The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Cleveland State
Akron Takes Care of Cleveland State on the Road, 84-74
November 30 | Women's Basketball
CLEVELAND – With its third consecutive win, The University of Akron women's basketball team defeated Cleveland State 84-74 at the Wolstein Center on Wednesday night. The Zips (4-3) were led by junior forward Rachel Tecca with game-highs of 26 points and 10 rebounds, her second double-double of the season. Senior Jasmine Mushington and sophomore Hanna Luburgh notched career-highs with 18 points and 14 points, respectively.
With an impressive performance, the Zips shot 56.4 percent for the game on 31-for-55 from the field, including 60.7 percent in the second half. They also were solid at the line, making 17-of-20 free throws. Sophomore Sina King added 10 points, and classmate Kacie Cassell dished out eight assists. Cleveland State (2-4) shot just 39.7 percent on the night, including 33.3 percent in the first half.
The scoring started out slow for both sides, but a 7-0 run by the Zips put Akron ahead 12-4 with 13:18 remaining in the first half. After a Viking timeout, CSU ended the run with a free throw, but Akron kept up the pressure and pushed its lead to 17-7 midway through the period.
Just minutes later, Cleveland State simply could not stop the Zips, who went off for13 more points and took a commanding 27-12 lead with just over eight minutes until halftime. The Vikings picked up their offense in the closing minutes, but Akron still held a 34-19 lead with 3:54 on the clock. UA's offense sputtered, however, allowing Cleveland State to close the gap to 10 points at the half, with Akron up 38-28.
Mushington led the way for the Zips in the opening half with a game-high 12 points, followed by Tecca with eight. Akron, up by as many as 17 in the period, shot 51.9 percent from the field to CSU's 33.3 percent, but the Vikings dominated the glass with 11 offensive rebounds to UA's three. The points in the paint was dead even at 18 apiece, and the Zips managed to convert 12 CSU turnovers into 15 points.
UA opened the second half with three-straight turnovers, and a 3-pointer by Cleveland State quickly brought the Vikings to within five just three minutes into the half. Both offenses then traded baskets as the pace picked up, and with 15:13 to play, Akron's lead was down to 44-40. For the Zips, Tecca put in a lay-up and Luburgh hit her second triple of the night to spark the offense, and with 10:41 on the clock, Akron was back up by 11, 55-44.
Minutes later, another deep 3-pointer by Carly Young made the score 63-54, as the Zips fought to stay in front of the charging Vikings. After four consecutive free throws, Cleveland State pulled to within single digits again, down 67-59 with just under six minutes left. Paced by eight-straight points from Tecca, Akron led 71-61 with 4:39 to go.
In the final minutes, UA managed to maintain its lead even though CSU continued to put on the pressure. With 1:49 left, the Zips were ahead 80-71, and the Vikings got no closer than nine points the rest of the contest.
The Zips will return home on Saturday, Dec. 3, to play host to Saint Peter's. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
