The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Slip in MAC Opener at Bowling Green, 84-65
January 04 | Women's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio- Despite a promising start and just a six-point deficit at the half, the University of Akron women's basketball team dropped its MAC season-opener on the road at Bowling Green, 84-65. The Zips fall to 2-10, 0-1 in the MAC while the Falcons improve to 5-7, 1-0 in conference play.
"I think we looked better in this game overall, particularly in the end, but we just don't have the scoring power to match up with a shooting team like this one," said Akron head coach Roxanne Allen. "But this is a game that we can build upon."
Both teams took awhile to warm up as there were just two baskets in the first 4:43 of the game, giving Bowling Green a 3-2 lead. Soon after that the Zip offense would kick into gear as guard Julie McDivitt hit the first three-pointer of her career to put Akron up 8-3 with 14:18 left in the first half. McDivitt would finish the game with a career-best 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor.
The Falcons would take a slim 14-13 lead, but a 6-0 run by the
Zips put them up 19-14 with 10:17 to play. McDivitt picked up four
of the six points during the span.
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Bowling Green would take the lead for good at the 6:38 mark in the first half when a three pointer by Francine Miller put BG up, 24-23. The Falcons would hit six of 13 three-point attempts in the half and finished the game 12-of-30 from the three-point arc. Kim Griech was four of eight on three-point tries and finished with a game-high 18 points.
"They have a really nice team chemistry and are a talented group," Allen said.
Akron was also hampered by foul trouble in the first half as the Zips committed 12 team fouls, sending Bowling Green to the line 18 times, of which they made 14 shots. The Falcons went in a the half with a 40-34 advantage.
After a promising start offensively in the first half, the Zips could not keep up with the outside shots of Bowling Green as the Falcons continued to extend their lead in the second half, up by as much as 24 points, 80-56, with under three minutes to play. A 7-4 run by Akron made the final score 84-65.
The Zips were led by Jamie Scott who finished the game with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Sierra Cooper added 11 after a 9-10 performance at the free throw line, along with 10 points from Cheryl Bowles who was battling the flu and did not start. Sandy Martin contributed eight rebounds to the effort.
Akron will continue its MAC East Division road swing this Saturday as they travel to Buffalo, N.Y. to face the Bulls. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
