The University of Akron Athletics
Zips return to road to challenge Toledo
January 13 | Women's Basketball
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Akron visits Toledo
Akron returns to the road this Wednesday as the Zips travel to Toledo for a 7 p.m. tilt against the Rockets. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
News, Notes and Story lines
• The Zips go in search of their third-straight victory when Akron opens a two-game road swing at Toledo on Wednesday.
• The Zips won both meetings with the Rockets last season as Akron bested Toledo, 82-62, during the regular season at Savage Arena, before downing the Rockets, 83-69, in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Championship.
• Akron has registered four of tits nine program victories over Toledo under head coach Jodi Kest.
• The Zips have won 11 of their last 13 regular-season games away from home.
• Sophomore Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) connected on a career-best six three-pointers en route to recording a career-high 25 points in the Zips' 65-48 win over Eastern Michigan. Her six triples represented the sixth-best single-game performance in program history.
• Akron's 10-game winning streak to begin the season marked the second-longest such streak in program history. A year ago, the Zips won 13-consecutive contests from Jan. 18 through March 5.
• Akron established a new school record for victories to open a season (8) with its 81-63 win past Bethune-Cookman. The victory helped the Zips surpass the previous mark of 7-0 set during the 1974-75 campaign.
• Akron enters its tilt versus Toledo having won 28 of its last 32 games dating back to last season.
• Toledo is ranked second in the conference in free-throw percentage (.749) and third in rebounding defense (36.9).
• In league-only contests, the Rockets are pacing the conference in rebounding defense (31.3), second in rebounding margin (+8.0) and third in scoring margin (+7.0), assist/turnover ratio (1.0) and offensive rebounds (14.0).
• Senior Sina King (Waterford, Ohio) owns a team-leading eight double-doubles this season.
• Akron is one of two schools to have a pair of players in Sina King and junior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) ranked in the top-40 nationally in scoring. The Zips' duo joins Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell and Ameryst Alston.
• After distributing a game- and career-high seven assists against no turnovers versus Eastern Michigan, junior Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio) checks in at No. 1 nationally in assist/turnover ratio (3.67) on the strength of dishing out 3.9 per night.
• With her 24-point output versus Youngstown State, Anita Brown surpassed the 500-point plateau for her Akron career. She will enter the Toledo tilt having recorded 555 career points.
• Over her five-year Akron career, Sina King has registered 1,278 points and 726 rebounds to become only the fifth player in program history to notch at least 1,200 points and 700 rebounds as a Zip. She joins Rachel Tecca (2009-14), Cheryl Bowles (1997-2001), Pam Arnold (1984-88) and Casey O'Connor (1979-83) in that exclusive club.
• Sina King needs 266 points to surpass Pam Arnold for fifth place all-time at Akron in career scoring. She will enter the Toledo game with 1,278 points.
• Sina King is also rated fourth, fifth and seventh, respectively, in the career record book in free throws made (312), free throws attempted (396) and rebounds (726).
• The Zips' 67-59 win over Bowling Green marked only the fourth-ever triumph by Akron versus the Falcons.
• Akron is ranked in the top-50 in 10 NCAA statistical categories, including 17th in scoring offense (78.7).
• Akron was rated No. 15 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 WBB poll released on Jan. 6, the Zips are the highest-ranked team in the Mid-American Conference.
• Akron is ranked 68th in the latest NCAA RPI rankings.
• The Zips enter their game versus Toledo leading the Mid-American Conference in scoring offense (78.7), scoring margin (+16.8), field-goal percentage (.460), rebounding margin (+5.1), assists (16.7) and assist/turnover ratio (1.2), while ranking second in field-goal percentage defense (.352), three-point defense (.256), rebounding offense (43.7) and defensive rebounds (30.1).
• Four different Zips set or matched career-high marks in a 65-48 victory over Eastern Michigan.
A Look at Toledo
Toledo enters Wednesday's game versus the Zips after dropping a 65-58 decision at Ohio on Saturday to snap the Rockets' five-game winning streak. Senior Inma Zanoguera leads Toledo is scoring recording 15.3 points per game. Sophomore Janice Monakana, junior Ana Capotosto and junior Brenae Harris are registering 9.9, 9.4 and 9.0 tallies a night. Zanoguera is pulling down a team-best 7.2 rebounds per tilt and is distributing 5.0 assists per tilt. Toledo is scoring 65.1 points a game and has held its opponents to 61.7 points a night. The Rockets are connecting on nearly 39 percent (.385) of their shots from the field and at a .268 clip from beyond the arc.
