The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Basketball outlasts Ball State 70-61, advances to first MAC title game
March 15 | Women's Basketball
Follow Akron Basketball on Twitter and Facebook | #ZipsGameday
MAC Tournament Fan and Ticketing Information
Final Statistics | Final Statistics (PDF) | Season Statistics
Kest Postgame Video and Highlights
CLEVELAND – Hanna Luburgh scored a career-high 33 points to go with 12 rebounds in leading third-seeded Akron to a 70-61 victory over second-seeded Ball State on Friday afternoon in the semifinal round of the FirstEnergy Mid-American Conference Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Zips (23-8) take on fourth-seeded Central Michigan (20-11) in the championship game on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. UA's first trip to the league title contest will be televised regionally on SportsTime Ohio and ESPN3.
The victory gives Akron its longest winning streak of the season at six games, and is only the second time UA has defeated a higher seed in the MAC Tournament.
Luburgh played all 40 minutes for the second-straight day, connecting on 11-of-23 shots from the field - including all seven of Akron's field goals in the second half - and was 8-for-8 from the foul line. Her previous career best was 30 points against St. Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 18, 2012.
Kacie Cassell, the national leader in assists per game, had 11 on the day to become Akron's all-time career leader. She now has 462 dishes in her three-year career and surpassed Abby Hoy (1995-00) on the program's career chart.
Taylor Ruper finished with 12 points on four 3-pointers in the first half, as well as three steals, while Sina King had 11 points and six rebounds for UA.
Brittany Carter led Ball State (15-15) with 18 points.
MAC Sixth Player of the Year Shanee' Jackson went to the line for the Cardinals and downed a pair of free throws to tie the score at 59-all with 3:19 to play, but Akron regained control with a 9-0 run that included a 3-pointer and two free throws by Luburgh to go ahead 68-59 with under a minute to play. Carter hit a 3-pointer to make it 68-61, but BSU could not close the gap.
Akron led 40-29 at the half, tying it's largest lead of the day. The Zips are 21-0 this year when leading at intermission.
Tickets for tomorrow's championship game can be purchased for $10 starting at 11:30 a.m. at the Zips Athletics table in the lobby of the arcade entrance of Quicken Loans Arena. Complimentary tickets will be made available to the first 50 UA students (with valid ID) to arrive at the Q. Once that supply is exhausted, student tickets can be purchased for $8.
