The University of Akron Athletics
Surging Zips Topple Huskies, Push Win Streak to Five
February 06 | Women's Basketball
Behind another impressive defensive performance, the University
of Akron women's basketball team won its fifth straight game with a
57-39 decision over Northern Illinois Saturday at Rhodes Arena.
With the win, the Zips improved to 14-9 overall and 8-2 in
Mid-American Conference play. Its current five-game win streak in
league play is the longest in school history. NIU's 39 points for
the game represent the 10th-fewest points ever allowed by an Akron
team.
Akron's victory, combined with Kent State's 78-72 loss at Eastern
Michigan, leaves the Zips, who have won eight of their last nine
games, in sole possession of second place in the MAC East Division
and just one game back of pack leader Bowling Green.
Junior Kara Murphy led the Zips
with 17 points, backed by 4-for-9 shooting from the floor and a
perfect 8-for-8 performance from the free throw line. Murphy was
joined in double figures by Kyle Baumgartner, who added
12 points and nine rebounds, and Amber Witt, who chipped in
with 11 points on the strength of a trio of threes.
UA's defense was the driving force in the first half as the Zips
held Northern Illinois (8-14, 2-8 MAC) to just eight points through
the first 15 minutes of play while also forcing 13 turnovers. In
all, the Akron limited the Huskies to 28.0 percent (7-for-25)
shooting from the field, including 0-for-6 from 3-point range, in
the opening period.
Ayla
Guzzardo drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the arc to cap a
7-0 run by Akron early on to give the Zips a 10-4 lead at the first
media timeout. Akron then pushed out to a 13-point advantage, 21-8,
behind an 11-2 surge over a five-minute period that was fueled by
seven points from Murphy.
NIU's Marke Freeman scored the next seven points of the game to cut
the lead to 21-15, however, and Akron went to the locker room with
a 22-15 edge.
But the Zips wasted little time putting the game away for good in
the second half. Baumgartner scored six straight points to cap off
a 17-1 run over an eight minute stretch that left UA with a 41-22
lead with 10:55 to play.
Witt sparked the run with a three and Murphy scored four of UA's
next six points, but it was UA's defense that once again proved to
be too much for the Huskies. The Zips forced five turnovers and
four missed shots while not allowing a field goal over 10 minutes
as UA pulled away.
The Zips will wrap up cross-divisional play Wednesday night when
they travel to Toledo to take on the Rockets at 7 p.m. (EST).
Zips Notebook: The Zips are now 9-1 at Rhodes
Arena, matching a program high for most home wins in a season with
at least three more games to play ... Akron also improved to 10-1
when holding opponents to 59 points or less and is 10-0 when
leading at halftime ... With Saturday's win, UA matched its
second-highest win total in league play in school history with six
more games remaining. The 1998-99 Zips own the program's high mark
with a 10-6 record.
