Two Zips Earn All MAC Academic Team!!!

We are very pleased to annouce that Junior Taylor Ruper and sophomore Sina King were both named Academic All-MAC for the first time in their careers. It is the first time in program history that two Zips have garnered the honor in the same season.

The Academic All-MAC honor is for student-athletes who have excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.

Ruper has a 3.77 grade point average in her corporate financial management program and had one of the best 3-point shooting seasons in Akron and MAC history in 2011-12. The junior from North Royalton, Ohio knocked down 89 3-pointers, which is the second highest total in UA history and the fourth best mark in MAC history. Ruper averaged 10.2 points per game and was the only Zip to start in all 32 contests. She shot an impressive 89-of-232 (.384) from three – good enough for 21st in the nation. Her 2.8 3-pointers per game ranked 15th nationally. Ruper was named Honorable Mention All-MAC, MAC East Player of the Week on Nov. 28, and MAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week on March 8.

King holds a grade point average of 3.73 and is working towards a degree in speech – language pathology & audiology. King appeared in 30 games this season, with 24 starts. She averaged 12.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, recording a team-high five double-doubles. In conference games, King averaged 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest. She shot on impressive 47.8-percent from the field and recorded career-highs of 22 points (at Toledo, Feb. 1) and 16 rebounds (at Ohio, Jan. 14). King accomplished all of this despite playing out of position at center this season after Rachel Tecca was lost for the year with an injury. The sophomore was named Second-Team All-MAC and was the MAC East Player of the Week on Feb. 6.