The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Miami (Ohio)
Second-half run propels Akron to a 65-47 victory over Miami
January 17 | Women's Basketball
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OXFORD, Ohio - A 17-0 run by the Zips (14-2, 4-1 MAC) to open the second half broke open a 31-all halftime tie to lift the Akron women's basketball team to its fourth-consecutive victory, 65-47, over Miami (3-13, 0-5 MAC) on Saturday at Millett Hall.
The Zips benefitted from 17- and 15-point performances from junior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) and senior Sina King (Waterford, Ohio), while freshman Kerri McMahan (Novi, Mich.) added an eight-point, seven-rebound and six-assist effort.
A team-high 16 points from Jessica Rupright paced the RedHawks' attack.
Akron finished the affair shooting 43.8 percent from the field, including 42.4 percent in the second half. Miami connected at a 32.8 percent clip for the game.
The Zips were dominant in the paint outscoring the RedHawks, 36-20, sparked by nine points from junior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio), eight from McMahan and four off the bench from junior Katie Nunan (Fairmont, W. Va.).
Akron was outrebounded in the affair by Miami, 40-37, despite Brown, King and McMahan recording eight, seven and seven rebounds, respectively.
The Zips garnered six, five and five assists courtesy of McMahan, junior Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio) and Brown. McMahan and Barilla did so without committing a turnover.
The Zips got off to a slow start in the affair connecting on just one of their first seven shots as the RedHawks assumed an early 7-2 lead.
Miami stretched its advantage to six, 12-6, before Akron used a 10-3 run capped by a jumper from Barilla to give the Zips their first lead, 16-15, at the 10:19 mark.
Akron grew its lead to as many as five as part of an overall 17-6 run, 23-18, before the RedHawks battled back to even the contest at 29 on a three-pointer by Jazz Smith with 2:43 left in the half.
Each side made a basket over the final 2:43 to send the game into the intermission all square at 31.
The Zips shot better than 45 percent (.452) from the floor in the initial stanza, while the RedHawks connected on 37.5 percent of their attempts.
Brown and King led all players in the first half with 11 and 10 points, respectively. An eight-point effort by Rupright paced Miami.
Seven different Zips contributed points to Akron's decisive 17-0 run to open the second half.
Akron stretch its lead to as many as 20 before closing the contest on a 12-5 run to earn the 65-47 victory.
The Zips return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 21, hosting Ball State in a 7 p.m. tilt at the James A. Rhodes Arena.