In Our Last Meeting
Akron 83, Toledo 69
March 13, 2014 • Cleveland, Ohio
Hanna Luburgh scored 25 of her game-high 31 points in the first half to carry Akron past Toledo, 83-69, in the Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinal round at Quicken Loans Arena.
Luburgh finished the game 12-of-22 from the field and 4-of-5 from long range to fuel the Zips' high-octane offense that shot past the Rockets within the first 10 minutes of the game and never looked back.
Carly Young and Anita Brown were big off the bench for Akron, as Young posted a 10-point and 10-rebound performance. Brown added 14 points, boosted by a 5-of-9 shooting performance in the first half.
Rachel Tecca returned to the court after an injury sidelined her during Akron's last regular season game, scoring 11 points in 23 minutes of play.
Inma Zanoguera led five Toledo players in double figures with 12 points.
Akron won the battle of the boards, 45-38.
Akron vs. Eastern Michigan Recap
Akron sophomore Hannah Plybon netted six three-pointers en route to picking up a career-high 25 points to lead Akron to a 65-48 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
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 followed Plybon with 15 points to round out the Zips' double-figure scoring, while junior Anita Brown put together a complete game with a career-best 11 boards, eight points and six assists.
Junior Megan Barilla 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 were out-rebounded by the Eagles, 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).
Nationally Speaking
The Zips are nationally-ranked in several categories this season. As a team, Akron is 15th in field-goal percentage (.460), 16th in scoring (78.7), 16th in scoring margin (+16.8), 16th in three-point defense (.256), 19th in assist/turnover ratio (1.22), 20th in defensive rebounding (30.0), 25th in assists per game (16.7), 25th in won-loss percentage (.846), 33rd in field-goal percentage defense (.352), 35th in turnovers per game (13.7), 65th in rebounding margin (+5.1) and 71st in turnover margin (+3.14). Individually, Sina King is 18th, 33rd, 86th and 87th, respectively, in double-doubles (8), scoring (19.5), rebounds per game (9.0) and field-goal percentage (.493). Anita Brown is rated 37th in scoring (19.3) and 80th in field-goal percentage (.500), while junior Megan Barilla is leading the nation in assist-turnover ratio (3.67). Sophomore Hannah Plybon is 38th and 51st in three-pointers per game (2.71) and in three-point percentage (.400).
Plybon Named MAC East Player of the Week
Akron sophomore Hannah Plybon was selected as the Mid-American Conference East Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
Plybon fashioned together a strong week to spark the Zips to a 2-0 mark with victories over Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan. In two games, she registered 16.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, while shooting 55.0 percent from the field and better than 47 percent (.471) from downtown.
In Akron's 67-59 triumph past the Falcons, Plybon scored eight points; including connecting on a pair of three pointers and distributing a game-high four assists against only one turnover. The victory was only the fourth-ever for the Zips against Bowling Green.
In Akron's 65-48 win versus Eastern Michigan, Plybon turned in a career outing pouring in a career-best 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting (69.2 percent), including going 6-for-10 from beyond the arc. The six three-pointers represented the sixth-best single-game effort in program history.
She proved nearly unstoppable in the first half as she was 6-of-8 from the field and 5-for-7 from downtown. She made her first three-point attempt and missed the second before nailing four consecutive three-point shots to finish the half with 17 points, one off her previous career high for scoring of 18 points versus Ohio Christian (12/20).
Akron Notes
• Led by 14 and 13 double-figure scoring games, respectively, from Sina King and Anita Brown and five courtesy of Kerri McMahan (Novi, Mich.), Akron has had players surpass the double-digit scoring plateau 42 times this season.
• The Zips have displayed their defensive presence in the squad's first 14 games as Akron has committed less turnovers than its opponents in 10 of its 14 games.
• The Zips have won 20 of their last 22 games at the James A. Rhodes Arena, including a 8-0 mark this season.
• The Zips have garnered four Mid-American Conference East Player of the Week selections this season with Anita Brown leading the way earning the award twice (Nov. 17 and Dec. 1). Sina King took home the accolades on Nov. 24 and Hannah Plybon on Jan. 12.
• Junior DiAndra Gibson registered a game- and career-best 16 rebounds in Akron's 67-59 win past Bowling Green. Her 10 defensive rebounds tied Sina King for the most by a Zip in a game this season.
• Akron connected on a season-best 58.5 percent of its shots in the Zips' 97-62 victory over Ohio Christian. It marked the third time this season that Akron has shot 50 percent or better from the field.
• Hannah Plybon established a new career-high mark distributing eight assists in Akron's' triumph over Bethune-Cookman.
