Reinoehl's Career Night Leads Zips To First Win, 66-54, Over Southeastern Louisiana

Friday, November 17

Akron, Ohio

7:30 pm

University of Akron

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Southeastern Louisiana University

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Southeastern Louisia

Akron

Photo by: David Dermer

Reinoehl's Career Night Leads Zips To First Win, 66-54, Over Southeastern Louisiana

November 17 | Women's Basketball

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Akron, Ohio- Sophomore forward Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) posted a career-night scoring 21 points and and pulling in 11 rebounds en route to her first career double-double, as the University of Akron women's basketball team earned its first victory of the 2017-18 season in a 66-54 win over Southeastern Louisiana in game two of the Akron Classic on Friday night.

After a tough first quarter shooting the ball (21.4 percent), the Zips began to get an offensive rhythm in the ensuing two quarters including a game-high 50 percent (8-for-16) in the third quarter. As the game ended, the Zips concluded the contest shooting 32.4 percent (22-for-68) from the field.

Defensively, Akron limited the damage by holding the Lions to just 26.7 percent shooting from the field and 24.0 percent from beyond the arc.

Reinoehl led all players with her game-high 21 points and first ever double-double. Not to get lost in the shadows of Reinoehl's game, is the all-around performance that sophomore guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) put on scoring 16 points, dishing out four assists, and grabbing three rebounds.

A second pair of Zips also recorded career nights in sophomores Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio). In a career-most 14 minutes of play, Clay scored a career-best eight points and shot 2-for-5 from long range. Vari went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and 1-for-1 from the free throw line to post a career-high seven points, as well as recording a career-most 16 rebounds (12 defensive, 4 offensive).

Freshman Kynnedy Azubike (Columbus, Ohio) scored her first career tally in an Akron uniform posting four points.

The Zips won the battle of the boards in the contest against the Lions outrebounding SLU, 64-to-43, including 18-to-12 on the offensive side. Those rebounds helped Akron dominate inside the paint scoring 34 of its 66 points inside and turned its 18 offensive rebounds into 12 second-chance points.

The Lions leading scorer continued to play well in game four of the season and scored 21 points and posted six rebounds. Caitlyn Williams followed her teammate with nine points and eight rebounds, while Tyler Morrison added six points.

The first period got off to a slow start with both teams struggling to find a rhythm and trading baskets five minutes into the game. The Zips would take their first lead at the 1:22 mark after Clay hit a three-pointer to give Akron a 7-6 advantage.

Southeastern Louisiana countered Akron's short run and finished the initial period on a 4-0 run to put them out front, 11-7, at the end of the first quarter. The Zips defensive pressure in the first 10 minutes of the contest kept Akron within striking distance.

Akron came out after the first quarter break looking to make some noise and they did just that. The Zips went on a 7-3 run in the first two and a half minutes of the second quarter which included four points down low and a three-point play by Edmonds who was fouled and hit a free-throw to complete the and-one.

In the closing three minutes of the half, Akron again went on a big run (10-4) to help give the Zips a five-point lead at halftime, 26-21. Reinoehl highlighted the run and ended the quarter completing an aggressive play driving to the basket, getting fouled, making the lay-up, and hitting a free throw.

The Zips took advantage at the charity stripe in the first half making 7-of-12 free throws, while holding Southeastern Louisiana to just 3-of-17 from the field in the second quarter.

The Zips turned up the offense and caught fire in the first four minutes and thirty seconds of the third quarter to go on an 11-0 run to extend Akron's lead to 39-23. The Zips 16-point lead was the largest in the contest.

After Southeastern Louisiana was forced to take a timeout, the Lions responded with a 7-0 run of their own to cut back into the lead (39-30) with 3:15 left to play.

Azubike gave the Zips a quick spark scoring two layups to give Akron a 43-34 lead with 1:35 to play in the third quarter, but at the end of the stanza the Zips lead was trimmed to 45-37.

The final quarter of play began with both teams trading baskets back-and-forth. Edwards scored four points and assisted on a pair of buckets to put the Zips up 53-41 at the 6:13 mark.

The Lions would battle back into the contest and only trailed by six points with 4:22 to play in the game, but the Zips were able to go on one last run (13-4) and sustain the lead to hold off Southern Louisiana, 66-54.

Akron returns action tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 18, as they host Florida Gulf Coast at James. A Rhodes Arena for game four of the 2017 Akron Classic. The contest between the Zips and Eagles is slated for 2:30 p.m.