The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Drops Road Rivalry Game to Kent State, 72-55
January 20 | Women's Basketball
- Sophomore forward Rachel Tecca recorded her third consecutive double-double and her eighth of the season, but the University of Akron women's basketball team (8-9, 1-4) could not overcome a poor second half start against Kent State (14-3, 5-0), falling 72-55 at the M.A.C. Center Wednesday night. The Golden Flashes remain unbeaten in Mid-American Conference action, while the Zips lose their third-straight contest.
Tecca was Akron's only starter in double figures, notching 14 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Hanna Luburgh came off the bench to contribute 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting in 16 minutes of play. Redshirt sophomore Ti'eshia Stubbs also had a solid performance, adding nine points and four boards. The Zips were held to just one 3-point basket, their lowest output of the season from long range, as there seemed to be a lid on the rim for the UA shooters. They finished 24-for-61 from the floor for 39.3 percent, well below their season average of nearly 43 percent.
Kent State featured four players in double digits, led by Taisja Jones with 17, followed by Jamilah Humes with 15. Chenel Harris added 11 points and 10 boards for a double-double. The Golden Flashes shot above their season average, going 28-for-61 (.459), including 7-for-14 from 3-point land.
In the opening half, Kent State got out to as much as an
11-point lead with under nine minutes to play, but
the Zips closed strong, using a 7-0 run to make the score 34-30 at
the end of the opening period. Akron was led by Tecca with eight
points and six boards, while Stubbs and Luburgh provided a boost
off the bench, adding seven and six points, respectively.
Uncharacteristically, UA was shut out from behind the arc, going 0-for-9 from long range. The shots were not falling early in the first half, but Akron heated up in the final minutes to finish 14-for-35 (.400).
Jones commanded the first half for Kent State, notching 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting, supported by Humes who was also 4-for-6 with eight points. The Golden Flashes shot almost identical to the Zips, going 14-for-33 (.424) from the floor, including three triples.
The shooting woes continued in the second half for the Zips, who came out flat, and KSU took advantage, going on a 22-6 run to give them a 20-point lead with 10:49 remaining. Akron would not quit, though, led by junior Natasha Williams, who hit UA's only 3-pointer of the night to help spark a mini-run to edge the Zips closer. With 6:44 to go, Akron was down 47-60 and appeared to be on a charge.
Just when it seemed like the momentum was shifting, Kent State continued to make shots and maintain their double-digit lead. The clock became the enemy, and ultimately Akron could not overcome the deficit created by the opening minutes of the second half.
Next, the Zips will return to Rhodes Arena to play host to Eastern Michigan (12-7, 3-2) on Saturday, Jan. 22. The game will be broadcast live on SportsTime Ohio, with tip-off set for 5 p.m. ET.
