The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Bowling Green
King propels Zips to first-ever win at Bowling Green, 79-71
March 07 | Women's Basketball
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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Behind a dominating 29-point, 18-rebound performance from senior Sina King (Waterford, Ohio), the Akron women's basketball team recorded its first-ever victory at Bowling Green (9-20, 2-16 MAC) with a come-from-behind 79-71 triumph past the Falcons on Saturday, March 7.
The win secured the No. 3 seed for the Zips (22-7, 12-6 MAC) at this week's Mid-American Conference Tournament and a game on Thursday, March 12, at Quicken Loans Arena.
Akron played the game under the guidance of associate head coach Melissa Jackson, who filled in for head coach Jodi Kest, who missed the contest attending a family matter, and the team responded by giving Jackson her first-ever coaching victory.
Three Zips finished the affair scoring in double figures led by King, who scored 23 of her 29 points in the decisive second half. Junior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) added a double-double with a 14-point, 13-rebound and team-high five-assist effort. Sophomore Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) poured in 20 points, including six three-pointers.
Making a definitive statement for her case for MAC Player of the Year accolades, King posted her conference-leading 15th double-double of the season, including eight in league play.
Bowling Green received three double-digit scoring outings from Miriam Justinger (18 points), Deborah Hoekstra (17 points) and Rachel Myers (10 points).
Akron finished the game shooting 36.8 percent, while the Falcons connected at a 38.3 percent clip.
Led by 12 defensive rebounds from King, the Zips outrebounded Bowling Green, 56-32, including 22-5 on the offensive glass. The 56 rebounds were a season-high for Akron.
The Zips benefitted from career-high rebounds marks from King (18) and Brown (13).
Akron trailed 66-65 with 3:28 remaining before closing out the tilt on a 14-5 run fueled by eight points down the stretch from King.
The two teams began the contest exchanging baskets with King giving the Zips a 7-4 lead at the 17:08 mark on a lay-up.
The Falcons went ahead 10-7 before Akron used an 8-2 run to surge to a 15-12 lead on a jumper by Brown.
The Zips assumed their largest lead of the half, 18-14, on a three-pointer from Plybon with 10:05 left in the first half.
Bowling Green answered with a 9-3 run of its own to retake the advantage, 25-21.
The Zips battled back to square the game at 27 on a lay-up by King.
The Falcons though closed the half on a 9-3 run to maintain a 36-30 lead at the intermission.
Plybon led all players with 11 first-half points, while King contributed a six-point, nine-rebound performance in the initial stanza.
Akron connected on 35.1 percent of its shots in the first half, while the Falcons shot at a 36.7 percent clip.
Bowling Green scored the first five points of the second half to take a 41-30 lead before the Zips used an 17-4 run over 3:04 to take a 47-46 lead after a triple by King.
The two sides went back and forth with four lead changes before a three-pointer by Plybon at the 5:14 mark gave Akron a 62-59 lead.
The margin swelled to 65-61, before the Falcons took their final lead of the game with a 5-0 run, 66-65.
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