The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
6-3
Georgia St.
4-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 19 | 13 | 21 | 25 | 78 |
| Georgia St. | 16 | 10 | 21 | 19 | 66 |
Akron Dials Long Distance in 78-66 Triumph Past Georgia State
December 20 | Women's Basketball
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ATLANTA, Ga. - Sparked by 25 and 20 points, respectively, from senior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio), the University of Akron women's basketball team opened the Georgia State Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 20, with a 78-66 triumph past the host Panthers (4-6).
The Zips (6-3) connected on 11 three pointers in the contest en route to shooting 42.1 percent from the field. Fueled by a 53.3 percent shooting mark in the second half, Georgia State made 41.4 percent of its shots on the afternoon. The Panthers, who came into the affair having made 31 triples all season, drained nine shots from beyond the arc in the game.
Akron registered a 34-31 advantage in rebounding, including a 10-7 margin in offensive caroms, which the Zips parlayed into a 14-4 edge in second-chance points.
Plybon led all scorers with a game-high 25 points, while Sefcik poured in career-high marks in scoring (20) and triples made (6). Senior Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) also surpassed the double-digit scoring plateau with 15 points. Astaja Tyghter, Makeba Ponder and Haley Gerrrin recorded 16, 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Panthers.
Junior Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for Akron, while freshman Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and senior Brittany Gordon (South Charleston, W. Va.) dished out six and five assists, respectively.
After falling behind early in the contest, 5-3, the Zips used a 16-2 run over a 4:13 span, capped by a three pointer from Plybon at the 1:40 mark, to assume a 19-7 advantage.
The momentum quickly swung back in favor of the Panthers as Georgia State closed the quarter on a 9-0 run of its own to trail Akron, 19-16.
The Zips finished the first quarter shooting nearly 47 percent (.467) from the field, including connecting on five three pointers. The Panthers shot 31.3 percent from the field in the initial stanza.
The Panthers scored the first basket of the second quarter to cut Akron's lead to one 19-18, before battling back to square the contest at 23 following a pair of free throws from Tyghter. The Zips responded closing the half on a 9-3 run to take a 32-26 lead into the intermission.
Akron was 13-for-31 for 41.9 percent in the opening half, while limiting the Panthers to a 28.6-percent shooting mark. Plybon led all first-half scorers with 13 points.
The Zips opened the third quarter with a 7-2 scoring spurt to assume a 39-28 lead after a made basket and free throw from junior Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.) at the 7:03 mark.
Akron led by as many as 11 points in the frame before Georgia State closed the quarter on a 7-3 run to cut the Zips' margin to six, 53-47, entering the final period.
Akron used a 13-4 run to begin the fourth quarter, capped by a pair of free throws from Sefcik, and went 12-of-14 at the free throw line down the stretch to secure the victory past the Panthers.
The Zips close out action at the Georgia State Classic on Wednesday, Dec. 21, battling Elon. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
