By: Parker Perry
The University of Akron will be the site of four preseason WNIT games over the coming weekend.
The Zips women’s basketball team will welcome Detroit, Drexel and Howard to James A. Rhodes arena. Akron (0-1) will play Howard in their first consolation game, then play again Saturday. Their opponent will be determined by how the bracket plays out. Akron will play at 7 p.m. Friday.
Akron will be coming off a defeat at the hands of the second-rank Notre Dame Fighting Irish. UA traveled to North Bend only to be beaten by 20 points, 81-61. Though the result did not go their way, Akron was able to out-rebound the Irish and the respective benches scored the same number of points (10).
The major trouble for Akron was the harsh defense of ND, which caused 46 turnovers. Notre Dame scored 50 points off of turnovers alone.
Howard enters into the contest after being soundly beat by the No. 1 team in the nation, the Baylor Lady Bears. The Bears took the Bison to town, beating them 82-28. Howard was held scoreless until the nine minute mark of the competition.
Howard, despite the loss, returns three key players from their 2010-2011 squad. Red shirt junior forward Saadia Doyle, junior guard Tamoria Holmes and fellow junior guard Cheyenne Curly- Payne all return for the Bison. In the first game, Holmes scored a team-high nine points. Curly-Payne also got in on the action, scoring seven points and coming up with a team-high seven rebounds in her time on the floor.
Drexel and Detroit also come into the consolation games previous losers, Drexel to Long Island and Detroit to Indiana State. These teams will play at 5 p.m. Friday.
A good weekend for Akron could prove to be bountiful, as it could push them above the .500 mark and allow them momentum in their upcoming games. Akron is scheduled to face St. Francis (2-0), Loyola (0-1) and Cleveland State (1-1).
Since the upcoming games are put on by the Preseason WNIT and not the University, the games are not free to UA Students. Students with a valid Zipcard, however, will receive a two-dollar discount and only have to pay four dollars for a ticket. Tickets are good for both games on that day.