The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
5-3
Duquesne
6-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duquesne | 14 | 19 | 14 | 20 | 67 |
| Akron | 6 | 10 | 25 | 16 | 57 |
Akron Suffers 67-57 Setback To Duquesne
December 17 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's basketball team nearly rallied from an 18-point deficit, but in the end the Zips (5-3) were unable to overcome a 17.1 percent shooting effort in the first half as Duquesne (6-6) bettered Akron, 67-57, on Saturday, Dec. 17, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Zips, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped, were led by a 17-point performance from senior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio). Akron also garnered 13- and 11-point efforts from senior Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) and junior Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.). Directing three Dukes in double-figures in scoring was Chassidy Omogrosso with a game-high 19 points. Adding 12 and 11 points, respectively, were Kadri-Ann Lass and Amadea Szamosi.
Akron was limited to a season-low 29.4 percent effort from the field, while the Dukes connected on 38.2 percent of their attempts.
Duquesne registered a 54-38 advantage in rebounding, including 38-25 edge on the defensive glass. Freshman Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) and Plybon each recorded a team-high six rebounds for the Zips, while Szamosi pulled down a game-best seven caroms for the Dukes.
Akron committed a season-low eight turnovers in the affair, while freshman Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) dished out a career-high seven assists for the Zips.
Akron jumped out to a 6-4 lead at the 7:23 mark of the opening quarter fueled by Plybon scoring five of the Zips' initial six points.
Akron was stymied the remainder of the stanza as the Dukes held the Zips without a point to take a 14-6 lead into the second quarter. After making two of its first four attempts in the frame, Akron was unsuccessful on its final 13 shots of the quarter.
Duquesne also had its struggles offensively in the first quarter going more than four minutes (4:06) without a point of its own.
Ricketts snapped the Zips' scoring drought of 7:32 with a made lay-up with 8:51 before halftime to cut Akron's deficit to 17-8. Duquesne responded with a 14-5 run of its own over the next 6:59 to assumes its biggest lead of the game, 18, at the 1:52 mark.
The Dukes led at the intermission, 33-16, on the strength of shooting 40 percent from the floor and limiting Akron a first-half shooting mark of 17.1 percent.
The Zips came out of halftime determined to whittle into Duquesne's lead and their efforts resulted in a 12-4 run to open the third quarter to close within single-digits, 37-28, following a lay-up by Vari at the 4:16 mark. Fueling the run was five points from Ricketts.
Akron continued to inch closer as the Zips outscored the Dukes in the quarter, 25-14, to trail by only six points, 47-41, heading into the final stanza.
Redshirt sophomore Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) capped the rally with a beautiful catch and shoot in the lane off an out-of-bounds pass from Edmonds with six seconds left in the third quarter. She also drew the foul on the play and converted on the bonus opportunity.
Vari began the final period with a lay-up to draw Akron to within four, 47-43, with 9:44 left in the game.
A nearly five-minute stretch (4:36) without a point for the Zips accompanied with a 13-0 run by Duquesne extended the Dukes' lead to 60-43 with 5:34 to play.
Akron was able to close the deficit to 10 points on a triple by Plybon with 40 seconds remaining, but that proved to be as close as the Zips got in dropping a 67-57 decision.
Akron returns to action traveling to Atlanta, Ga., to compete in the Georgia State Classic. The Zips open play against Georgia State on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 1 p.m., before battling Elon on Wednesday, Dec. 21, also at 1 p.m.
