The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
10-8, 4-3MAC
Central Michigan
11-7, 5-2MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 15 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 60 |
| Central Michigan | 25 | 13 | 22 | 21 | 81 |
Central Michigan Surges Past Akron, 81-60
January 23 | Women's Basketball
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MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Senior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) poured in a game-high 23 points for the University of Akron, but it was not enough to lift the Zips (10-8, 4-3 MAC) past Central Michigan (11-7, 5-2 MAC) on Saturday, Jan. 23, as the Chippewas recorded an 81-60 triumph past Akron.
Brown registered her team-leading 13th 20-point scoring effort of the season to pace three Zips scoring in double figures. Joining her was junior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) and senior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Gibson fell one rebound shy of her third double-double of the year, pulling down a team-high nine rebounds.
The Chippewas were directed by an 18-point, 20-rebound performance from Reyna Frost, while Cassie Breen, Tinara Moore and Presley Hudson added 17, 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Central Michigan outrebounded the Zips, 48-39, en route to outscoring Akron in the paint, 34-26.
Gibson and fellow senior Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio) led the Zips with three assists apiece.
The Chippewas stormed out of the gates to open the game making five of their first eight shots to assume a 12-3 lead at the first media timeout (6:00).
Trailing 14-3, the Zips rolled off a 10-2 run sparked by six points from Plybon to cut their deficit to three, 16-13, on a lay-up by Brown at the 3:08 mark.
Central Michigan answered closing the quarter on a 9-2 run to maintain a 25-15 lead after the opening 10 minutes of play.
The Chippewas stretched their lead to as many as 11 in the second quarter before five unanswered tallies from Brown and a pair of free throws from Gibson brought Akron to within four, 33-29, with 3:46 remaining before halftime.
The Zips trailed at the intermission, 38-32, after shooting 32.3 percent from the floor. Central Michigan connected at a 41.2 percent clip in the opening half.
Plybon led Akron with 11 first-half points, while Gibson added 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Breen sparked the Chippewas with 13 points in the game's initial 20 minutes.
The Zips opened the second half with a 5-0 run to cut Central Michigan's lead to one, 38-37. Fueling the surge was a three pointer from Plybon and lay-up by Brown.
Akron went on to even the contest at 43 courtesy of a lay-up from Brown at the 5:49 mark.
The Chippewas answered closing the quarter on a 17-5 run to take a 60-48 advantage into the final period.
Central Michigan proved too much for the Zips to overcome in the final quarter as the Chippewas posted the 81-60 triumph.
Akron returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 27, traveling to face league-leading Ohio in a 7 p.m. tilt.
