The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
12-11, 6-6MAC
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
15-10, 7-6MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 17 | 17 | 21 | 10 | 65 |
| Western Michigan | 18 | 12 | 12 | 27 | 69 |
Western Michigan Rallies for a 69-65 Comeback Victory Past Akron
February 13 | Women's Basketball
Follow Akron Women's Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Follow Coach Kest on Twitter
Purchase Women's Basketball Individual Game Tickets Click Here
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The University of Akron saw Western Michigan (15-10, 7-6 MAC) erase a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit en route to stunning the Zips (12-11, 6-6 MAC), 69-65, in Mid-American Conference women's basketball action on Saturday, Feb. 13.
The Broncos outscored Akron over the final 10 minutes, 27-10, to post the come-from-behind triumph.
Junior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) and senior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) each scored a game-high 18 points for the Zips, while junior Alex Ricketts (Mercer, Pa.) registered career-high marks in scoring (12) and rebounding (12) to collect a double-double in her first career start. Redshirt freshman Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) added a career-best eight points off the bench for Akron.
Meredith Shipman directed four Broncos scoring in double figures with a team-high 16 points.
The Zips finished the game shooting 40.4 percent from the field, while Western Michigan connected at a 39.7-percent clip. Akron outrebounded the Broncos in the affair, 39-37.
The two sides exchanged baskets to open the game before the Broncos used a 7-0 run to assume a 12-5 lead at the 5:11 mark.
Back-to-back baskets from Ricketts cut Akron's deficit to three, 12-9, with 4:25 left in the opening quarter.
The teams alternated the next five baskets before consecutive lay-ups from sophomore Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) and Ricketts allowed the Zips to close the quarter on a 4-0 run to trail after 10 minutes, 18-17.
Plybon opened the second quarter with a fade-away three pointer to give Akron its initial lead of the game, 20-17.
The Broncos battled back to assume a 24-23 lead on a jumper by Shipman at the 6:55 mark.
The Zips went back ahead with a 5-0 run by Gibson to hold a 28-24 advantage with 5:52 left before halftime.
Following a basket by the Broncos, Gibson added a triple to push the margin to 31-26.
Western Michigan netted back-to-back buckets to inch to within one, 31-30, before Plybon dialed long distance for a three pointer as time expired in the first half to send Akron into the intermission holding a 34-30 lead.
The Zips connected on 43.8 percent of their attempts in the opening 20 minutes, while the Broncos shot 37.1 percent from the field.
Gibson led Akron in the first half with an 11-point performance.
The Broncos scored the first three points of the second half before the Zips used a 6-0 run, with all six points coming from Plybon, to extend their lead to 40-33 at the 6:32 mark.
Following a pair of free throws from Alexis Parks, Akron parlayed an 8-0 scoring spurt to take a 13-point advantage, 48-35, at the 3:45 mark after a lay-up by Sefcik.
After three periods of play, the Zips held a 55-42 lead.
The Broncos opened the final quarter with a 9-0 run to cut their deficit to 55-51 at the 7:32 mark.
A three pointer with 7:11 to play from Plybon halted Western Michigan's scoring spurt, pushing Akron ahead seven, 58-51.
The Broncos retook the lead, 60-59, on a lay-up by Meredith Miller at the 2:29 mark. The Zips twice tied the score before Western Michigan closed the game on a 7-3 run to secure the 69-65 victory.
Akron returns to action hosting rival Kent State on Wednesday, Feb. 17, in a 7 p.m. tilt at James A. Rhodes Arena.
