The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Basketball Stands Tall in Defeat to Marist
December 30 | Women's Basketball
The University of Akron women's basketball team showed some
resiliency but came up short in a 76-62 defeat to Marist College
Sunday afternoon at Rhodes Arena. It was a stern first test for the
Zips (5-8), who played without leading scorer Sarah
Tokodi (Marietta, Ohio/Parkersburg Catholic) for the first time
this year and against one of the top teams in the country.
"It was our first game without Sarah and it's going to take some
time for us to find our identity," said UA head coach Jodi
Kest. "She's a tremendous leader on and off the court and is
our scoring and assists leader. But I thought Amanda (Sedlack)
played really well today and the team showed some
determination."
Sedlack (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic) recorded her best game
of the season with six points, seven rebounds, six assists and a
pair of steals in her third career start and first at the point
guard position. Her points, rebounds, assists and minutes played
(37) were all personal highs.
Tokodi, a preseason All-Mid-American Conference selection, is out
indefinitely after suffering a knee injury last Friday against
Xavier. She averaged 15.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per
game in 12 contests and was a two-time MAC East Division Player of
the Week.
"We still need to work on our defense and rebounding but I think
we're going to be much better than people think without Sarah,"
Kest said. "We have some outstanding players on our roster and it's
just going to take a little time for us to get adjusted."
Freshman Keyla Snowden (Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic)
led the way offensively for UA with 17 points while Kara
Murphy (Hartville, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) followed with
11.
The Red Foxes (12-2), who received 11 votes for the top 25 in the
latest USA Today ESPN Div. I Coaches poll, were led by Meg Dahlman
who checked in with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Akron actually out-shot the Red Foxes, .373-to-.362, from the floor
and, .375-to-.286, from 3-point range but was victimized by foul
trouble throughout the contest as four players finished with four
or more fouls. The Red Foxes also forced 18 Akron turnovers,
leading to 18 points, and owned a 14-5 edge in second-chance
points.
Marist shot out the gate by scoring 16 of the game's first 18
points just six minutes and 10 seconds into the contest. Akron
responded with a 10-3 run – keyed by 3-pt. field goals from
Sedlack and Snowden and capped off by a lay-up by Rachel
Green (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Northwest) off a feed from Lauren
Stephenson (Reynoldsberg, Ohio/Pickerington) – over then
next 5:17 to cut the deficit to seven, 19-12, with 8:33 left on the
clock.
But the Red Foxes answered with a 14-7 spurt to close out the
opening period with a 33-19 advantage.
Akron, which trailed by as many as 21 points in the second half,
pulled to within nine, 64-55, with 4:40 to play following a
3-pointer by Snowden and a lay-in by Murphy. But Marist scored 12
of the last 19 points of the game to hold off the Zips.
UA will conclude its five-game homestand next Saturday when Saint
Joseph's comes to Rhodes Arena. Tip time is scheduled for 2
p.m.
