Zips Picked 1st In MAC East

After capturing its first division title a year ago, UA was projected to finish at the top of the East, receiving nine first place votes out of a possible 12. Additionally, seniors Hanna 
Luburgh and Rachel Tecca were named to the Preseason All-MAC East team.

The University of Akron women's basketball team was picked to repeat as Mid-American Conference East Division champions in the 2013-14 MAC Preseason Poll selected by the league's head coaches. 

"Rachel and Hanna have proven they are two of the top players in the MAC and they are very deserving of this preseason recognition," said head coach Jodi Kest. "For our team to be selected at the top of the East Division is a testament to how far we have come and what we were able to accomplish last year."

Hannah Scipio & Alex Ricketts Tour Exchange Dorm

Freshmen roommates Hannah Scipio and Alex Ricketts show off their Exchange street dorm! 

Zips Women's Basketball First Practice - Sept. 30

The University of Akron women's basketball team returned to the floor for its first official practice of the 2013-14 season Monday afternoon under the direction of eighth-year head coach Jodi Kest.

The team spent two and a half hours fine-tuning fundamentals and position work, cultivating what has become its signature uptempo style.

Kest, now the longest-tenured women's basketball head coach in the Mid-American Conference, returns 10 letterwinners and four starters from a team that went 23-10 overall and 12-4 in the conference a year ago, en route to capturing the school's first ever MAC East championship.

Highlighting an impressive senior class is Tallmadge, Ohio native Rachel Tecca who garnered MAC Player of the Year and Academic All-American accolades as a redshirt junior. Kacie Cassell led the country in assists per game last season, re-writing Akron's record book in the process, and Hanna Luburgh capped off a stellar junior season with All-MAC Tournament team honors, leading the Zips to their first ever appearance in the league title game.

Spicer Dorm Tour!

Hannah Plybon is one of the new faces on our Zip roster! Check out this video as she gives us a great tour of her freshmen dorm, Spicer Hall.

Women's Basketball Receives MAC East Championship Rings!!!

This past weekend our team was honored during the first home football game. We received a nice applause from the crowd as we were announced as the 2012-2013 MAC East Champions. We also surprised the team with their championship rings! Take a look at the bling! 

WBB Announces Schedule

Highlighted by a trip to California and contests with eight teams that saw postseason action last year! 

2013-14 University of Akron Women's Basketball Schedule

Sat., Nov. 2 – Lake Erie College

Fri., Nov. 8 – Florida Atlantic

Tues., Nov. 12 – Tennessee Tech

Fri., Nov. 15 – at Dayton

Sun., Nov. 17 – at Wright State

Fri., Nov. 22 – at Canisius

Fri., Nov. 29 – at Cal Poly 

Sat., Nov. 30 – vs. UC Davis

Sat., Dec. 7 – George Mason

Tues., Dec. 17 – at Cincinnati

Fri., Dec. 20 – Rochester College

Sun., Dec. 29 – Youngstown State

Sat., Jan. 4 – Ball State

Thurs., Jan. 9 – Central Michigan

Sun., Jan. 12 – at Bowling Green

Wed. Jan. 15 – at Miami (Ohio)

Sat., Jan. 18 – Kent State

Thurs., Jan. 23 – Ohio

Sun., Jan. 26 – at Eastern Michigan

Thurs., Jan. 30 – at Toledo

Sun. Feb. 2 – Buffalo

Wed., Feb. 5 – at Northern Illinois

Sat., Feb. 8 – Western Michigan

Sat., Feb. 15 – at Ball State

Wed., Feb. 19 – Northern Illinois

Sat., Feb. 22 – at Ohio

Wed., Feb. 26 – Miami (Ohio)

Sun., March 2 – at Kent State

Wed., March 5 – at Buffalo

Sat., March 8 – Bowling Green

March 10-15 – Mid-American Conference Tournament

Coach Kest Signs Contract Extension!!!

University of Akron women's basketball head coach Jodi Kest has agreed to a five-year contract extension that will keep her at the helm of the program through the 2017-18 season. 

"Coach Kest has worked tirelessly for the past seven years to change the women's basketball culture at Akron and establish a winning tradition," UA Director of Athletics Tom Wistrcill said. "Following the most successful season in school history, we are proud to make this commitment to Jodi as she continues to build the program into one of the best in the Mid-American Conference."

Now the longest tenured women's basketball head coach in the MAC, Kest is entering her eighth season with the Zips after guiding them to their second postseason berth in four years and a school record 23 victories in 2012-13. She has won more than 320 games in her 21 seasons as a collegiate head coach.

"I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to lead the Zips for five more years," Kest said. "I am also very appreciative of the commitment and the support from the university administration, in particular (President) Dr. Luis Proenza, Tom Wistrcill and (Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator) Mary Lu Gribschaw. This administration truly believes in what we have built and has faith in the future of our program. Akron is a great place to be, and the opportunity to work with our student-athletes and build on our success is one that I cherish every day."

Akron has established itself as one of the top teams in the MAC under Kest's leadership. Most recently in 2013, the Zips advanced to their first ever league title game and brought home the program's first East Division crown, marking the first time since 2005 a team other than Bowling Green had won the division. Last year's squad broke more than 10 school records, and finished the year with the seventh-highest scoring average in all of Division I at 75.4 points per game.