The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
Akron rallies past Kent State to capture 74-67 win in PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge
January 31 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio – After seven ties and 14 lead changes the Akron women's basketball team used a late 11-2 run starting at the 7:20 mark of the second half to defeat Kent State, 74-67, on Saturday in the first installment of the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge this season at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Zips had three players score in double figures, led by junior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio), who paced all players with a game-high 24 points. She tied senior Sina King (Waterford, Ohio) with four assists.
King followed Brown, coming in just one rebound shy of her 11th double-double of the year with a 20-point and nine-rebound effort. She issued a perfect 6-of-6 performance from the charity stripe.
Junior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) rounded out the Zips double-figure scoring with 10 points to go with four rebounds and a pair of assists.
Despite a 15-6 advantage on the offensive glass, the Zips (16-4, 6-3 MAC) narrowly out-rebounded the Golden Flashes (3-16, 1-7 MAC), 34-31. Akron forced 17 turnovers, which it converted into 18 points. The Zips committed only 10 giveaways of their own.
Akron finished the contest shooting 39.4 percent from the field, while the Golden Flashes connected on 49 percent of their attempts.
Brown got off to an impressive start in the affair, hitting double figures by the 12:29 mark of the first half recording 11 of Akron's first 14 points to give the Zips a 14-11 lead.
The Zips struggled to connect, shooting 11-of-36 (30.6 percent) throughout the first half. Akron was held without a field goal for more than six minutes. Kent State also experienced a scoring drought for over three minutes, while suffering from nine first-half miscues to keep it at 16-15 in Akron's favor beginning at the 10:24 mark.
Neither team led by more than five points throughout the first period as the score was tied on three occasions and the lead shifted four times.
Kent State took its first lead, 19-18, with 5:22 left in the half and hung onto the advantage until the final seconds when King posted a pair of free throws for a 28-27 Zips' halftime lead.
The Golden Flashes returned to the floor to begin the final stanza and scored six-straight points to lead 33-28.
The Zips used the perimeter to catch up, posting three triples with Gibson draining a triple to tie the game and another to propel Akron to a 37-34 lead with 16:07 to play.
The teams continued to trade buckets in the back-and-forth battle until a Katie Nunan (Fairmont, W. Va.) free throw sparked the 11-2 run that allowed Akron to get out to a game-high lead at 62-57.
A triple by King and strong free throw shooting helped the Zips remain in control throughout the end of the game.
The Zips return to action at Rhodes Arena when they play host to Western Michigan at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
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