Kent State University
University of Akron
Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge Action Returns
2/10/2017 11:47:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge returns to the hardwood this Saturday when Kent State (13-11, 7-5) travels over to Akron (9-13, 2-9) for a 2 p.m. game.
Coverage
• The game will be aired live on ESPN3
• Dave Wilson will have the call on Golden Flashes iHeart Radio
• Live stats will be provided at gozips.com
The Matchup
• Kent State is 48-15 all-time against Akron, but the Zips have taken the last eight meetings and nine of the last ten
• The Flashes last rivalry win came in a one-point victory at home in February 2012
• The Zips have collected two conference wins this season, at Northern Illinois in a 84-55 game and home against Eastern Michigan, 80-62
• Their most recent game was a 54-49 loss at Miami on Wednesday night
• Akron is averaging 65.5 points and 38.0 rebounds per game this season
Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge
• The competition awards points to the head-to-head winners in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's golf, women's soccer, softball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field and volleyball
• Kent State has won every challenge since its inception in the 2011-2012 school year
• This is Crystal Clinic's first year sponsoring the Wagon Wheel Challenge
• Akron currently leads this year 3.5 to 1.5
Collecting for Cancer Research
• Kent State needs your help collecting funds for cancer research as part of the annual Play4Kay game
• The team's annual pink game will be held Saturday, February 18
• Teams across the country host Play4Kay games every year to help raise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund
• The fund began in 2007 on the vision of former coach Kay Yow, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and died from the disease in 2009
• The Kay Yow Cancer Fund has donated more than $5.28 million to women's cancer research in its first nine years
• The first 150 students and first 100 fans to the game on the 18th will receive a free t-shirt and all fans are asked to wear pink
• Women's basketball has their own donation page at https://support.kayyow.com/team/105126 where fans are asked to donate for the cause
• Tickets for the game can be bought at kentstatesports.com or by calling the ticket office at 330-672-2244
Tough Trio
• Larissa Lurken, Jordan Korinek and McKenna Stephens have been a formidable trio for the Flashes in conference play this season
• The three combined for 68 of the team's 83 points Wednesday night against Eastern Michigan
• In the Flashes' prior meeting with the Eagles this year they each had a double-double
• Lurken leads the MAC in conference-only stats with 25.1 points behind and Korinek is close behind in 5th with 19.8
• Stephens ranks 26th in MAC-only scoring with 10.8 points per game
• All three rank in the top twenty in rebounding through 12 conference games
