The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Basketball Suffers Tough 64-63 Loss at Ohio
January 21 | Women's Basketball
The University of Akron women's basketball team saw its
three-game winning streak come to a close in dramatic fashion in a
64-63 loss at Ohio Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.
It was a tough defeat for the Zips (9-9, 3-2 Mid-American
Conference), who let a late six-point lead slip away in the final
minutes. Jennifer Bushby's leaner from the top of the key with 27
seconds left, proved to be the difference in a game that UA
controlled for much of regulation.
Jolene Tamboue hit a
baseline jumper to give UA a 61-55 lead with 3:49 to play. But the
Bobcats (5-13, 1-4) scored the next seven points, capped off by a
tough 3-pointer by Bushby from the corner, to take its first lead,
62-61, since the early stages of the second half.
Ayla Guzzardo regained the
lead for Akron with a jumper from the left elbow with 45 ticks on
the clock to set up Bushby's game-winner.
UA had four players in double-digits, led by freshman Rachel
Tecca, who scored 17 points. Kara Murphy finished with 13
points and six rebounds. Kyle Baumgartner followed
with 12 points while Tamboue added
10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Akron scored 27 points off 27 Ohio turnovers, but were
out-rebounded, 39-29, and out-shot. UA connected on 38.6 percent
(22-for-57) of its attempts from the floor while the Bobcats hit on
50.0 percent (22-for-44) from the field, including 50.0 percent
(7-for-14) from long distance.
The Zips used a 10-0 lead - with six points coming from the free
throw line - midway through the first half to take a 19-15 lead.
Bushby hit a pair of 3-pointers to rally the Bobcats to a 26-all
tie with 6:20 left to play.
UA pushed out to a five-point advantage a couple of times and led
33-28 following a lay-up by Amber Witt at the 2:01 mark.
But the Bobcats scored the final five points of the half to pull
even, 33-33, at the intermission.
The Zips' defense was active in the opening period, scoring 16
points off of 18 Ohio turnovers. But Ohio shot 66.7 percent
(12-for-18) from the field, including 57.1 percent (4-for-7) from
long range to negate the advantage.
Baumgartner led all scorers with 10 first-half points while Bushby
paced the Bobcats with nine points on a trio of threes.
Ohio got off to a quick start in the second half, jumping out to a
41-37 lead following another 3-pointer by Bushby. But the Zips
answered the bell with a 12-2 run over an eight minute span to take
its largest lead of the game, 50-44.
Wednesday's game concludes UA's first round of play against the MAC
East Division. The Zips open play against the West Division
Saturday afternoon when Western Michigan comes to Rhodes Arena for
a 2 p.m. (EST) start.
