Clay Scores Career-High 22 Points, But Zips Clipped By Bowling Green 66-64

Saturday, January 13

Akron, Ohio

4:30 PM

University of Akron

6-10(0-5MAC)

Bowling Green

9-7 (1-4MAC)

Bowling Green

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Clay Scores Career-High 22 Points, But Zips Clipped By Bowling Green 66-64

January 13 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Follow Akron Women's Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Follow Coach Kest on Twitter
Purchase 2017 Akron Women's Basketball Season Tickets

Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Photo Gallery | Video Highlights/Postgame Comments

AKRON, Ohio -- Sophomore guard Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind.) poured in a career-high 22 points and drained a career-best six 3-pointers, but it wasn't enough as the Akron Zips were clipped by Bowling Green, 66-64, Saturday evening at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Akron trailed for much of the game until taking the lead in the third quarter, extending the margin to as many as plus-12 in the final period. The Falcons staged a rally behind junior guard Carly Santoro, who scored a team-high 19 points, and took the final lead on a late 3-pointer by Haley Puk.

After the Zips (6-10, 0-5 MAC) fouled with seven seconds left, the Falcons made one of two free throws to go up 66-64. In the final possession of the game, a driving layup by Clay in the final seconds didn't draw iron and the ball bounded away as time expired.

Clay was 75 percent of the Akon offense in the first half, making 6-of-7 shots from behind the arc on her way to 18 first-half points. Clay would finish the contest with a game-high 22 points, her new career-best. Sophomore guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) joined in on the scoring in the second half chipping in 15 points to go with five assists. Eight of the nine active Akron players registered points in the contest, with the Zips bench outscoring the Falcons reserves, 14-10.

Sophomore Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) would go on to pull in a game-high and career-best 14 rebounds, including 11 defensive and three offensive boards. Sophomore Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) matched her teammate with three offensive caroms, while grabbing four defensive rebounds and recording three blocked shots, a new career-best.

Offensively as a unit, the Zips edged the Falcons in shooting percentage from the floor (39.2-to-36.1 percent) and held a big edge in shooting from long distance (47.6-to-34.6 percent). In the first half alone, Akron shot an efficient 64 percent from beyond the arc (7-of-11), which totaled 21 of the Zips 23 first-half points.

The Falcons (9-7, 1-4 MAC) were able to build their lead early with extra possessions and looks at the basket as they grabbed five offensive rebounds and had just two turnovers in the first quarter. The Zips, conversely, had just two offensive rebounds and five turnovers and attempted seven fewer shots than the visitors as Bowling Green led 19-11 after the opening frame.

Akron and Bowling Green played an even second quarter each scoring 13 points in the second frame.

Behind Clay, Akron was able to erase a 32-24 halftime deficit, scoring the first eight points of the third quarter and tying the game at 32-all on a 3-pointer by senior guard Lauren Hung (Waterford, Mich.) at the 7:16 mark of the period. The Zips extended the run to 10-0 to take a 34-32 lead before the Falcons responded. From that point on, the lead changed hands multiple times in the remaining 15 minutes of the game.

Akron pulled ahead in the third quarter thanks to its defense. The Zips held the Falcons to just 11 third-quarter points, while Akron scored 22 to come back and claim their first lead of the game. In the third period alone, the Zips scored nine points off turnovers, outscored BG in the paint 8-to-4, and the Akron reserves outscored the Falcons, 7-to-3.

Despite the Akron lead, the game remained close early in the fourth quarter before a suffocating defensive effort from the hosts held Bowling Green scoreless for the first 2:20 of the fourth quarter, as the Zips extended their lead to 12.

In the ensuing six minutes, the Akron lead would dwindle down to a one-point advantage, 63-62, with 1:13 to play in the contest. Senior Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) split a pair of free throws to give Akron a two-point lead, 64-62, before Bowling Green's Puk hit the three-point dagger with 24 seconds to play for the eventual game-winning shot.

The Zips are back in action Wednesday, Jan. 17 as they travel to Oxford, Ohio to take on the Miami RedHawks. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN3.