The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
13-12, 7-7MAC
Ohio
21-4, 13-1MAC
Ohio Fires Past Akron, 101-73
February 20 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio - In a physical showdown with Mid-American Conference leader Ohio, the University of Akron women's basketball team was unable to come back from an early deficit and was defeated by a final score of 101-73 on Saturday, Feb. 20, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
With the loss, the Zips fall to 13-12 (7-7 MAC) on the season, while the Bobcats improve to 21-4 (13-1 MAC).
Senior Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) led the way for Akron with 29 points. Junior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) added eight points for the Zips, while freshman Lilli Piper (Norton, Ohio) also chipped in a career-high eight points. Pulling down a team-best seven rebounds for Akron was Brown.
Six Bobcats scored in double figures for the game, with Lexie Baldwin leading the charge with a 17-point and nine-rebound performance. Kiyanna Black followed suit with 15 points of her own and grabbed eight rebounds.
For the game, Akron shot 37 percent (23-of-62) from the field and 28 percent (7-of-25) from behind the three-point arc. The Bobcats shot an impressive 49 percent (30-of-61) from the field and connected on 38 percent (13-of-34) of their shots from distance.
The Zips won the rebounding battle on the afternoon, 51-41, including 18-8 on the offensive glass, and used the advantage to outscore the Bobcats in second-chance points, 15-5.
After both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net in the opening minutes of the game, the Bobcats used a 6-0 run to take an early lead by the same score in the first quarter. The Zips responded using nine straight points by Brown to assume a 9-8 advantage with 5:28 left on the clock.
After a four-minute scoring drought, Brown converted two shots at the charity stripe to give her 13 points in the opening stanza and provide Akron a 15-13 lead after one period of play.
The Bobcats took an 18-15 lead with 8:22 left in the second quarter after forcing the Zips to miss six-consecutive shots.
A layup by senior DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) ended the shooting woes for Akron and tied the game at 20 with 6:29 before halftime. Brown continued her stellar first half with a backdoor layup that gave the Zips a 22-21 lead with six minutes to play in the half.
Over the final six minutes of the second quarter, the Bobcats mounted a 21-5 run to take a 42-27 lead into the locker room at halftime.
After a triple from Black to open the second half, Plybon connected on a three-pointer from the top of the key at the 9:00 mark, the first of the game for the Zips.
The Bobcats used an 11-1 run over a three-minute span in the third quarter to extend their lead to 26 with 5:26 remaining in the period.
Akron continued to try and chip away the deficit, but Ohio held a 75-52 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
Sophomore Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) entered the game at the 4:36 mark and instantly buried a triple from the top of the key.
In the final minutes of the game, Hung and redshirt freshman Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) connected on triples, but it was not enough to propel a comeback for the Zips.
Akron returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 24, as the Zips travel to Oxford, Ohio, to battle Miami in a 7 p.m. tilt.
