The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Win Sixth Straight, Down Niagara 69-42
December 29 | Women's Basketball
- The University of Akron women's basketball team closed out
2006 in grand fashion with a 69-42 win over Niagara on Friday night
at James A Rhodes Arena. The win gives the Zips their sixth
straight victory, a feat that has not been accomplished since the
1995-96 season.
Freshman
Sarah Tokodi (Marietta,
Ohio/Parkersburg Catholic HS) set a new career high with 26 points
on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor, and senior
Jessie Crooks
(Independence, Ohio/Independence HS) added 15 points to lead
Akron's scoring attack. Sophomore
Niki McCoy (Sylvania,
Ohio/Northview HS) led the way on the glass with 10 rebounds.
"We had a great defensive effort tonight," head coach
Jodi Kest said. " For
Niagara to score only 42 points says a lot about the way we played
defense. Our execution on offensive was better than it had been in
the past and I thought we did a terrific job of making good
passes."
Niagara's Chantelle Wright hit back-to-back threes to start the
game, but the Zips fought back to claim their first lead of the
night, 11-10, at the 12:55 mark when
Mandy Holzer (Jordan,
Minn./Jordan HS) converted inside on a fast-break opportunity.
Crooks gave Akron a nine-point edge, 25-16, when she cashed in a
three-point play with 6:44 left in the first half. Todoki followed
with a short jumper along the baseline, giving the Zips their first
double-digit lead of the night.
UA continued to pour it on offensively by closing out the half on a
20-to-4 run and went into the locker room with a 36-18 advantage.
Tokodi was a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor, including three makes
from beyond the arc.
The Zips (7-5) shot 44.8 % (13-of-29) in the opening session and
their stiff defense limited the Purple Eagles to just 21.4 %
(6-of-28).
Niagara (8-5) scored six of the first eight points of the second
half to cut into the UA lead, but the Zips responded with a 10-to-3
run of their own to extend the lead to 46-27 with 9:55 left in the
game.
Crooks converted her second three-point play of the night to give
the Zips a 58-34 lead at the 4:52 mark, putting the game out of
reach for the Purple Eagles.
UA turned 16 Niagara turnovers into 19 points and benefited from 15
points off of the bench.
The Zips will begin Mid American Conference play on Jan. 3 at 7
p.m. EST when they welcome Bowling Green to James A. Rhodes
Arena.
