The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
17-12, 11-7MAC
Bowling Green
10-17, 6-12MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 16 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 61 |
| Akron | 20 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 71 |
Zips Celebrate Senior Day with a 71-61 Victory over Bowling Green
March 05 | Women's Basketball
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BOXSCORE | BOXSCORE (PDF) | VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY | MAC CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET (PDF)
AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's basketball team cruised to a 71-61 Senior Day victory over visiting Bowling Green (10-17, 6-12 MAC) on Saturday afternoon, March 5, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Akron (17-12, 11-7 MAC) honored its three seniors – Megan Barilla (Fairview Park, Ohio), Anita Brown (Warren, Ohio) and DiAndra Gibson (Ravenna, Ohio) - before Saturday's contest, and sent its senior class out with a win in their final regular season game at the JAR. With the triumph, the trio of seniors also marked the most victories (85) by a class in Akron program history.
Brown led all players with a game-high 23 points after a 9-of-17 showing from the field. Brown also pulled down a team-high six rebounds, while adding three assists to the Zips' cause. Junior Hannah Plybon (Orville, Ohio) went 5-for-8 from three-point range for 18 points, while Gibson contributed 12 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals to stuff the stat sheet.
Barilla and freshman Lilli Piper (Norton, Ohio) chipped in six points apiece, while the senior notched a game-high six assists.
Bowling Green had three players score in double figures led by Lauren Tibbs' 11 points. Miriam Justinger and Kennedy Kirkpatrick added 10 points each for the Falcons.
The two teams traded baskets in the opening period of play, which saw four lead changes and two ties. Akron held onto a one-point lead, 8-7, after Gibson knocked down a triple at the seven-minute mark. Both teams went scoreless over the next minute and a half until a foul shot by Brown pushed Akron's lead to two.
However, Bowling Green answered with a three pointer on the next possession to take a 10-9 advantage with 5:08 remaining in the quarter. The Zips closed out the first frame with an 11-6 run, which resulted in a 20-16 lead heading into the second quarter.
The Falcons brought the score back within one, 20-19, in the early part of the second period, but Akron used a 14-5 outing to expand its lead to double digits, 34-24. With less than three minutes until intermission, Bowling Green scored four-consecutive points to trail by six, 36-30. A shot by Plybon from outside the arc closed out the scoring in the first half and put the Zips ahead, 39-30.
Bowling Green started the third quarter with a three-point basket to cut Akron's lead to seven, 39-32, but the Zips roared back with offense of their own. A steal and layup from Brown followed by a drained three-pointer from Plybon off an assist from Barilla, put Akron back up by double figures. The Zips maintained their lead throughout the rest of the period, retaining a 56-46 control going into the final 10 minutes of action.
Three minutes into the fourth quarter, Akron rattled off seven-straight points highlighted by two buckets from Brown and a three-point play from Barilla. The hole was too large for the Falcons to come back from as the Zips' lead never dipped below double digits.
Akron shot 27-for-58 (46.6 percent) from the field compared to Bowling Green's 21-of-56 (37.5 percent). The Zips held a 36-28 advantage in the paint and a 12-2 authority in points off turnovers.
With the win, the Zips have now won four straight games and are 17-12 overall, including an 11-7 mark in MAC play.
Fifth-seeded Akron will return to action on Monday, March 7, in the opening round of the 2015-16 Mid-American Conference Championship at home against No. 12 Miami. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale for the contest for $6 or $20 for a family four-pack. All season-ticket holders already have this game included with their season ticket package. Students will be admitted free with their ZipCard.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by logging on to GoZips.com/tickets, calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Additionally, tickets for potential MAC Championship games starting next Wednesday, March 9, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, are on sale for $10.
If you are planning on attending any games at the women's tournament held, we encourage you to purchase your tickets through the Akron Athletics Ticket Office. This will ensure that the proceeds from your purchase go towards supporting Zips Athletics.
