The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
0-1
Florida Atlantic
1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 20 | 12 | 31 | 14 | 77 |
| Florida Atlantic | 26 | 13 | 30 | 22 | 91 |
Florida Atlantic Registers 91-77 Triumph Over Akron in Zips' Season Opener
November 13 | Women's Basketball
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BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic (1-0) jumped out to an early lead and the Akron (0-1) trailed the entire game as the Zips' women's basketball team dropped a 91-77 decision in the regular season opener at the FAU arena on Friday night, Nov. 13.
Four Zips players scored in double figures led by senior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio), who was Akron's leading scorer with 27 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Junior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) chipped in 21 points making three baskets from long range, while sophomore's Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) and Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.) each posted their first career double-doubles. Burry went for career highs in points (14) and rebounds (12), while Ball tallied career-best marks in points (13), while pulling down a career-high 11 boards. Senior Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio) added five assists for the Zips.
Florida Atlantic's Ali Gorrell was the Owl's leading scorer with 26 points to go with nine assists.
Akron shot 42.3 percent (30-71) from the field, but struggled from beyond the arc shooting 6-of-22 for 27.3 percent. Florida Atlantic connected on 46.7 percent (28-of-60) of its shots from the floor, and went 11-of-29 (37.9 percent) in three-point shooting. Akron rebounded Florida Atlantic 42-23, but the Owls had the advantage in points off turnovers 28-to-5.
The Zips struggled to find an early rhythm shooting 0-for-5 from the field in the first four and a half minutes of the first quarter. Brown ended the Akron shooting drought with a three-pointer at the 5:39 mark.
The Owls started the game firing from beyond the arc connecting on four three-pointers to jump out to an early 14-5 lead.
In the second quarter, Burry scored six straight Akron points off three lay-ups cutting the Owls lead to 33-26.
Florida Atlantic then went on a 6-1 run in final minutes of the second quarter to increase its lead to 39-27 giving them its biggest lead of the game.
Heading into the locker room trailing 39-32, Akron shot at a 30-percent clip (11-for-36) from the field in the initial stanza and just 18.8 percent (3-for-16) from beyond the three-point line.
To open the second half, Akron outscored Florida Atlantic 13-6 to cut the lead to the smallest margin of the game at one, 46-45, with 7:38 remaining in the third quarter. Plybon sparked the run scoring eight of the 13 points, including hitting two three-pointers.
Following the Zips' run, the Owls went on a run of their own and took back an eight-point lead, 64-56, at the 1:41 mark in the third quarter. Florida Atlantic's Ro Hayes split a pair of free throws to end the run.
Akron trailed by just six points, 69-63, to begin the fourth quarter. The two teams went back-and-forth in the opening minutes of the quarter. Florida Atlantic opened up the game courtesy of an 11-4 run. Gorrell scored six of the Owls points hitting a three-pointer and three free throws.
The Zips return to action on Friday, Nov. 20, for their home opener against Winthrop when Akron hosts the Akron Classic. First tip is 10:30 a.m. and the game will serves as the Zips' Education Day.
