The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
7-6 (1-1MAC)
Eastern Michigan
10-3 (1-1MAC)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT 1 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 11 | 11 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 68 |
| Eastern Michigan | 18 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 10 | 65 |
Akron Knocks off MAC West Division Leader Eastern Michigan, 68-65, in Overtime
January 06 | Women's Basketball
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YPSILANTI, Mich. – Overcoming a 12-point first-half deficit, the University of Akron (7-6, 1-1 MAC) tied the game with a buzzer-beating three pointer by senior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) at the end of regulation and outscored Eastern Michigan (10-3, 1-1 MAC) in overtime, 13-10, to capture a 68-65 victory over the Eagles on Wednesday, Jan. 6.
The triumph snapped Eastern Michigan's six-game winning streak and improved the Zips to 2-0 in overtime on the campaign.
Junior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) netted 17 of her game-high 22 points in the second half, including seven in overtime to spark Akron's comeback.
Sophomore Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) added a 17-point, 10-rebound performance for her second double-double of the season, while Brown contributed 15 points for the Zips. Falling one point shy of her third double-double of the year was senior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio), who registered a team- and season-high 13 rebounds to go along with nine points.
Cha Sweeney directed three Eagles scoring in double figures with a team-high 20 points. Phillis Webb notched a 16-point, 15-rebound effort, while Janay Morton scored 10 points.
Akron finished the affair shooting 29.9 percent from the field, while Eastern Michigan attacked the nets at a 36.5-percent clip.
The Zips outrebounds the Eagles, 59-52, including 20-13 on the offensive glass.
The game came down to the end of regulation where the Zips held possession down one, 53-52, with 29 seconds left in the affair. A turnover on an offensive rebound gave Sasha Dailey a fast-break lay-up with 3.2 ticks left on the clock to extend Eastern Michigan's lead to 55-52.
A called timeout allowed Akron to inbound the ball from the front court. Plybon threw the ball to Burry, who bounced a skip pass to Brown in the corner for her second buzzer-beating shot of the season.
In overtime, the Zips went up 60-57 with 2:30 remaining after a pair of made free throws by Gibson.
After a lay-up by Webb brought the Eagles to within one, 60-59, Plybon dialed long distance for a three pointer at the 2:10 mark to give Akron a 63-59 lead.
The Zips made enough free throws down the stretch to record the 68-65 triumph.
The Eagles jumped out to an 11-2 advantage at the 6:55 mark of the first quarter connecting on five of their first six shots, while the Zips made just one of their initial five shots.
Akron picked up its offensive progression cutting the deficit to 15-9 with a lay-up by Brown with 2:22 left in the quarter.
The Eagles though led after the game's initial 10 minutes, 18-11.
Eastern opened the second quarter scoring the first five points before a 11-0 run capped by Gibson splitting a pair of free throws with 2:29 remaining in the half brought the Zips to within one, 23-22.
Akron had three opportunities to assume the lead, including a three pointer by Plybon that appeared to be fall before rimming out for a Chanise Baldwin defensive rebound.
Five points over the final two minutes from Sweeney sent the Eagles into the intermission holding a 28-22 lead over Akron.
The Zips were just 8-for-35 from the field in the opening half to post a 22.9 percent shooting mark, while Eastern Michigan made 12-of-33 attempts to connect at a 36.4-percent clip.
Brown and Plybon paced Akron in the opening 20 minutes with seven and five points, respectively. Sweeney directed the Eagles' offensive attack in the first half with eight points.
Eastern Michigan scored the opening basket of the third quarter before the Zips parlayed a 12-2 run highlighted by seven points from Burry to assume their first lead of the game, 34-32, at the 4:47 mark.
The lead went back-and-forth to close the quarter with the Eagles taking a 39-38 advantage into the final period.
The Zips fell behind by as many as four points in the fourth quarter before using a 7-2 run to take a five-point lead, 51-46, on a three pointer from Plybon with 3:01 to play.
Akron returns to action hosting Central Michigan in a 2 p.m. matinee affair on Saturday, Jan. 9, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
