The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Eastern Michigan
Plybon's six three-pointers spark Akron to 65-48 victory over Eastern Michigan
January 10 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio – Akron sophomore Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) netted six three-pointers en route to picking up a career-high 25 points to lead the Akron women's basketball team to a 65-48 victory over Eastern Michigan Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Plybon ended the first half shooting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc for 17 points, just one point shy of her previous career-high mark set versus Ohio Christian on Dec. 18. She eclipsed the career-best at the 19:30 mark of the second half connecting on her sixth and final triple of the afternoon. The sophomore issued a 9-of-13 performance from the field including a 6-of-10 showing from long range.
Plybon's six three-pointers represented the sixth-best single-game effort in program history.
Senior Sina King (Waterford, Ohio) followed Plybon with 15 points to round out the Zips' double-figure scoring, while junior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) put together a complete game with a career-best 11 boards, eight points and six assists.
Junior Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio) tied her career-high in assists (7) without posting a turnover, while also registering a team-high four steals.
Junior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) played a key role in the Akron's victory registering five points, while pulling down five rebounds and notching a team- and game-high two blocks.
The Zips (12-2, 2-1 MAC) were out-rebounded by the Eagles (7-6, 0-2 MAC), 42-32, including 20-8 on the offensive glass. However, Akron out-rebounded Eastern Michigan on the defensive glass, 24-22, and held the Eagles to only 10 second-chance points, despite being dominated on the offensive glass.
Sera Ozelci led Eastern Michigan with 11 points.
The Zips finished the contest shooting 48 percent from the field, including an 8-for-15 mark from beyond the arc for 53.3 percent. Akron limited the Eagles to a 29.7 percent shooting afternoon, including just 4-of-25 from downtown (16.0 percent).
After a five-all tie to start the game, Akron used outside shooting to get out to a 10-point lead connecting on 5-of-6 triples in the opening seven minutes, led by Plybon with three. Plybon's third triple put the Zips ahead 17-7 at the 13:19 mark of the first half.
Akron held the Eagles to one field goal over seven minutes to increase its lead to 22-9 with 8:50 left in the initial stanza as Eastern Michigan struggled to connect from the field.
The Eagles ended the half shooting 7-of-31 (22.6 percent) including 2-of-14 (14.3 percent) from beyond the arc, while Akron shot 42.9 percent (12-of-28) from the field and 77.8 percent (7-of-9) from three-point range.
Akron forced 14 first-half turnovers to thwart the Eagles' offense and lead 36-18 at halftime.
Five different Zips found the bottom of the net en route to scoring 10 uninterrupted points in the second half. Three of the five field goals were assisted by Barilla as the Zips led 53-27 after freshman Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.) delivered a layup with 14:03 remaining.
The run helped Akron to a game-high 28-point lead at the 12:29 mark that came when Barilla dished the ball to King for an easy layup.
King's layup was Akron's last field goal for eight minutes as Eastern Michigan responded quickly, matching Akron's 10-0 run and forcing a turnover on five-straight Zips' possessions to chip away at the deficit.
Akron still remained in control and held a 57-39 advantage following the run with 6:14 on the clock to keep the game out of reach.
The Zips' lead never dipped below 16 throughout the second half.
Akron returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 14, when it travels to take on Toledo for a 7 p.m. tip. The contest is set to air on ESPN3.
