The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Buffalo
Zips fall short in 87-80 setback at Buffalo
February 28 | Women's Basketball
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BUFFALO, N.Y. – A 13-0 second-half run proved too much for Akron (20-7, 10-6 MAC) to overcome as the Zips dropped an 87-80 decision at Buffalo (16-11, 9-6 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Junior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) poured in 29 of her game-high 31 points over the final 20 minutes to pace Akron in scoring.
Senior Sina King (Waterford, Mich.) registered her team-leading 14th double-double of the season and seventh in conference play with a 24-point, 10-rebound effort. Joining her and Brown in double figures for the Zips was sophomore Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio).
A 21-point performance from Stephanie Reid led four Bulls scoring in doubles figures. Also cracking the double-digit scoring plateau was Joanna Smith, Alexus Malone and Christa Baccas with 20, 17 and 15 points, respectively.
Akron connected on 42.6 percent of its shots in the contest, while Buffalo posted a 45.3 percent shooting mark.
Led by 10 rebounds from King, the Zips outrebounded the Bulls, 40-39. Brown nearly recorded the double double finishing the affair with eight rebounds.
The two teams exchanged baskets to begin the affair before a 10-3 Buffalo run gave the Bulls a 20-12 lead at the 9:44 mark.
Baskets from King and Brown cut Akron's deficit to 20-16.
A quick 6-0 scoring run by Buffalo extended its lead to a 10-point margin, 26-16, on a lay-up by Smith at the 4:50 mark.
After an Akron timeout, the Zips crafted a 9-0 run over the next 1:22 to cut the Bulls' lead to 26-25. Akron benefitted from three points from junior Katie Nunan (Fairmont, W.Va.) and triples courtesy of King and Plybon.
The momentum was fleeting as Buffalo closed the half on a 10-1 run of its own to enter the intermission maintaining a 36-26 lead.
A 10-point, six-rebound effort from King sparked the Zips in the initial stanza, while Plybon added eight points. Smith paced the Bulls with 16 first-half points.
Akron connected on 38.5 percent of its shots in the first half, but was hampered by 11 turnovers over the first 20 minutes. Buffalo registered a 41.7 percent shooting mark in the first half.
The Zips began the second half outscoring the Bulls, 9-5, to cut their deficit to six points, 41-35, after a pair of free throws by King.
Buffalo answered with a 13-0 run to stretch its lead to 54-35 with 13:00 remaining.
Sparked by the play of Brown, the Zips were able to cut the deficit to seven, 85-78, on a lay-up by Brown with 29 seconds remaining.
Akron was unable to cut the gap any closer and dropped an 87-80 decision.
The Zips return home for their final regular season home game on Wednesday, March 4, as Akron hosts Miami in a 7 p.m. tilt at James A. Rhodes Arena. King will be honored in pre-game Senior Night festivities.
