Zips Battle With No. 15 Maryland, But Fall 75-54

Saturday, December 2

Akron, Ohio

2 pm

University of Akron

3-3

University of Maryland

7-2

UMD

Akron

Photo by: David Dermer

Zips Battle With No. 15 Maryland, But Fall 75-54

December 02 | Women's Basketball

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Akron, Ohio– The University of Akron women's basketball team battled with Big Ten Conference opponent and the 15^th ranked team in the country, The University of Maryland, at James A. Rhodes Arena, but ultimately fell to the Terrapins', 75-54, on Saturday afternoon.

The Zips fell to .500 (3-3) on the season after their first six games, while the Terps improved to 7-2.

From the field, the Zips collectively shot 30.4 percent (21-of-69) and just 21 percent (5-of-23) from three-point range. Akron's most efficient scoring came in the third quarter when the Zips shot 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from the floor, while Akron outscored Maryland in the second quarter, 21-14, on 44.4 percent shooting.

Sophomore guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) led the Akron scoring efforts with a season-high 17 points, while recording four assists, and three steals. Redshirt junior Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) contributed 13 points, knocking down three triples. Sefcik has now recorded double-digit points in four straight contests, and five of six games, thus far. Sophomore Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) led the Zips with seven rebounds, while adding six points.

The first quarter belonged to the Terps. After the game opened with baskets from both teams, Maryland went on a 12-2 run in the first two and a half minutes before senior Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) ended the stretch with a lay-up at the 7:34 mark of the first quarter. The Zips managed to put six points on the board courtesy of a jumper from Edmonds, Burry's lay-in, and a lay-up by sophomore Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio), but the Terps outscored Akron 12-2 in the final five minutes of the period to take a 24-6 lead after quarter number one.

Akron came out of the first quarter break looking to get themselves back in the game, and they did just that. A 10-3 run by the Zips in the first three minutes of the second stanza cut the deficit to 11 points (27-16), which ended with a three-pointer by Sefick off an assist from sophomore Shayna Harmon (Ashville, Ohio).

After Maryland extended its lead back to plus-14, the Akron offense again stepped up to bring the game within seven points and striking distance. An 11-4 run got the Zips back into the game thanks to seven points from Edmonds, highlighted by her lone triple of the contest.

Despite the run by Akron, the Terrapins scored four unanswered points to close out the first half and take a 38-27 lead into the locker room. The Zips outscored Maryland in the second quarter, 21-14, and scored 10 points off turnovers.

The Zips came out with the same fight after halftime as they did to start the second quarter, again going on a 5-1 run in the first minute and a half to cut back into the lead, 39-32.

The two teams went back-and-forth over the course of the following four minutes (7:47-3:56), before Maryland began to take control of the game. Maryland went back up by 16 points, 57-41, at the 3:28 mark of the third quarter and never trailed by more than 13 points to finish out the period with a 64-48 lead.

Maryland kept command of the game during the final 10 minutes of the contest, extending its lead to as many as 21, to defeat the Zips 75-54.

The Zips return to the hardwood and close out a six-game homestand on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m., when Akron and Youngstown meet at James A. Rhodes Arena.