• Freshman Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.) made the most of her first career start registering three point, four rebounds and a team- and game-high two blocks in 20 minutes of action against Bethune-Cookman.
• The Zips' 89-61 win over Morehead State represented the 400th victory in program history.
• Sparked by a 5-for-8 shooting effort in the second half of its 90-74 victory over Siena, Akron finished the contest shooting 50 percent from three-point range. It marked the first time this season that the Zips have connected on 50 percent or better from beyond the arc.
• Anita Brown finished one point shy of equaling her career high pouring in 28 points on 11-of-21 shooting, including 4-for-7 beyond the arc versus Siena.
• Megan Barilla distributed a career- and team-high seven assists in the Zips' 90-74 win past Siena.
• Junior Katie Nunan (Fairmont, W. Va.)came off the bench to register 17 of her career-high 19 points in a 73-58 victory over Belmont.
• The 100 points scored against the Crusaders marked the eighth-highest single-game point total in program history. Six of the top-seven single-game scoring outputs have occurred under ninth-year head coach Jodi Kest.
• Akron nailed 12 three-pointers against Valparaiso, one off the school record of 13 set versus Buffalo on Feb. 21, 2005.
• The 40 made field goals by the Zips in a 100-65 win over Valparaiso represented the sixth-best single-game effort in program history equaling the mark set against Xavier on Dec. 1, 1984.
• The Zips' 100-65 win over Valparaiso marked the 350th in the coaching career of Kest.
• The 100-point effort against Valparaiso marked the sixth time under Kest's tenure that the Zips have scored at least 100 points in a game.
• Akron began the 2014-15 season as the defending Mid-American Conference champions, and were picked to finish third in the MAC East Division this year in the preseason poll by the league's head coaches.
• Akron returned two starters and eight letterwinners from last year's squad, and welcomed five freshmen to the team this season. In their second-straight 23-win campaign last year, the Zips posted the best conference record in the history of the program at 14-4.
• The Zips made their third postseason appearance in the last five years, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. The 13th-seeded Zips ended their postseason run with an 84-55 loss to fourth-seeded Purdue in the first round of the tournament at Mackey Arena.
• King returned to the basketball court for a fifth year this season after sitting out her true senior year to undergo treatment for blood clots. King was named to the All-MAC East Preseason Team. She was a third team All-MAC selection in 2012-13, after putting up 14 double-doubles, averaging 15.0 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game.
• Kest, now in her ninth season at the helm of the program, has collected the most wins of any Akron women's basketball head coach in the history of the program.
Poll Party
Akron checked in at No. 15 in the Jan. 6 CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll. Other MAC schools showing up in the poll were Central Michigan (No. 25), Bowling Green (48 votes), Toledo (29 votes) and Western Michigan (five votes).
Zips' Offensive Progress Report
In Akron's 14 games this season, this is how the Zips have fared from the field: 50 percent: .585 (Ohio Christian), .545 (Bethune-Cookman), .527 (Siena), 40 percent: .494 (Valparaiso), .480 (Eastern Michigan), .461 (Morehead State), .459 (Northern Kentucky), .458 (Central Florida), .438 (Binghamton), .420 (Belmont), .417 (Western Michigan-1), .410 (Bowling Green-1), .403 (Northern Iowa), 30 percent: .389 (Youngstown State), 20 percent: NA.
Akron's Defensive Progress Report
In the Zips' 14 games this season, this is how Akron's opponents have fared from the field: 50 percent: NA, 40 percent: .455 (Western Michigan-1), .424 (Youngstown State), .424 (Northern Iowa), 30 percent: .373 (Ohio Christian), .369 (Siena), .344 (Morehead State), .343 (Bethune-Cookman), .333 (Bowling Green-1) .333 (Northern Kentucky & Binghamton), .329 (Central Florida), .317 (Belmont), 20 percent: .297 (Eastern Michigan), .286 (Valparaiso).
Akron in Close Games
Akron has been involved in 47 games decided by five points or fewer under head coach Jodi Kest. A breakdown of those matches is as follows; one-point difference (7-8), two-point difference (8-4), three-point difference (0-4), four-point difference (4-4) and five-point difference (2-6).
The King is Back
Sina King, the lone senior on Akron's roster, has made her return to the basketball court for a fifth year in 2014-15, after a medical issue sidelined her a year ago.
King underwent treatment for blood clots during what would have been her true senior year last season, serving as a student assistant coach to help her teammates capture the first Mid-American Conference championship in school history.
