The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
9-14, 2-10MAC
Kent State
14-11, 8-5MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State | 15 | 25 | 19 | 13 | 72 |
| Akron | 15 | 13 | 11 | 19 | 58 |
Kent State Captures 72-58 Victory Over Akron in Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Showdown
February 11 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio - A 20-0 second-quarter run proved too much for the University of Akron women's basketball team to overcome as the Zips (9-14, 2-10 MAC) suffered a 72-58 setback to their rival Kent State (14-11, 8-5 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 11, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Golden Flashes picked up a half point in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge to cut Akron's advantage in the series to 1.5 points, 3.5-2.0, entering the next showdown between Zips and Kent State on Friday, Feb. 17, in men's basketball action.
Senior Hannah Plybon (Orrville, Ohio) directed Akron with a game-high 24 points, including making five three pointers. No other Zip was able to crack the double-digit scoring plateau. McKenna Stephens, Jordan Korinek and Larissa Lurken registered 20, 17 and 14 points, respectively, for the Golden Flashes.
Akron finished the contest shooting 34.4 percent from the field and at a 28-percent clip beyond the arc. Kent State elevated for a 48.3 percent shooting effort, while making 6-of-18 three pointers (33.3 percent).
The Zips posted a 40-38 margin in rebounding, including a 14-8 advantage on the offensive glass.
Akron scored the game's first basket before the Golden Flashes went on a 10-2 run to assume a 10-4 lead following at lay-up by Lurken at the 7:39 mark.
The Zips fired back a salvo of their own running off 11 of the next 13 points, capped by a lay-up from freshman Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) with 1:12 left in the opening stanza to take a 15-12 lead.
The contest was deadlocked at 15 apiece after the first quarter with Akron connecting on 36.8 percent of its shots versus a 43.8-percent mark for Kent State.
The Zips stretched their lead to as many as five points, 22-17, in the opening minutes of the second period following a pair of three pointers from Plybon.
The Golden Flashes then held Akron without a field goal over the next 7:55, while going on a 20-0 run of their own to push their lead to 37-22 after a jumper by Lurken with 2:34 before the half.
The Zips got three made free throws before Plybon connected on her fourth triple of the opening half at the 1:18 mark. The three pointer marked the 300th career triple for Plybon moving her into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time three-point list in Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball history.
Akron trailed Kent State at the half, 40-28, as the Zips shot 32.3 percent in the opening 20 minutes of play. The Golden Flashes sparked by a 60-percent effort in the second period, connected on 51.6 percent if their shots.
Kent State pushed it margin to as many as 24 points in the third period to hold a 59-39 lead entering the final quarter.
The Zips opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run fueled by a three pointer from redshirt sophomore Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) and lay-ups from freshman Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and senior Brittany Gordon (South Charleston, W. Va.), but 13 points proved to be as close as Akron was able to cut its deficit as the Golden Flashes secured the victory.
The Zips return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 15, as Akron hosts Toledo in a 7 p.m. tilt at James A. Rhodes Arena. The contest will mark the Zips' Play 4Kay game with Akron wearing pink uniforms for the tilt.
