The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Buffalo
Zips collect hard-fought 81-70 triumph over Buffalo
February 11 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips (18-5, 8-4 MAC) used a 9-1 run over the final two minutes to overcome a season-high 24 turnovers en route to dropping the Buffalo Bulls (13-9, 6-5 MAC), 81-70, in Mid-American Conference action on Wednesday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Senior Sina King (Waterford, Ohio) and sophomore Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) combined to score 42 points for the Zips, 21 apiece. King grabbed seven rebounds, to go with two assists and two steals, while Plybon went 4-for-6 from beyond the arc and added a pair of assists. Junior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) contributed another 13 points, to go along with nine rebounds, and a steal.
The Akron victory was the Zips third-straight win at home to help the team improve to 11-1 on their home floor. The Bulls loss dropped them to 6-4 on the road.
Kristen Sharkey led the way for the Bulls with a 22-point, four-rebound performance to go along with a steal. Joining her with double-figure performances was Christa Baccas and Stephanie Reid with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Akron connected on 52.9 percent of its shots from the floor to record its fourth-best shooting effort of the season. The Zips were even more impressive from downtown as Akron drilled 8-of-11 from distance for en eye-popping 72.7 percent shooting mark. Buffalo shot the ball at a 38.4 percent clip and made just one of its 24 attempts from beyond the arc.
The Zips won the battle of the boards outrebounding the Bulls, 40-27, including 25-12 on the defensive glass. Buffalo did its damage offensively in the paint where the Bulls outscored Akron, 50-30.
In the first five minutes of the game the Zips and Bulls went back-and-forth exchanging baskets as Buffalo jumped ahead to an early 9-6 lead.
Akron went on a 9-2 run to extend its early first-half lead to seven, 20-13, when junior Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio) found King wide open under the basket from half court for the lay-up with 9:49 to play in the half.
Buffalo answered scoring seven-straight to follow the Akron run and tie up the ball game at 20 with 8:07 remaining in the initial stanza. Joanna Smith was fouled and made a pair of free throws to cap off the Bulls' run.
Buffalo took its second lead of the half, and first in 11 minutes, after a made lay-up by Alexus Malone with two minutes to play in the first half.
Akron was hampered by first-half turnovers as the squad committed 16 in the opening 20 minutes. The Zips last turnover of the half came with two seconds remaining and resulted into a lay-up by Buffalo's Baccas to tie the game at 36 at halftime.
The final 20 minutes picked up where the first half left off as Akron pulled ahead by six points with a lay-up by freshman Kerri McMahan (Novi, Michigan) and a three-pointer by junior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio). Buffalo came back strong to tie the contest at 48 when Baccas got fouled on a made basket and completed the three-point play.
The Zips found a little offensive rhythm midway through the second half with an 11-3 run that spanned for just under three minutes to extend their lead to 59-51. King connected from long range to end the Akron run.
Buffalo remained within striking distance the entire second half never allowing the Akron lead to grow above eight until under one minute to play, but the Bulls were not able to take the lead.
The Zips play host to cross-divisional opponent Toledo on Saturday Feb. 14. Tip off is set for 2 p.m. The contest will serve as Akron's Play4Kay game to raise awareness for breast cancer. The Zips will wear pink uniforms for the showdown with the Rockets.
