The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Eastern Michigan
Young takes charge as Women's Basketball wins thriller over Eastern Michigan, 82-81
February 06 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio -- In a game that saw three lead changes in the final 11 seconds, the University of Akron women's basketball team came out on top, defeating Eastern Michigan 82-81 Wednesday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Carly Young proved to be the difference maker for Akron (15-7, 6-3 MAC), leading both teams with a career-high 23 points off the bench, fueled by a perfect 5-for-5 showing from 3-point land.
Rachel Tecca poured in 20 points in 29 minutes on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, while Hanna Luburgh and Taylor Ruper posted 11 apiece. Kacie Cassell dished out 10 assists for the second-straight game, playing all 40 minutes and also contributing nine points.
Eastern Michigan (5-17, 3-6 MAC), which only averaged 54.9 points per game entering the contest, also fielded four players in double figures, led by India Hairston with 18 points, and Natachia Watkins with 14 points and 15 rebounds.
The Zips maintained a consistent advantage in the first half, and led by as many as 12 as they shot 53.3 percent from the field (50.0 from behind the arc) and ended the half leading the Eagles 44-40. Young had 16 of her points by intermission.
After leading by 13 with 10:35 left in the second half, the Zips suddenly found themselves down 75-70 as the result of a 10-0 EMU run with just over four minutes to play.
Luburgh drove to the basket for a tough two points to make it a one possession game, and UA forced the Eagles into a shot clock violation on the other end to get the ball back by the 3:08 mark.
Coming out of the final media timeout, Young called for the ball and hit a long three from the left wing to tie the score at 75.
Back-to-back jumpers from EMU gave the Eagles a four-point lead before a three ball from Ruper brought the Zips back to within one, trailing 79-78 with 1:08 left.
The two teams traded scoreless possessions, and after Tecca missed a layup with 15 seconds to go, she fouled to stop the clock. Eastern Michigan called a timeout and returned to the floor to inbound under Akron's basket, but the Eagles turned the ball over to UA's press and Ruper was fouled.
The senior headed to the line and sank both shots, giving the Zips a lead at 80-79 with 11 seconds left to play. A quick layup from Eastern Michigan's Desyree Thomas left Akron with just 2.7 seconds to take the game back.
EMU would use a timeout, and Akron had the ball on its half of the court on the sideline. Young took the ball out of bounds and lobbed it in to Tecca who made a layup with 0.7 ticks on the clock to give Akron the last-second edge.
The Eagles called their final timeout to get set to go the length of the floor, but the ball never made it past half court and the Zips were able to hang on for the win.
Eastern's zone defense encouraged the Zips to work the gaps and shoot from the outside, as they nailed 12 3-pointers in all, a team season-high and the program's second-highest mark for triples in a game.
Akron was out-rebounded for the first time in the last five games as the Eagles picked up 41 boards, including 19 on the offensive glass, to UA's 24. The rebounds gave EMU 23 second-chance points.
The Zips will play three out of their next four games on the road, beginning with a trip to Oxford, Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 9., when Akron takes on Miami (Ohio). The battle for the top spot in the MAC East is set for 3:30 p.m. at Millett Hall.
