The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Central Michigan
Women's Basketball drops 109-83 decision to Central Michigan
January 09 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio – Rachel Tecca poured in a game-high 30 points and Kacie Cassell dished out 11 assists, but Mid-American Conference West Division powerhouse Central Michigan proved to be too much for Akron in a 109-83 loss Thursday night.
UA (7-6, 1-1) fell behind early in the second half and was unable to play catch-up in what proved to be a shootout between two of the highest scoring teams in the league.
Tecca was one rebound short of her second-straight double-double, shooting 12-for-21 from the field and adding a 6-for-8 showing from the free throw line. Hanna Luburgh followed that lead, posting 24 points and five rebounds.
Cassell chipped in six points to go with three steals and her season-high 11 dimes, turning the ball over just once in 29 minutes.
Central Michigan (6-8, 2-0) placed seven players in double figures offensively, including three double-doubles, led by 21 points and 13 rebounds from Jas'Mine Bracey.
Akron was held to 40.8 percent shooting from the field for the night, against CMU's 54.8 clip.
The two teams played each other evenly for the better part of the first half, keeping the game within a five-point margin.
The Zips captured a six-point lead at the 14:06 mark on a Luburgh triple to go ahead 19-13. Central countered with six-straight points to lock the score at 19 as the Chippewas began to create a little distance.
Akron's offense fell silent for four minutes, and CMU slowly built a nine-point advantage on two Jordan LaDuke free throws. A mini 6-0 run from the Zips capped by a Tecca layup brought the difference back to three with UA trailing, 37-34.
UA continued to attack the rim and found itself down only four after Hannah Plybon hit a 3-pointer with 1:30 left in the first half to make it 45-41. The Chippewas put up seven unanswered points before the buzzer, broken up only by a pair of Luburgh free throws as time expired, giving CMU a 52-43 edge at halftime.
A sluggish start out of the locker room dug a hole for the Zips that proved to be too deep to climb out of, as Akron was unable to hold off CMU's offensive weapons from every angle.
The Chippewas' lead grew to 20 points midway through the half, and UA connected on just 12-of-36 attempts from the floor, coming up 0-for-5 from long range in the second half.
Akron returns to the court Sunday when it travels to Bowling Green. Tip-off between the Zips and the Falcons is set for 2 p.m. at the Stroh Center.
