WBB welcomes 3 new additions!!!

Two guards and a center have signed National Letters of Intent and will join The University of Akron women's basketball team this fall, head coach Jodi Kest announced Thursday.


Northeast Ohio high school products Anita Brown and Megan Barilla, and Akron native Cari Guyton are set to become the newest members of the UA program.

"These three young ladies will be excellent additions to our basketball team," Kest remarked. "They will contribute to our team tremendously as we continue to build a championship program."

Brown (Warren, Ohio/Warren Harding), a 5-9 guard, averaged 27 points and 13 rebounds per game last season on her way to an OHSAA Division I Third-Team All-Ohio selection. She is the only player in Harding history to score over 1,000 points and grab over 1,000 rebounds. Brown also holds the school record for points in a game (45). In addition to her all-state honors, Brown was named first-team all-district and was the Most Valuable Player of the North-South All-Star Game.

"Anita is a great addition to our program," Kest said. "She has the ability to put up big numbers on the offensive end, but is also a good defender. She will bring added athleticism and a competitive spirit to our team."

Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio/Magnificat) was a four-year varsity letter winner and a three-time captain at Magnificat High School. A 5-10 guard, Barilla averaged 10.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.7 steals as a senior and led the Blue Streaks to a 70-23 record during her four seasons. She was also named to the Adidas Hoosier Hardwood Championship All-Tournament Team.

Megan is a winner both on and off the court," Kest said. "She comes from a great high school program in Magnificat, which is rich in girl's basketball tradition. Megan will provide us with depth at the guard position."

Guyton (Akron, Ohio/Pratt JC (Kan.)) will be returning home after playing the last two seasons at Pratt Junior College in Kansas. The 6-2 center averaged 12 points and 8.6 boards per game last season and led the Jayhawk Conference in rebounding. Guyton also ranked second in the conference in field goal percentage at 54-percent. Guyton prepped at Firestone High School and led the Falcons to a 20-2 record in her senior year.

"Cari is a true center. She has great hands and the ability to finish around the basket," Kest commented "She is a big body who takes up a lot of space in the paint, and she rebounds the basketball very well. We are excited to welcome Cari back home to Akron."

                        Cari Guyton

                    Anita Brown

                Megan Barilla

WBB End of the Year Banquet

We had another great end of the year banquet. The banquet is always a special time to honor our players and support staff. We are pleased to annouce the award winners!

MVP- Sina King

Most Improved- Carly Young

Coaches Award- Kacie Cassell

Academic Award- Rachel Tecca

Community Service Award- Hanna Luburgh

It was also a great night as we honored Coach Kest for her 300th win which took place this past year. And Taylor Ruper for breaking the school record for most made 3pointers!

                                         Coach Kest with Sophmore MVP Sina King

Akron Womens Basketball JOCK JAMS!!!

Check out our third place finish in this years Jock Jams!

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.

Taylor Ruper Breaks 3pt Record and Earns Scholar Athlete of the Week!

University of Akron junior guard Taylor Ruper has been named Mid-American Conference Female Scholar Athlete of the Week, the league office announced on Thursday.

Ruper wins the award after becoming Akron's career leader in 3-pointers made in Saturday's 96-82 MAC Tournament first round win over Buffalo at Rhodes Arena. Ruper made 6-of-8 threes in the game, giving her 184 treys in her career and breaking the previous record of 183 held by Michelle Chavanne (1993-97). Ruper sets the mark in just her 88th career game, while Chavanne's mark took 101 games. In all, Ruper scored 20 points in the tournament win. In the regular season finale last Tuesday (Feb. 28) – also against Buffalo – the sharpshooter poured in 17 points to lead Akron to a 78-69 senior night victory. Ruper averaged 18.5 points in her two games last week and was 10-of-19 (.526) on 3-pointers.

Ruper is an excellent student who holds a 3.76 grade point average in her finance program.

All-MAC Honors for Sina King and Taylor Ruper

University of Akron sophomore forward Sina King has been named Second Team All-Mid-American Conference, has announced by the league office on Tuesday.
Also honored Tuesday was junior guard Taylor Ruper, who was named Honorable Mention All-MAC.

King leads Akron in both scoring and rebounding this season, averaging 12.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest. In conference games, those numbers rise to 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per match. King has shot an impressive 48.7-percent from the field this season, ranking her fifth in the conference in the statistic. In addition to her strong overall shooting percentage, King is also a threat from the outside and is making 34.6-percent (18-of-52) of her 3-point shots this year. The Waterford, Ohio native has tallied five double-doubles on the year, with four of those performances coming in conference play.

"I'm really happy for Sina, she is well deserving of this award," sixth-year Akron coach Jodi Kest said. "Sina has had to play two different positions this season and she really stepped up for us after Rachel Tecca was injured in December. Sina has put in a tremendous amount of work to improve her outside shot and her overall strength and I am extremely pleased her hard work is paying off."

Ruper earns an honorable mention nod for having one of the best 3-point shooting seasons in MAC history. Ruper is averaging 10.5 points per game this season and is shooting 38.9-percent (89-of-229) from behind the arc. Ruper became Akron's career leader in 3-pointers made in Saturday's MAC Tournament first round win over Buffalo. Ruper has made 184 3-pointers in her 88 game career, topping the previous mark of 183 set by Michelle Chavanne from 1993-97. Ruper ranks 13th in the country in 3-pointers made per game (2.9) this season and 24th nationally in 3-point shooting percentage.

"Taylor is not only one of the best shooters in the conference, but one of the best in the country," Kest said. "This honor is a testament to her scoring ability."

Coach Kest Earns 300th Win

A scorching hot offensive performance in the first half boosted The University of Akron women's basketball team to a 96-82 win over Buffalo in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Saturday at Rhodes Arena.

Kest improves her career coaching record to 300-262 (.534) with the win and is now six wins shy of becoming Akron's all-time wins leader.