The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Providence
Zips Dropped by Providence, 78-65, at Rhodes Arena
December 28 | Women's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought decision to Providence at James A. Rhodes Arena, 78-65, Wednesday night.
Sina King led the Zips (5-8) with a career-high 19 points and eight rebounds. Hanna Luburgh and Jasmine Mushington added 13 and 11 points, respectively. Ti'eshia Stubbs scored 10 points and hauled in eight boards as well for UA. Alicia Cropper paced a balanced Friar (7-6) offense with 16 points. Four other Providence players scored in double-figures.
Akron shot 40-percent (22-of-55) from the floor in the game and 41.7-percent (5-of-12) from three. Providence was 46.7-percent from both the field (28-of-60) and behind the arc (7-of-15). The Friars held a 37-32 rebounding advantage.
The Zips recovered from a slow start to eventually grab the lead on three occasions in the second half, before Providence used a 9-0 run halfway through the second period to take control of the game.
The Friars jumped out to a 14-2 lead in the game's first five minutes. Four points from Mushington sandwiched around a Luburgh trey cut the lead to 16-9 with 12:50 left in the half.
A Carly Young offensive board and put-back pulled the Providence lead to six, 22-16. After PC's Alicia Cropper knocked down a jumper, Luburgh buried her second long ball of the half to make the score 24-19. A Stubbs basket in the paint and an old fashioned 3-point play by King tied the score at 24-24 with 4:31 on the first-half clock.
PC climbed back ahead by five before the Zips closed the half on a 7-2 run – six of the points coming from King – to knot the game at 31-31 heading into the break. King led all players with 11 first half points. UA shot 38-percent (10-of-26) from the field in the period.
The squads played the opening moments of the second half even, before a Taylor Ruper trifecta gave Akron its first lead of the contest 39-38. Providence would once again build its lead back up to five, but two Luburgh freebies and a Mushington fast break lay-up pulled the deficit back to one. Another Luburgh free throw and a runner by King gave Akron a 48-46 lead.
The Friars would go on an 11-2 run, ending in two Rachel Barnes free throws, to take a 57-50 lead with 6:50 to play. Akron would claw to within three, 59-56, on a King 3-pointer with 4:40 to play, but PC would pull ahead once again. Symone Roberts's bucket and Teya Wright's put-back with 3:00 on the clock gave the Friars a 10-point lead, 68-58.
Akron will have a short turn around, hosting Chicago State on Friday in its final non-conference game of the season. Coach Jodi Kest and the rest of the coaching staff will coach the game barefoot to benefit Samaritan's Feet. Tip time is 7:00 p.m. at Rhodes Arena.
Zips Notebook: Sina King's previous career high was 15, set against Youngstown State on Dec. 18 ... Ti'eshia Stubbs tied her career high with eight rebounds. She also pulled down eight boards against St. Francis on Nov. 22 ... Akron shot below 70-percent from the free throw line (.667) for the first time in nine games.
