The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
3-2
Winthrop
1-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 21 | 15 | 24 | 20 | 80 |
| Winthrop | 12 | 11 | 12 | 24 | 59 |
Sefcik's Career Day Leads Akron Past Winthrop, 80-59
December 03 | Women's Basketball
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ROCK HILL, S.C. - Sparked by a career-high 19 points from redshirt sophomore Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio), including drilling five three pointers, the University of Akron women's basketball team registered a 80-59 victory past Winthrop (1-8) on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Sefcik led three Zips (3-2) netting double-digit scoring efforts. Joining her with 10 points apiece were seniors Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) and Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.). Danyael Goodhope posted a team-best 14 points for the Eagles, while chipping in 10 points was Erica Williams.
Fueled by a 61.5 percent shooting mark over the final quarter, Akron finished the contest connecting on 48.4 percent of its attempts from the field. The Zips defensively limited Winthrop to a 41.3 percent effort on the afternoon.
Led by six rebounds from junior Alli Ball (St. Louis, Mo.), Akron garnered a 39-35 margin on the glass. Ball also distributed a game- and career-high five assists.
The Zips got strong contributions off the bench as Akron's reserves outscored the Eagles, 46-32. Leading that effort after Sefcik's 19 points with five points apiece was junior Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) and freshman Brooke Kurucz (Parkersburg, W. Va.).
The Zips opened the contest jumping out to a 7-2 lead before the Eagles used a 6-0 run to assume a 10-9 at the 5:40 mark.
Inserted into the lineup at the media timeout, Sefcik scored eight points to spark a 12-2 run for Akron to close the opening stanza.
Sefcik and Ricketts recorded eight and six points in the first quarter to help the Zips maintain a 21-12 advantage.
Akron continued its solid play to open the second period with an 8-2 run to assume a 29-14 lead after a layup by Ricketts at the 6:21 mark.
The Zips' margin swelled to as many as 18 points in the second quarter before Akron entered the intermission holding a 36-23 advantage.
The Zips connected at nearly a 43 percent (.429) clip in the opening 20 minutes, while limiting Winthrop to a 37.9 percent shooting mark.
Sefcik directed Akron with 11 first-half points, including making a trio of three pointers. Williams led the Eagles with eight points in the opening half.
The Zips scored the first six points of the third quarter as part of a 24-8 overall run to take a 60-31 lead following a triple from freshman Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio) with 1:31 left in the period.
Shooting 50 percent from the field in the third quarter, Akron took a 60-35 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.
The advantage grew to as many as 32 points after a basket from Ball with 8:26 remaining before the Zips exited the affair with an 80-59 decision.
Akron returns to action with an in-state battle at Youngstown State on Tuesday, Dec. 6. Game time at the Beeghly Center is on tap for 7 p.m.
