a Zip.
The UA defense limited the Falcons to just 23.6 percent from the field in the game, but they converted 18-of-23 free throws. Bowling Green's 47 points are its second-lowest total of the season, and the Falcons average 73.0 per game, second-best in the league.

Kara Murphy Breaks Scoring Record

Senior forward Kara Murphy became Akron's all-time leading scorer at Buffalo on Feb. 16, breaking Akron great Cheryl Bowles' all-time scoring record by sinking two free throws with 20 seconds to play that gave Akron a three-point lead. Murphy has amassed 1,715 total points over her career. Congrats Kara!!!

Kara Murphy Honored

Congrats to Senior Kara Murphy on breaking the school record of most games played! Kara also has started evry game she has played in. This is an outstanding accomplsihment!

Cheryl Bowles Honored

Prior to Saturday's win over the Cardinals, a banner honoring jersey No. 24 which was worn by Zips great Cheryl Bowles was hung in the rafters of the venue. The All-American and all-time leading scorer competed for the Blue and Gold from the 1997-98 through 2000-01 seasons.
As a junior in 2000 Bowles became the Zips' first-ever first-team all-conference honoree and on Jan. 24, 2001 as a senior cemented herself as the premiere player in Akron history, becoming the school's all-time leading scorer. In her 115 game career Bowles totaled 1,712 points, surpassing the old mark of 1,544. For her senior season in 2000-01 she earned Honorable Mention All-Mid-American Conference accolades.
Bowles became the seventh player in Akron history to surpass 1,000 points in a career and was a Kodak Honorable Mention All-American, one of two All-Americans in program history. She was also a member of the 1998-99 squad that played in the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

Alumnae Game Highlights

On Friday night, Rhodes Arena was home to the Alumni Game, in which the Blue Team scored a 53-44 win over the Gold Team. A postgame dinner for the former student-athletes, their families and guests was held in the arena's Tommy Evans Lounge. Thank You to all the Alumni who came back and showed their Zip Pride!

Akron Women's Basketball vs. Ball State

Taylor Ruper broke the school record for 3-pointers made in a game and Kara Murphy broke the school record for career games played and career starts as The University of Akron women's basketball team defeated Ball State 78-65 on Saturday at Rhodes Arena.
The win improved Akron to 11-12 and 4-7 in the Mid-American Conference. Ball State fell to 9-15 and 4-7 in MAC play.
Ruper was on the mark all night as she totaled a career-high-tying 26 points on 8-of-10 shooting from behind the arc. Murphy added 15 points and Rachel Tecca also found double digits for Akron scoring 12 – her ninth-straight contest in double figures.

Rachel Tecca Named To Capital One Academic Team!!!

Akron sophomore Rachel Tecca was named to the Capital One Academic All-District Third Team for District 4, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The list recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performance on the floor and in the classroom. This is the first such honor for the Tallmadge, Ohio native, who carries a 3.90 GPA in Corporate Financial Management.
Tecca becomes the first women's basketball player in program history to earn this distinction.

For a complete listing of the Capital One Academic All-District women's basketball teams, click here.

Road Trip to NIU! Zips meet Tamika Catchings!

Behind a total team performance on both ends of the floor, the University of Akron women's basketball team dominated Northern Illinois 72-43 for the program's first-ever win at NIU. Sophomore forward Rachel Tecca recorded her second-straight double-double with a game-high 18 points and 13 rebounds, giving her 11 for the season and 14 for her career.
The Zips (10-12, 3-7 MAC) allowed the fewest points of the season, including just 12 in the first half, while holding NIU (9-14, 3-7 MAC) to 15-for-53 (.283) from the floor. Akron coupled its defensive performance with one of its best shooting nights, going 30-for-58 for 51.7 percent.
"It was a great defensive effort," said head coach Jodi Kest. "I'm so proud of our kids. We also had excellent offensive execution. It was a great team effort tonight."
Joining Tecca in double figures were sophomore Taylor Ruper with 11 and freshman Carly Young with 10.

Road Trips are always a fun time for our team. We have great team chemsitry and this group of young ladies and alot of fun to be around. While waiting for our flight home in the Chicago Airport the team ran into WNBA and former Tennesse Star, Tamika Catchings! It was a greta photo opp for our team!

Zips Excel In The Classroom!!!

The University of Akron women's basketball team performs both on the court and in the classroom, as the Zips boast 10 players on the Dean's List for Fall 2010. This Fall the team's overall GPA was 3.40. They also have an impressive cumulative GPA of 3.45.
Akron Head Coach Jodi Kest is pleased by her team's achievements, saying, "I'm proud of our players' success in the classroom. These accomplishments are a true credit to their hard work, dedication, and commitment to academics. Their success represents the high-achieving student-athletes that compete for the University of Akron."
UA's lone senior Kara Murphy leads the way on the list, joined by juniors Denver McLean and Natasha Williams, sophomores Rachel Tecca and Taylor Ruper, and freshmen Kacie Cassell, Sina King, Hanna Luburgh, Brianna Moyes, and Carly Young.

Akron Women's Basketball vs. Ohio

Akron Takes Down Ohio

The University of Akron Athletics

The University of Akron Athletics

By clicking the link above you can check out the NEW VIDEO GUIDE and learn more about our GREAT University and STELLAR Athletic Department! Scroll through the guide to get to the Women's Basketball section. Here you can watch Coach Kest talk about her success and her vision for the up and coming program she has built at The University of Akron. You can also take a look at our top notch facilities that our student athletes compete and train in everyday. Enjoy!