The University of Akron Athletics
Ball State Topples Akron, 71-46 In MAC Tournament First Round
March 04 | Women's Basketball
March 4, 2006
Final Stats
MUNCIE, Ind. -- - Ball State held Akron scoreless in the opening minutes of each half, and a 19-point scoring effort from Jessie Crooks (Independence, Ohio/Independence) was not enough as Ball State (17-11) posted a 71-46 win over Akron (5-23) in a first-round Kraft Mid-American Conference Tournament game at Worthen Arena Saturday afternoon.
With the victory, Ball State advances to the quarterfinals where it will face Kent State on Wednesday, March 8 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
A long-range shot from Kiley Jarrett extended Ball State's lead to 46-27 with 14:03 to play. A quick five-point run, led by back-to-back three-point baskets from Crooks, trimmed that lead to 11 at the 12-minute media timeout.
Another dry spell for the Zips on the offensive end of the court allowed the Cardinals to build a 59-35 lead with 7:27 remaining. Ball State's largest lead of the game came with with :46 remaining as Stephanie Douglas' free throw made it 71-46.
In two games against the Cardinals this year, Crooks totaled 41 points, including a career-high 22 in the first meeting on Jan. 28. Jessica Deville (Leetonia, Ohio/Leetonia) was the only other Akron player in double digits with 11.
The Cardinals' leading scorer this season, Julie DeMuth was held scoreless in the first half and finished the game with eight points. Tina Bolte finished with a team-high 11 points.
Ball State opened the game with an 11-0 run, including a pair of
three-point baskets from Bolte. Akron did not break into the
scoring column until Jessica Deville's short-range jumper at 14:42
gave the Cardinals a 13-2 lead.
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Crooks reeled off eight of the Zips' first 12 points as Akron climbed back into the game, trailing 20-12 with 12 minutes to play in the half. The Zips would go scoreless over the next six minutes, allowing the Cardinals to build their lead back to 15, 27-12.
Deville hit a desperation three with the shot clock winding down to make it 31-21, Ball State with just under two minutes remaining. Deville had five points for Akron at the half as the Cardinals took a 33-21 lead into the locker room. Crooks led Akron with eight points, but missed the final four minutes of the half after receiving a blow to the eye.
Akron shot 35 percent (9-26) in the first half, compared to 48 percent (12-25) for Ball State. The Zips were also outrebounded in the first period, 20-12.
