Women's Basketball | 11/22/2022 11:00:00 AM

GAME 5
RMU (4-0 / 0-0 #HLWBB) @ Akron (2-1 / 0-0 #MACWBB)
Wednesday, November 23, 2022 | 6:00 p.m.
James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500) | Akron, Ohio
 
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Michael Reghi (pxp), Jeff Phelps (color)
Audio: RMU Athletics Gameday App
Twitter & Instagram: @RMUWBasketball
 
Opening Tip

• After a nine-day break, RMU will travel to Akron to face the Zips, a member of the Mid-American Conference. It'll be the Colonials first away game of the season.
• RMU is the youngest team in the Horizon League, and the only squad with no seniors on their roster. The team features two juniors, five sophomores and five freshmen.
• In a vote by Horizon League head coaches, RMU was picked to finish ninth in the conference in the 2022-23 season.
• The Colonials last season were 14-15 overall, and 11-11 in Horizon League play. In games at home, RMU was 8-6.
• Led by Charlie Buscaglia, he's entering his seventh year as head coach for the women's basketball team in 2022-23. RMU earned a 70-56 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne (3/1) in the first round of the 2022 Horizon League Tournament at the UPMC Events Center last season.
• The Colonials concluded an undefeated four-game home stand at the UPMC Events Center with a 49-36 victory over Saint Francis (11/7), 53-52 win vs. George Mason (11/10), 95-39 result against Waynesburg (11/12), and an 87-48 win vs. Wheeling (11/14).
• As a team, the Colonials are shooting 41% from the field going 105-for-256. Opposing teams are only shooting 14.8% from behind the arc against RMU. They've caused 113 turnovers so far on the season.
• Sophomore Alejandra Mastral has logged the most minutes played for RMU (116:36).
• Phoenix Gedeon scored a career high 20 points vs. George Mason (11/10) in a final minute thriller winning 53-52. She also produced the squad's first double-double of the season against Waynesburg (11/12) scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds.

AKRON LINKS
- Live Stats
- Video
- Audio
- RMU Athletics Gameday App 


The All-Time Series (Akron) – In RMU history, the Colonials are 8-13 overall against the Zips, including 4-5 record at home, 1-6 away and 1-1 at a neutral site. RMU hosted Akron last season, falling 60-50 (11/13). Before that, the teams last met in 2011 in Moon Township, winning 85-78. Simone Morris recorded a career best three assists against the Zips in the previous match. In games against current members of the Mid-American Conference, RMU has collected 17 wins in their history. That includes wins against Akron, Central Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), and Ohio University.
 
Scouting the Zips – Akron women's basketball finished third last season in the MAC with a record of 16-10 overall, and 13-7 in conference. They're 2-1 to start the 2022-23 season. The Zips have faced two Horizon League conference members so far during the non-conference portion of the season. They opened the year losing at Oakland 74-67 (11/7) and then beat Youngstown State 61-44 (11/18) at home. In between those two results, Akron beat Atlantic10 opponent Dayton 85-69 (11/13). The Zips feature two players scoring in double figures through three games. Sophomore Reagan Bass is averaging 17 points per game, shooting 59.5% from the field. Junior Layne Ferrell is scoring 16 points per game at 57.7% from the field. Molly Neitzel a senior, is averaging seven rebounds per game.
 
Drive the Paint – The top point scorers for the Colonials are all forwards. Sophomore Phoenix Gedeon is leading the way averaging 16.3 points per game and seven rebounds per game. Sophomore Danielle Vuletich is averaging 9.5 points and 5.5 caroms per game. She produced 15 points in back-to-back games against Waynesburg (11/12) and Wheeling (11/14). The Californian native Simone Morris is averaging the third most points per game (7.8). Freshman Paris Kirk is also averaging 7.8 points per game and also owns a team high 12 offensive rebounds. Kirk is shooting 50% (9-for-18) from the field.
 
RMU History – Thus far, RMU is off to their best start since the 1980-81 season. That team also started 4-0 under head coach Dan Swalga. The 1980-81 team beat Bethany 65-49, Geneva 72-35, Steubenville 81-67, and Clarion 71-60 to open the season. In their fifth game they were edged out 61-59 by Duquesne. In those four games they outscored opponents 289-211, while the current Colonials are outscoring the opposition 284-175. If RMU beats Akron, it'll be the best start in program history.
 
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