The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Win Thriller at Cleveland State, 61-59
December 10 | Women's Basketball
CLEVELAND - Freshman
Sarah Tokodi (Marietta,
Ohio/Parkersburg Catholic) capped off a frenetic final minute to
play with the game-winning shot to give the Zips a 61-59 win at
Cleveland State on Sunday afternoon. With the win, Akron improves
to 4-5, while the loss drops Cleveland State to 2-9.
Akron lead 59-54 with :46 to play, but Cleveland State's Dominique
Butler came up with a steal and was fouled on the basket to cut the
Zips' lead to just two. Akron turned the ball over on the ensuing
inbound and Butler tied the game with :13 remaining.
The Zips took the ball up the court for what would be the
game-winning shot as Tokodi came in from the left side and hit the
basket with just four seconds to play.
The win was Akron's third in a row, giving the Zips their first
three-game win streak since the 1999-00 season. It was also Akron's
first non-conference road win since a victory over Wright State on
Dec. 16, 2003. The Zips' prior two nonconference victories away
from Rhodes Arena came on neutral courts.
Tokodi finished with 10 points, along with 11 from
Niki McCoy (Sylvania,
Ohio/Northview). Both teams struggled to hold onto the ball with a
combined 39 turnovers, 18 of those coming from the Zips.
"We did a good job in the second half of not allowing the trap in
the corner, but we still turned the ball over too many times," head
coach
Jodi Kest said. "The beauty
of nonconference games is the ability to learn from our
mistakes."
Both teams had troubles from the field in the opening minutes of
the second half as their combined six points all came from the free
throw line.
Mandy Holzer's (Jordan,
Minn./Jordan) layup with 3:59 gone broke the drought and put the
Zips up 40-36.
A pair of Zips found themselves in foul trouble in the second half
as Holzer and
Lauren Stephenson
(Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) were relegated to the bench with
more that 14 minutes remaining with four fouls each.
Chenara Wilson took over the game for CSU with six points in just
over a minute's time, as another 10-0 run gave the Vikings a 46-40
lead at 13:11 to play.
A fast-break layup off a steal from Tokodi was part of a 15-1
stretch for the Zips to put them back on top at 55-47 with just
over five minutes remaining. A solid defensive effort from the Zips
compounded by CSU turnovers kept the Vikings off the board for more
than seven minutes during the run.
Akron opened the game with a quick 8-2 lead thanks to a pair of
three pointers from
Jessie Crooks
(Independence, Ohio/Independence) and Tokodi. After an early basket
by Stephanie Youdath at 19:05, the Vikings were held scoreless over
the next 4:30 as the Zips' advantage stretched to nine.
Unable to withstand Cleveland State's pressure under the basket,
Akron began to turn the ball over and the Vikings capitalized with
a 10-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 12-11.
Trailing 14-13, a pair of baskets from
Jessica Deville (Leetonia,
Ohio/Leetonia) and
Allison Schoff
(Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) in a 17-second span but Akron back on
top at 18-14 with 9:03 to play. After being held without a
three-point basket on Tuesday vs. Duquesne, the Zips were 5-of-12
in the first half.
With the clock winding down and the Zips trailing by three, Schoff
threw up a desperation attempt from long range that banked in to
tie the score at 34-all at the half. Schoff was a perfect 3-for-3
from long range in the half to lead the Zips with nine points.
Cleveland State was just 1-of-4 from the three-point line at the
break, but it made up for it at the charity stripe by converting 11
of 17 attempts compared to 5-of-7 for Akron.
Akron continues its two-game road stretch next Saturday as it
travels to Youngstown State. Tipoff against the Penguins is set for
2:05 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.
