The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
6-6, 0-1MAC
Northern Illinois
8-4, 1-0MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois | 14 | 13 | 19 | 19 | 65 |
| Akron | 15 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 58 |
Akron Drops 65-58 Decision to Northern Illinois in League Opener
January 02 | Women's Basketball
Follow Akron Women's Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Follow Coach Kest on Twitter
Purchase Women's Basketball Individual Game Tickets Click Here
BOX SCORE | BOXSCORE (PDF) | VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY
AKRON, Ohio - Senior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) and junior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) each scored in double digits for Akron (6-6, 0-1 MAC), but it wasn't enough to overcome a tough Northern Illinois' offense surge down the stretch as the Zips dropped their Mid-American Conference opener, 65-58, on Saturday, Jan. 2, at James A, Rhodes Arena.
Brown scored a game-high 24 points, while Plybon added a 13-point outing. A 24-point, 16-rebound effort from Ally Lehman led the Huskies (8-4, 1-0 MAC). Northern Illinois also benefited from a 14-point game from Mikayla Voigt.
Akron connected on 24 of its 67 attempts on the night for a 34.8 percent shooting mark, while hitting at a 30.4-percent clip (7-of-23) from beyond the arc. Northern Illinois was 22-of-54 for 40.7 percent from the field and was limited to only 3-of-15 (20.0 percent) in three-point shooting.
The Huskies outrebounded the Zips, 47-36, which contributed to 15 second-chance points. Akron had its struggles from the free throw line in the affair shooting 3-of-11 (27.3 percent), while Northern Illinois connected on 18 of its 25 attempts (72.0 percent).
The Zips forced the Huskies into 18 turnovers and parlayed the miscues into a 15-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
Led by a career-high nine points from junior Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.), the Zips' bench posted a 17-9 margin in scoring.
Akron started off the first quarter with a 6-2 lead sparked by four points from sophomore Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio). The Zips shot 53.8 percent from the floor in the opening quarter and held a slim 15-14 advantage after 10 minutes.
Akron started the second quarter with back-to-back three pointers by sophomore Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.) and Plybon to increase its lead to 21-14 at the 8:32 mark. Lehman sparked the Northern Illinois' offense with a three to begin a 5-0 run at the 4:44 mark.
The Huskies tied the game at 23-23 with 2:01 left before the intermission with a pair of free throws from Jazmine Harris. Plybon answered for the Zips hitting her second three of the first half to help Akron assume a lead it didn't relinquish to close the opening stanza. The Zips went into the half leading, 31-27.
Akron connected on 4-of-10 three-point attempts in the second quarter to improve its percentage for the half to 38.5 percent. Overall, the Zips shot 39.4 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, while Northern Illinois connected at 36 percent.
Brown led the Zips with 11 first-half points.
Northern Illinois answered back in the third using a 12-5 run to assume a 39-36 lead with 4:38 left in the quarter.
Akron regained the lead, 43-39, with 2:49 left in in the frame, with a 7-0 run of its own capped by a jumper from Brown. The Zips went into the fourth quarter leading by one, 47-46.
An exciting fourth quarter consisted of back-and-forth scoring by both teams highlighted by six lead changes.
A lay-up by Rickets with 3:25 to play provided the Zips their final lead of the evening, 56-55, as the Huskies made 8-of-10 attempts at the charity stripe to close out the victory, 65-58.
Akron returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 6, with a 7 p.m. tilt at Eastern Michigan.
