The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
5-5
Northern Kentucky
8-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT 1 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 15 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 77 |
| Northern Kentucky | 17 | 24 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 75 |
Brown's Buzzer-Beater Lifts Akron to 77-75 Overtime Victory at Northern Kentucky
December 19 | Women's Basketball
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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - A game-winning jumper from the right wing from senior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) as time expired in overtime lifted the University of Akron women's basketball team to a come-from-behind 77-75 triumph past Northern Kentucky (8-3) on Saturday, Dec. 19.
Brown scored 28 of her game- and season-high 32 points in the second half, including five in overtime, to help the Zips (5-5) erase an 11-point third quarter deficit.
In the third quarter alone, Brown delivered 12 of Akron's 16 points connecting of five of her seven shots from the floor.
The comeback was even more remarkable as the Zips never held a second-half lead, only squaring the contest at 66 when junior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) nailed the fourth of her game-leading five three pointers with 4.3 seconds left in regulation.
The Norse scored the first two points in overtime at the charity stripe before Plybon hit a triple at the 4:36 mark to give Akron its first lead, 69-68, since holding a 32-30 advantage with 2:53 remaining in the first half.
Northern Kentucky went ahead 73-71 before sophomore Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) made a lay-up and a free throw to swing the lead back in the Zips' favor, 74-73 with 1:11 left on the clock.
Rebecca Lyttle connected on a pair of free throws for the Norse to give Northern Kentucky the lead back, 75-74, with 56 seconds remaining.
Brown split a pair of free throws with 44 seconds left to even the affair at 75.
Rianna Gayheart's lay-up attempt with 18 ticks left on the clock was blocked by Brown and deflected into the waiting hands of junior Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) for the defensive rebound. Brown brought the ball up the court and controlled the ball all the way en route to hitting the game-winning shot.
Brown finished with a game-high 32 points to register her eighth game of scoring 20 or more points this season. She also pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds to record her second double-double on the campaign, while equaling a career-high mark distributing a game-high six assists.
Joining her in double figures for Akron was Plybon, who delivered 11 of her 19 points in the second half. Burry narrowly missed posting her second career double-double pulling down 10 rebounds, while notching nine points.
Lyttle directed five Norse' players surpassing the double-digit scoring plateau with a team-best 23 points. Kasey Uetrecht, Christine Roush, Shar'Rae Davis and Gayheart added 15, 12, 11 and 10 tallies, respectively, for Northern Kentucky.
Akron connected on 41.1 percent of its shots in the game, while limiting the high-power Northern Kentucky offense to a 36.5-percent shooting clip.
The Zips outrebounded the Norse, 52-35, including 17-7 on the offensive glass.
In a back-and-forth opening quarter of basketball the Zips gained an early 10-9 advantage at the first media timeout on the strength of four points apiece from Brown and Burry.
After stretching their margin to three, 12-9, on a basket from Plybon, the Norse went on an 8-0 to regain the lead 17-12, on a basket by Davis at the 1:33 mark.
A three pointer from sophomore Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) with 33 seconds left in the initial stanza sent Akron into the quarter break trailing by two, 17-15.
The Zips tied the contest at 17 on a layup from Hung before Northern Kentucky used a quick 6-0 run to assume a 23-17 lead.
Akron had an answer of its own rolling off 10 unanswered tallies sparked by a pair of triples from Plybon to regain the advantage, 27-23, on a lay-up from senior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) with 4:52 remaining in the first half.
The Norse followed with a 7-0 run to assume a 30-27 lead.
A three pointer from freshman Lilli Piper (Norton, Ohio) and a running hook shot by junior Sophia Simone (Silver Lake, Ohio) pushed the Zips back into the lead, 32-30, with 2:53 remaining in the half.
The Norse closed the opening stanza with an 11-3 run to maintain a 41-33 advantage at the intermission.
The Zips connected on 44.8 percent of their shots in the first 20 minutes, versus an identical 44.8-percent clip for the Norse.
Roush led Northern Kentucky with nine first-half points.
Fueled by 12 third-quarter points from Brown, the Zips bettered the Norse in the third quarter, 16-15, but trailed enter the final period, 56-49.
Brown connected on the first basket in the final 10 minutes before Northern Kentucky used a 6-0 run to push its advantage to 62-51, with a lay-up by Lyttle with 6:23 to play.
A 9-2 scoring run sparked by all nine points from Brown brought Akron to within four, 64-60, with 1:53 to play.
After a basket from Lyttle pushed the lead for the Norse to six, 66-60, with 1:02 remaining.
Two defensive stops and a pair of clutch Plybon three pointers later the Zips extended the game into overtime where Akron captured the victory.
The Zips close out their non-conference campaign hosting Youngstown State on Monday, Dec. 21, at James A. Rhodes Arena. Game time is set for 7 p.m. with Akron hosting its second annual We Back Pat game.
