The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
Zips withstand Kent State to collect 54-53 road triumph
February 25 | Women's Basketball
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KENT, Ohio - A driving lay-up by senior Sina King (Waterford, Ohio) with 4.8 seconds left in regulation proved to the game-winning basket leading Akron (20-6, 10-5 MAC) to a come-from-behind 54-53 triumph past Kent State (5-21, 3-12 MAC) on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
The victory gave the Zips their 20th win of the campaign and provided Akron a sweep of the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge over the Golden Flashes this season.
After King's lay-up, she missed her free throw giving Kent State one final half-court shot by McKenna Stephens that fell short and into the hands of sophomore Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) for a game-ending defensive rebound.
Registering her team-leading 13th double-double of the season was King with a 20-point, 12-rebound performance. Junior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) chipped in 14 points, including 12 in the second half, while Plybon added 10 points.
Larissa Lurken paced Kent State with 11 points, while Melanee Stubbs recorded 10 points.
The Zips won the contest despite shooting a season-low 30.2 percent from the field. The Golden Flashes connected at a 36.4 percent clip on the evening.
Akron outrebounded Kent State, 46-37, including 17-9 on the offensive glass. Junior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) pulled down six rebounds for the Zips.
Akron got off to a slow start in the affair as the Golden Flashes scored seven of the game's first nine points.
The Zips persevered and held Kent State without a point for nearly six minutes (5:56) en route to running off an 8-0 run sparked by baskets from King and junior Katie Nunan (Fairmont, W. Va.) and a three-pointer by Plybon.
A triple by Gibson stretched the lead to 13-9 before the Golden Flashes turned in a 7-0 run of their own to assume a 16-13 lead at the 5:18 mark.
Kent State pushed its lead to 18-15 before the Zips closed the half on a 6-2 run to take a 21-20 lead into the intermission.
Akron connected on 26.5 percent of its attempts from the field in the initial stanza, while the Golden Flashes registered a 29.6 percent shooting mark.
A seven-point and seven-rebound performance by King paced Akron in the first half, while Plybon chipped in seven points.
The Zips opened the second half with triples by King and Gibson to take a 27-22 lead with 17:26 remaining.
Akron stretched its lead to six, 33-27, on a jumper by Brown at the 15:23 mark.
The Golden Flashes mounted a surge to retake the lead, 34-33, on a pair of free throws by Lurken with 11:05 left in the game.
Kent State stretched its advantage to three points on a trio of occasions before a pair of free throws from King gave Akron a 43-40 lead at the 7:01 mark.
The Golden Flashes claimed a 46-45 advantage before the Zips went ahead and led by as many as four before free throws by Lurken with 14 seconds remaining gave Kent State a 53-52 lead.
King's heroics then clinched the victory for the Zips.
Akron returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 28, with a 2 p.m. tilt at Buffalo.
