'All effort': Reagan Bass continues to be go-to player for Akron women's basketball team

University of Akron junior Reagan Bass entered Saturday's game against Ball State in a spot statistically that no other women's basketball player could claim.

Not Iowa's Caitlin Clark, Louisiana State's Angel Reese or Connecticut's Paige Bueckers.

Nobody.

Bass was the only player in NCAA Division I women's basketball to average 20.0 points and 11.0 rebounds this season, and her seven doubles-doubles ranked 15th nationally.

Bass added another double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds Saturday, but the Zips lost 71-64 in overtime at Rhodes Arena to Ball State, one of the best teams in the Mid-American Conference.

"It is an effort thing with Reagan," Akron coach Ryan Gensler said. "There was a play in the second half where they threw three [defenders] at her. I thought she would try to kick it out [with a pass] and she stepped through and got the ball up there.

"... She has been versatile to be able to catch it in different areas. We are trying to avoid some double teams and not be as patterned on where the ball is coming in so teams can load up. She has done a really good job of being flexible of where we put her to be in positions to look to score."

Bass made 4 of 9 shots from the field and 8 of 11 free throws.

"She is a hard worker," Akron 6-foot-2 sophomore forward Lanae Riley said of Bass. "She is able to score and she is able to rebound because of how hard she works all the time. We rely on her and she is a supportive teammate."

Bass, a 6-1 forward, said her double-doubles are "all effort, but that is not really what I am going for."

Bass and her teammates want to win, and the Zips (5-7, 0-2) were close against the Cardinals (12-2, 2-0). Ball State's only losses, both lopsided, are to top-25 teams Notre Dame and UConn.

Junior Ally Becki led Ball State with 20 points, nine rebounds, six assists and five steals and sophomore Madelyn Bischoff made four 3-pointers en route to 19 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Cardinals senior Annie Rauch (14 points, 10 rebounds) and junior Nyla Hampton (eight points, six steals, five assists, five rebounds, two blocks) also gave the Zips fits.

"Credit to Ball State — I thought they did a really good job with their press and ball pressure, which they are known for," Gensler said. "It is tough to simulate that. Those [20] points off of turnovers were an issue for us, and they have been.

"They hurt us at times, but I thought our team's resolve was really strong. I challenged them before the game to be the more physical team, and I thought we were for the most part, but at the end of the day you have got to make some plays late. ... We are playing hard, we are playing together and we are playing for each other."

Bass has scored 33 points twice this season, in a double-overtime loss to Oakland and in a win over Tennessee State. She had 24 points in an overtime win over Pittsburgh.

Akron is also receiving solid contributions from Riley, senior guard Morgan Haney and junior guards Kaia Woods, Alexus Mobley and Zakia Rasheed.

"This is a brand new team," Bass said. "The majority of this team has never played in the MAC before, so it is getting used to this a little bit. This is a whole another level of competition. I think we are building and we are growing each game, and that really showed [Saturday]."

Haney made three 3-pointers and finished with 15 points and six rebounds against Ball State. Riley scored 13 points and Woods added 11 points and six assists.

"It has always been about Lanae's defense and rebounding for us," Gensler said. "As far as her biggest growth opportunity, she is a very talented offensive player and a very versatile offensive player, as you saw [Saturday]. She is able to go off the bounce, able to score with her back to the basket and able to knock down an open 3 or an open jump shot."

"... Mo having a great game [Saturday] is no surprise. When she can play off the ball a little bit and set her feet, she is in great shape. Kaia has grown throughout the season. She [got sick] twice during the game. She was exhausted."

Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron women's basketball player Reagan Bass posts more double-doubles