The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
11-9, 5-4MAC
Eastern Michigan
13-7, 4-5MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Michigan | 23 | 18 | 11 | 20 | 72 |
| Akron | 18 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 75 |
Akron Rallies Past Eastern Michigan, 75-72
January 30 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio - Despite trailing for the majority of the game, the University of Akron women's basketball team overcame a 12-point third-quarter deficit to defeat Eastern Michigan (13-7, 4-5 MAC), 75-72, on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 30, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Senior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) recorded 27 points marking her 20th double-figure scoring game of the season. Brown also contributed a game-high nine rebounds for Akron (11-9, 5-4 MAC). Junior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) followed her lead, posting 24 points and seven rebounds. Plybon shot 7-for-14 from the field and added a perfect 6-for-6 showing from the free throw line.
Senior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) added eight points while sophomore Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) and junior Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) chipped in five points apiece. Senior Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio) led the team in assists for the 18th game of the season with six helpers.
Eastern Michigan placed three players in double figures offensively, led by 23 points, seven assists and five rebounds from Cha Sweeney.
Akron shot 50 percent from the field for the afternoon, compared to the Eagles connecting at a 38.5 percent clip.
Each team registered 36 rebounds in the affair with the Zips outrebounding Eastern Michigan on the defensive end, 27-19, and the Eagles corralling a 17-9 advantage off the offensive glass.
The contest featured five ties and seven lead changes with Eastern Michigan owning its biggest lead, 48-36, with 7:49 left in the third quarter. Akron posted its largest margin in the game, six points, with 26 seconds remaining in the tilt.
Eastern Michigan started off the game strong making a trio of three pointers to jump out to an 11-8 advantage. However, Akron tied the contest following a three pointer by redshirt freshman Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) at the 2:28 mark of the first quarter. The Eagles closed out the period with a 10-5 run to reclaim a 23-18 lead.
Akron began a gradual climb to even the affair with Eastern Michigan and eventually regained the lead, 32-30, after a long ball from Plybon with 3:03 left in the first half. With 2:08 left on the clock, the score was even 34-34 before the Eagles closed out the initial stanza on a 7-0 run to head into intermission with a 41-34 lead.
Eastern Michigan came out strong in the second half pushing its lead to double digits, 48-36, after a pair of free throws from Sweeney at the 7:49 mark.
Nevertheless, Akron ceased the momentum using a 19-4 spurt spearheaded by nine and eight points, respectively, from Brown and Plybon to take a 55-52 advantage into the final stanza.
The two teams traded baskets over the first three minutes of the fourth quarter until Eastern Michigan tied the game at 60 and went ahead for the final time, 63-60, on a triple from Janay Morton at the 5:29 mark.
After reclaiming the lead on a lay-up from Brown with four minutes left, Akron held on all the way to the end and secured a season sweep of the Eagles with a 75-72 triumph.
The Zips look to carry their momentum into the next game when they travel to Muncie, Ind., on Wednesday, Feb. 3, for a 7:00 p.m. matchup against Mid-American Conference West Division leader Ball State. The game that starts at 7 p.m. ends a stretch that saw Akron play five of seven on the road.
