The University of Akron Athletics
Late rally cut short, UC Davis hands Women's Basketball 71-58 setback
November 30 | Women's Basketball
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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Akron outscored UC Davis 25-10 over the final 10 minutes of the game, but the rally fell short as the Zips dropped a 71-58 decision to the Aggies Saturday evening in their final game of the Cal Poly Holiday Beach Classic.
Rachel Tecca posted a game-high 24 points for Akron (3-4), and became the school's all-time leading scorer with a layup at the 2:36 mark of the second half. The senior surpassed Kara Murphy (2008-11) who held the previous record of 1,777 points. Tecca was named to the All-Tournament team for her efforts.
Hanna Luburgh added 18 points for the Zips, eight of which came at the free throw line, as well as nine rebounds. Carly Young pulled down nine boards and chipped in eight points.
UC Davis (2-4) saw three players score in double figures, led by Sydnee Fipps who scored 22 points in 24 minutes, netting four of the Aggies' 11 3-pointers.
The Zips were held to 30.5 percent shooting from the floor for the game, connecting on more free throws as a team (19) than field goals (18).
The half court zone defense that UC Davis threw at Akron had the Zips stymied in the first half. UA was unable to find the gaps and the Aggies turned Akron's 13 turnovers into 17 points on the other end in the opening period.
A layup from Tecca and an elbow jumper from Young in the first two minutes put the Zips up 4-2, but the Aggies surged ahead from that point on. UC Davis went on an 11-0 run over the next two minutes to build an advantage that it would never yield.
Akron trailed by as many as 28 points in the contest, after UC Davis strung together 10 unanswered points capped by a Fipps triple with 9:24 left in the second half. Luburgh retaliated with a 3-pointer of her own, marking the first of 10 straight points for Akron that gave the Zips new life.
UA started to put full court pressure on the Aggies, resulting in 17 second half turnovers for UCD. Free throws were crucial down the stretch for Akron, as the Zips took advantage of the double bonus for the last 5:14 of the game.
Two shots from Luburgh with 1:23 on the clock trimmed the deficit to 13 points, but the Zips ultimately ran out of time to complete a comeback.
Akron returns to the court on Saturday, Dec. 7, when it comes home to host George Mason. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET at James A. Rhodes Arena.