King was a third-team All-MAC selection two years ago in 2012-13, after putting up 14 double-doubles, averaging 15.0 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game. She shot 84.9 percent from the free throw line that year, ranking No. 32 in the nation. The 288 rebounds she pulled down as a junior are the fourth-most for a single season in program history.
She is off to a strong start to the 2014-15 campaign as she is averaging 19.5 points and a team-best 9.0 rebounds per game. She has led the Zips in rebounding and scoring eight and six times, respectively, while registering a team-high eight double-doubles. She has scored in doubles figures in 25 consecutive games and 70 times during her career.
Anita Buckets
After playing some of her best basketball near the end of the 2013-14 campaign junior Anita Brown has cracked the starting line-up in each of the Zips' first 14 games this season. She has responded registering 19.3 points per contest, while connecting on 50 percent of her shots from the field. Additionally, she is pulling down 6.9 rebounds a game, while distributing a 2.5 assists a tilt.
A year ago, she was fourth on the team in scoring and rebounding as the first guard off the bench (7.5 ppg and 4.4 rpg). Brown averaged 10.7 ppg over the course of the 2014 MAC Tournament, including a 16-point effort in 25 minutes in the semifinal game against Central Michigan.
Sophomore Status
Sophomore Hannah Plybon is one of two starters returning from last year's squad. The 2014 All-MAC Freshman-Team selection established herself as a prominent offensive threat on the Zips' roster last season, starting all but one game as a rookie on a senior-laden team. The Orrville, Ohio native scored in double figures on 11 occasions, averaging 25.3 minutes per game and 7.1 ppg (8.2 ppg in MAC play).
This season, she ranks third on the team in scoring 11.6 ppg, while recording 3.1 rebounds 2.2 assists and 0.9 steals per contest. She leads the Zips in three-pointers made (38) and has hit at least two triples in 12 of 14 games this season.
An Unsung Warrior
The mark of a quality team is the willingness of every player to do the little things that may not always show up in the boxscore that helps win ballgames. For the Zips, one of those players this season has been junior DiAndra Gibson
Entering Akron's game at Toledo, Gibson is averaging 5.6 points, 7.4 rebounds per game, while shooting nearly 45 percent (.446) from the floor. She has recorded five or more rebounds in 12 of the Zips' 14 games this season, including pulling down a career-best 16 rebounds in a 67-59 win over Bowling Green.
She has scored in double figures twice during the 2014-15 campaign and connected on 50 percent or better from the field in six tilts, including three straight.
McMahan On The Rise
Freshman Kerri McMahan has stepped into the starting line-up for the Zips and quickly become a presence for Akron registering 8.1 points, 4.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest. She has started all 14 games for Akron scoring in double figures in five games. She has paced the team in assists and steals seven and six times, respectively, this season.
Bench Production
Akron is averaging 14.6 points of production from its bench through the Zips' first 14 games this season. Katie Nunan and freshmen Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) and Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) and sophomore Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) and freshman and lead the way registering 6.0, 2.6, 2.5 and 1.8 points, respectively. Freshman Alli Ball is pacing the reserves in rebounding pulling down 2.9 caroms per tilt, while junior Megan Barilla ranks second on the team in assists (55).
Preseason Predictions
The Zips were picked to finish third in the MAC East Division this year in the conference preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches. UA was projected to finish behind Buffalo and Bowling Green in the East after capturing its first-ever conference tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth a year ago. Buffalo was picked to win the East Division, receiving eight first place votes out of a possible 12. BGSU received three first place votes. Ohio, Miami (Ohio) and Kent State were picked fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.
In the West Division, Central Michigan was chosen as the favorite, earning 11 of the 12 first place votes. Ball State was selected second with one first place vote, followed by Western Michigan, Toledo, Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois.
CMU was also predicted to win the 2015 MAC Tournament, March 9-14 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Leading Scorers
For the third-straight season, the Zips set a new school record for most points scored in 2013-14. Akron's signature high-octane offense averaged 82.0 points per game, which ranked 11th in the nation in scoring offense. UA was also seventh in the country in assists per game at 18.5, fueled by the graduated Kacie Cassell, the school's all-time career assists leader (688).
Zips in the Pros
Following graduation in 2014, seniors Hanna Luburgh and Rachel Tecca signed contracts to play professionally overseas. Luburgh went on to play for AZS UMCS in Lublin, Poland, for the 2014-15 season, while Tecca traveled to Iceland to compete for U.M.F. Grindavik out of the Dominos League. The pair were two of the most prolific scorers to come through Akron, as Tecca left as the career scoring leader and Luburgh holds the single-season record.
