The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Toledo
Women's Basketball falls to Toledo at home, 77-65
January 23 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio -- Akron out-rebounded its opponent for the first time in four games, but it was not enough to give the Zips the edge they needed in a 77-65 loss to Toledo Wednesday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.
UA (12-6, 3-2 MAC) held a 39-35 advantage on the boards by the sound of the final horn, led by Sina King with nine. Rachel Tecca pulled down eight, and Anita Brown also fought for a career-high eight rebounds.
Tecca, scoring in double figures for the 18th consecutive game, put together her ninth 20-point performance of the year finishing with 21. King posted 15 points and Hanna Luburgh notched 10.
Yolanda Richardson led five Rockets in double figures with 16 points and eight rebounds.
Toledo (16-2, 4-1 MAC) started off the game strong on a quick 8-0 run. Following a jumper from King two and half minutes into the game, Akron began a gradual climb to catch up with the Rockets.
With Toledo leading 20-8 at the 11:20 mark, King went up for a layup, making the basket and drawing a foul. She would convert the and-1 opportunity to get the Zips rolling on what would snowball into an unprecedented 14-0 run.
At 9:13, Kacie Cassell sank a 3-pointer off an assist from Taylor Ruper that gave Akron the spark it needed to lead for the first time in the game, putting Akron up by two with the score at 22-20.
Both teams continued to battle for an advantage and the game would see four lead changes in the last 10 minutes of the first half, as Akron shot 48.1 percent from the field to Toledo's 51.5 percent.
With 18 seconds left in the first period, Luburgh dished to Tecca to make it a one-point game, but a quick Toledo 3-pointer brought the score to 41-37 at halftime.
After an early free throw from King, who only played 11 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, UA struggled to convert offensively to start the second half. Akron succumbed to a five minute scoreless drought, but did well to maintain the gap and keep it a three point game with 13 minutes left to play.
It would prove difficult to hold off the Rockets for much longer than that though, as UT issued a 9-2 run to push its lead to 11.
A 3-pointer from Carly Young with 3:38 left on the clock brought Akron to within six at 63-57, but that was the closest it would come. The Zips had trouble holding onto the ball, giving up 21 turnovers which accounted for 26 of Toledo's 77 points.
The Zips take to the road again Saturday, Jan. 26, traveling to Central Michigan (11-7, 5-0 MAC) to take on the league leading Chippewas at 2 p.m. ET.
