The University of Akron and Kent State women’s basketball teams will meet in the second Wagon Wheel rivalry game of 2026 at noon Feb. 21 at the Rhodes Arena.
Kent State prevailed 91-79 in the first matchup Jan. 17 at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center and holds a 63-18 advantage in the series. The Flashes were led by sophomore Emory Klatt (29 points), junior Mya Babbitt (19 points), junior Riley Rismiller (11 points) and freshman Caitlyn Holmes (seven points), a former Ellet standout.
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Klatt scored 16 points in the final 10 minutes as KSU won its seventh consecutive game over Akron.
Here are other tidbits to know about Akron (7-19, 4-9) and Kent (12-13, 6-7) before the Mid-American Conference game.
Akron to honor women’s basketball legend Rachel Tecca
Akron is hosting a pregame ceremony to honor Rachel Tecca’s No. 32 jersey.
Tecca, a Tallmadge native, is the third player in Akron women’s basketball history to have her jersey number honored, joining No. 22 Pam Arnold and No. 24 Cheryl Bowles.
Tecca, an Archbishop Hoban High School graduate, played for Akron from 2009-14. Tecca earned All-America honors, was the Mid-American Conference Tournament MVP in 2013-14 and was the MAC Player of the Year in 2012-13.
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Tecca is No. 1 in seven statistical categories in Akron women’s basketball history: points (2,317), rebounds (1,109), games played (138), field goals made (851), field goal attempts (1,694), free throws made (606) and free throws attempted (813). She is also No. 2 in points per game (16.8) and No. 3 in field goal percentage (50.2).
Akron registered a 92-68 overall record, a 50-32 mark in the MAC, won a regular season MAC Eastern Division title (2012-13), a MAC Tournament championship (2013-14) and competed in the 2014 NCAA Tournament with Tecca.
University of Akron’s Ni’Rah Clark (33) shoots in a game against Kent State, Jan. 17, 2026, at M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio.
Akron women’s basketball playing better after rough start
Akron opened the season with a 3-17 overall record and an 0-8 MAC mark, but has won four of its last six games under coach Ryan Gensler.
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Akron’s nonleague schedule included losses to Notre Dame, Cleveland State, Xavier, Youngstown State and Michigan. The Zips topped Heidelberg, Geneva and Le Moyne before MAC play.
Akron made a program-record 20 of 40 3-point shots in a 108-105 win in two overtimes over visiting Ohio (15-10, 9-5) Wednesday, Feb. 18. SophomoreLiz Murphy, sophomore Izzy Callaway (Copley graduate) and junior Keiryn McGuff made six, five and four 3s, respectively.
University of Akron’s Izzy Callaway (6) looks to pass in a game against Kent, Jan. 17, 2026, at M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio.
McGuff scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 45 minutes. Murphy scored a career-high 20 points, Callaway had 19 points, freshman Shaena Brew contributed 18 points and a career-high 12 assists and sophomore Ni’Rah Clark added 17 points and seven rebounds.
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Prior to that game, Akron beat host Northern Illinois 75-68 in overtime Saturday, Feb. 14. Clark scored 21 points, senior Natalie Johnson contributed a career-high 18 points, freshman Monique Mitchell chipped in 10 points, and freshman Corinne Reed added a nine points and seven rebounds.
Akron’s two other MAC wins are at home over Buffalo (76-72, Jan. 31) and Toledo (77-74, Feb. 4).
Kent State University’s Caitlyn Holmes (0), University of Akron’s Liisa Taponen (14), and Kent State University’s Riley Rismiller (30) during a Kent free throw, Jan. 17, 2026, at M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio.
Kent women’s basketball contending for MAC Tournament appearance
Kent enters Saturday seventh in the MAC standings, with the top eight teams advancing to the MAC tournament in Cleveland in March. The Flashes are 4-3 overall and 3-3 in the MAC since the win over Akron.
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Kent’s four recent wins under coach Todd Starkey are over Buffalo (84-74, Jan. 24), Bowling Green (73-64, Feb. 4), Appalachian State (68-63, Feb. 7) and Northern Illinois (70-67, Feb. 18).
Kent State University’s Caitlyn Holmes (0) looks to pass in a game against University of Akron, Jan. 17, 2026, at M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio.
Kent’s leaders versus Appalachian State were sophomore Journey Hildebrand (17 points, eight rebounds), senior Tatiana Thomas (12 points, nine rebounds, seven steals), freshman Anna Campanelli (13 points) and junior Riley Rismiller (10 points).
Rismiller guided the Flashes past NIU with 16 points and five rebounds. Thomas totaled 15 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, two steals and two assists. Hildebrand added 14 points and five rebounds, and junior Mya Babbitt had 10 points.
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Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron vs Kent State in women’s basketball, what to know
