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Western Michigan
Western Michigan edges Akron, 67-61, in conference opener
January 03 | Women's Basketball
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KALAMAZOO, Mich. – A late second-half run for the Akron women's basketball team came up just short as Western Michigan (8-4, 1-0 MAC) registered a 67-61 triumph over the Zips (10-2, 0-1 MAC) in the Mid-American Conference opener for both schools on Saturday, Jan. 3.
Senior Sina King (Waterford, Ohio) recorded a 23-point, 10-rebound effort for Akron to collect her team-leading eighth double-double of the season, while junior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) added 16 points for the Zips. Miracle Woods paced four Broncos scoring in double figures with a 17-point outing.
Akron finished the game shooting 41.7 percent from the field, while Western Michigan connected on 45.5 percent of its attempts.
The Broncos outrebounded the Zips, 44-34, including 31-23 on the defensive glass.
The Zips forced Western Michigan into 22 turnovers converting those miscues into a 26-19 advantage in points off of turnovers.
The Broncos scored the game's initial four points before the Zips garnered a basket from freshman Kerri McMahan (Novi, Mich.) and free throws from King to even the score at four.
After a 6-1 run by Western Michigan, a jumper by junior Katie Nunan (Fairmont, W. Va.) and a lay-up by junior Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio) at the 10:19 mark cut Akron's deficit to 12-11.
The two sides exchanged baskets before the Broncos extended their lead to 25-15 with a 10-0 run.
Back-to-back baskets from King narrowed the deficit to 25-19 before Western Michigan closed the half outscoring the Zips, 4-2, to enter the intermission leading Akron, 29-21.
The Zips were limited to a season-low 21 first-half points connecting on 31 percent of their shots in the initial stanza versus a 38.7 percent shooting mark for the Broncos. A nine-point, five-rebound effort from King paced Akron in the first half, while Woods posted 13 points for Western Michigan.
The Broncos garnered the first six points of the second half before a running lay-up by Brown at the 18:01 mark ended the scoring run.
Western Michigan pushed its lead to 18, 44-26, before the Zips outscored the Broncos, 11-4, to cut the deficit to 48-37.
Akron got to within 10, 53-43, on a three-pointer by junior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) with 7:59 left in the game.
Trailing 61-45 with 4:14 to play, the Zips mounted a 12-1 run capped by a basket from Brown to bring Akron to within five, 62-57, with 56 seconds remaining.
Five points proved to be as close as the Zips got as Western Michigan recorded the 67-61 triumph.
The Zips return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 7, entertaining Bowling Green at the James A. Rhodes Arena. Tip time against the Falcons is slated for 7 p.m.
