The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Basketball Rallies, Falls Short Against SJU
January 05 | Women's Basketball
The University of Akron women's basketball team cut a 23-point
halftime deficit to three with 1:30 left but couldn't get over the
hump in a hard-fought 81-75 defeat to Saint Joseph's Saturday
afternoon at Rhodes Arena.
"Our kids proved that when they play hard, like we did in the
second half, we can be a very good team," said UA head coach Jodi
Kest. "But we came out flat in the first half and it hurt
us."
Trailing 51-28 at the break, the Zips (5-9) opened the second
period with a 16-5 run – spurred by a pair of 3-point field
goals by freshman Keyla Snowden (Lexington, Ky./Lexington
Catholic), who led all scorers with 22 points – to close the
gap to 12 points, 56-44, with 12:02 left to play.
UA then used a 12-4 spurt over a span of three minutes to close the
margin to four, 64-60, and fought off a mini-run by the Hawks
(8-7), who built back a 10-point advantage, 72-62, with little less
than five minutes left.
Kara
Murphy (Hartville, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) led a final push
for UA by scoring seven the team's next nine points – capped
off by a 3-point strike that cut the lead to five, 76-71. A pair of
free throws from Rachel Green (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Northwest) made
it a three-point game, 76-73, with 1:30 to go, but Saint Joseph's
converted on its next two possessions and forced a turnover and
missed shot on defense to hold off the Zips.
Murphy and Green were key to the Zips' second-half rally as the duo
combined for 23 points after the break. Green finished with 11
points overall and a personal-best seven rebounds in 21
minutes.
For the second straight game, UA out-shot its opponent and fell
short as the Zips connected on 23-of-48 (.479) attempts from the
floor, 8-of-16 (.500) from 3-point range and 21-for-24 (.875) from
the free throw line.
The Hawks, who shot .462 (30-for-65) overall, made up for the
difference on the boards with 13 offensive rebounds and from
3-point range where they connected on a season-best 11
attempts.
The Zips were also victimized by 19 turnovers, which led to 25 SJU
points.
Saint Joseph's got the upper hand early by jumping out to a 19-7
lead on the strength of four quick 3-pointers to start the game.
Akron battled back with an 8-2 run, highlighted by four points from
Snowden, over the next four minutes to trim the lead to six,
21-15.
But the Hawks came right back with a 16-0 run and took a 51-28 lead
into the intermission. SJU was led in scoring by Sarah Acker, who
chipped in with 17 points and eight rebounds.
Saturday's game officially concludes the Zips' non-conference
schedule. UA will open Mid-American Conference play next Wednesday
night at Bowling Green. Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m..
Zips Notebook: Akron outscored Saint Joseph's
47-30 in the second half ... Sedlack, who assisted each of the
Zips' first four field goals of the game, recorded her first career
double-double with 10 points and 10 assists ... it was the most
assists recorded by an Akron player since Lori Krezeczowski matched
that total against Kent State on Jan. 31, 2004 ... Sedlack also
recorded three steals and just two turnovers in 38 minutes ...
Snowden's seven rebounds was a personal best ... Saint Joseph's,
which defeated No. 15 Auburn, 71-69, last week, has suffered a
couple of tough losses in 2007-08 with a 56-50 setback to No. 5
Rutgers and a 66-64 loss to No. 21 Wyoming earlier in the year.