Newcomer Notes
• Alli Ball - Fr., St. Louis, Mo./Principia Upper School: Set the school record for career points (1,360), points in a single season (553), blocks in a single season (122) and career blocks (255)...two-time Missouri Basketball Coaches Association all-state selection...two-time first team all-district...named MBCA Class 3 as well as Metro League Player of the Year as a senior...averaged 19.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game as a senior...led her team to two conference, district and sectional championships in her four years...was a cross country state qualifier as a freshman and a track & field state qualifier as a sophomore.
• Greta Burry - Fr., Lakewood, Ohio/St. Joseph Academy: Four-year letterwinner...averaged 9.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals as a senior...recognized by the Cleveland Plain Dealer as a top-25 player to watch, player of the week and postseason honorable mention...recipient of the coaches award as a senior.
• Kaitlyn Flowers - Fr., Lompoc, Calif./St. Joseph: Scored 1,448 points over the course of her prep career...as a senior, averaged 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.8 steals per game...shot 41 percent from the field for her career...three-time team captain ... four-time scholar-athlete...all-division first team as a senior and second team as a junior...led her squad to two league championship titles in four years and one California Interscholastic Federation Division 3 state championship...two-time all-league first team defensive MVP...was also an all-league performer in track & field (hurdles).
• Lauren Hung - Fr., Waterford, Mich./Waterford Mott: Earned all-state recognition as a senior...scored 1,315 points for her career...averaged 15.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.4 steals per game as a senior...two-time state free throw champion...shot 82 percent from the charity stripe during her senior season...four-time team MVP.
• Kerri McMahan - Fr., Novi, Mich./Novi: Graduated as the only girls' basketball player in school history to surpass 1,000 points, finishing with 1,069 points for her career...set the school single-game scoring record (32 points)...led her team to four division championship titles...four-time all-conference selection...Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) all-state first team as a junior and senior...two-time All-Oakland County first team selection...three-time all-area Player of the Year...received BCAM academic-all state recognition as a junior and senior...averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals during her senior season...was also an all-state cross country runner as a freshman and the fifth-fastest freshman in the state of Michigan...three-time all-state runner in the 4x400 meter relay...four-time all-state high jumper...only student-athlete in school history to earn all-state honors in three different sports.
• Megan Sefcik - Fr., Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch: Graduated as the school's second all-time leading scorer...averaged 19.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game as a senior...named the conference Player of the Year as a senior...shot 53.0 percent from the field and 89.0 percent from the free throw line during her senior season...three-time first team all-conference selection...All-Ohio Special Mention.
Zips Sign Two Prep Standouts
Akron women's basketball head coach Jodi Kest has announced the signings of prep standouts Lilli Piper (Norton, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Fredniqua "Shaq" Walker (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw) to national letters of intent to join the program for the 2015-16 season.
Piper, a 5-10 guard from nearby Walsh Jesuit High School, averaged 12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game last season. She earned All-Ohio Special Mention recognition as a junior, and was also named first team all-district. A multi-sport athlete, Piper was tabbed the 2014 softball player of the year by Cleveland.com, and maintains a 3.6 GPA.
Walker a 6-1 post player out of Shaw High School in Cleveland, averaged a double-double a year ago with 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. She earned all-district recognition following her junior campaign in 2013-14. Walker boasts a 4.3 GPA and ranks No. 1 in her class.
Reid Promoted, Pierce Joins Akron Staff
Head coach Jodi Kest made a few changes in her staff during the offseason, promoting former graduate assistant Preston Reid to assistant coach, and hiring Sam Pierce as an assistant coach.
Reid served as a graduate assistant on Kest's staff for the last two seasons, after one year as the assistant video coordinator at Florida State.
Pierce comes to Akron from the state of Pennsylvania, where he founded a basketball development program called PA Pride located in Altoona, Pa. He coached boys and girls for the last six years as a part of the program.
2013-14 Postseason Recap
In Coach Kest's eighth year at the helm, Akron captured its second-consecutive 23-win season in 2013-14, finishing the year with a 23-10 overall record and a 14-4 mark in Mid-American Conference play.
Akron used the strength of a school-record 13-game winning streak to earn the No. 3 seed in the MAC Tournament for the second-straight season. During the last week of the regular season, it was one of 10 active double-digit winning streaks in Division I.
Along with several team and individual school records, the Zips secured their first MAC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth in the 40-year history of the program. The Zips were selected as the No. 13 seed in the South Bend region and traveled to No. 4 seed Purdue to play the Boilermakers on their home court at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind.
UA kept it close in the first half, trailing 46-34 at the break, but would fall 84-55 as the historic season came to a close.
