The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Canisius
Two-minute drill pays off for Women's Basketball in 81-72 win over Canisius
December 01 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio -- Leading by two with just two minutes to play, Akron scored seven points in 1:21 to preserve its sixth win of the season, powering past Canisius, 81-72 Saturday afternoon at Rhodes Arena.
UA is now 6-1 on the year and 3-0 at home.
Four of Akron's starters finished in double-figure scoring led by Rachel Tecca with 20 points, her fifth 20-point performance this season. Hanna Luburgh poured in 17 points while Taylor Ruper added a season-high 16, including four 3-pointers.
Kacie Cassell continued to get the basketball in the right hands, dishing out eight assists for her sixth-straight game with five or more assists.
The game-changing stat of the afternoon rested with Akron's season-low five turnovers to the Griffins' 20. The Zips did not turn the ball over once in the second half.
Luburgh got the Zips on the board first with a jumper from the right wing. The Griffins were quick to answer back, which would prove to be the trend of the game. In the first half, both teams kept within five points of each other, with the Zips leading by no more than three points for most of the half.
The Griffins had a two-point lead with 8:40 left on the clock in the first half, but they could not hold on as Tecca forced a turnover. The possession would eventually lead to a trey from Ruper, giving the Zips a 24-23 advantage with eight minutes left.
Back-to-back buckets by both teams kept the score close. Ruper would break a 26-all tie with another three and six minutes to play in the first period.
Carly Young came out strong off the bench again, stealing the ball with one minute left and drawing a foul with an aggressive drive to the basket. She split her free throws making the score 40-38 at halftime in the Zips' favor.
At the start of the second half, Cassell scored on Akron's first possession, starting the Zips off with a four-point lead. Canisius countered with an easy layup at the 15:27 mark.
The game was tied at 52 for nearly two minutes until Akron hit a three. The toe-to-toe score continued as the Zips led 61-58 with 9:35 left in the game. It was not until Ruper triggered the 14th lead change of the day with a drive to the basket where Akron started a scoring rally that would bring them to a victory.
A King fastbreak was immediately followed by a block and a layup from Luburgh, giving Akron a slim two-point lead with just over three minutes to play. A quick 3-pointer by the Griffins' Jamie Ruttle was not enough to stop the Zips as they surged ahead for their largest lead of nine in the final seconds.
With the win, head coach Jodi Kest has now collected more victories at the helm of the program than any other Akron women's basketball coach.
The Zips return to the court Wednesday, Dec. 5 when they travel to Fairfax, Va. to take on George Mason at 7 p.m.
