Akron Takes Down Rival Kent State, 75-60, And Earns Well-Deserved First MAC Win In Wagon Wheel Challenge

Saturday, January 27

Akron, Ohio

2 PM

University of Akron

7-13 (1-8MAC)

Kent State University

10-11 (3-6MAC)

Kent State

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Takes Down Rival Kent State, 75-60, And Earns Well-Deserved First MAC Win In Wagon Wheel Challenge

January 27 | Women's Basketball

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AKRON, Ohio -- In a classic rivalry battle between the University of Akron women's basketball team and its cross-town foe Kent State University, the Zips earned their first win in Mid-American Conference play defeating their rivals, the Golden Flashes, 75-60, Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena in part one of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Wagon Wheel Challenge.

With the win over Kent State, Akron earned a half point in the season-long competition between the two schools. The Zips now lead in the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Wagon Wheel Challenge, 4.0-1.5, which awards points to the head-to-head winners in 14 men's and women's sports. Currently, Akron has edged Kent State in football (1), men's and women's cross country (2), and split the volleyball series (.5), and now earned a .5 point in women's basketball. The Golden Flashes earned points in women's soccer (1) and volleyball (.5).

The victory over Kent State (10-11, 3-6 MAC) also marked the 450^th win in the historic Akron women's basketball program history since the inaugural season in 1974-75.

The Akron offense played an outstanding game with four Zips registering double-figures, and eight of the active nine players scoring in the contest for a balanced offensive attack. As a unit, Akron (7-13, 1-8 MAC) shot an efficient 46.9-percent from the floor, including a 23.8-percent clip from long range. The Zips dominated in the interior outscoring Kent State in the paint, 48-20. A key to Akron's success was limiting turnovers (9), and sharing the ball posting 19 assists.

Freshman guard Destiny Perkins (Indianapolis, Ind.) led all Akron players with 19 points, a career-best eight rebounds, four assists, and ripped two steals for an all-around performance. Perkins counterpart, sophomore guard Shaunay Edmonds (Pittsburgh, Pa.) chipped in 15 points and an impressive career-best nine assists. Combined the Akron point guard duo shot 13-of-29 and dished out 13 assists and took away four steals. Rounding out the double-digit scorers was senior Greta Burry (Lakewood, Ohio) and sophomore Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio).

On the glass, sophomore Haliegh Reinoehl (Westfield, Ind.) grabbed a team-best 13 rebounds, en route to 42 team caroms. Perkins followed her teammate with eight boards and Edmonds added four.

While the offense was flowing, the Zips defense stepped up as well. Akron limited Kent State to just 22-of-77 from the floor (28.6-percent) and a low 22.2-percent (6-of-27) from long range. Akron forced 13 turnovers by the Golden Flashes which led to 13 points.

The Zips and Golden Flashes battled in the opening five and half minutes with the advantage in favor of Akron, 8-6. Edmonds and sophomore Alyssa Clay (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored the first four points of the game as Edmonds split a pair of free throws and Clay's first shot of the game hit nothing but net for three.

Kent State scored seven straight points from 4:57 to the 2:43 mark of the period to counter and take its first lead of the game, 11-8. Perkins ended the KSU run after she found the bottom of the net from the top of the three-point arc to square the game at 11.

In the first six and half minutes of the second quarter, Akron was lights out from the floor going 8-for-11, en route to extending its lead, 30-17. The Zips outscored the Golden Flashes 17-6 in the scoring spurt with 14 of the 17 Akron points coming inside the paint courtesy of Reinoehl (2 points), Vari (6 points), Burry (2 points), Edmonds (2 points), and freshman Sarah Leyendecker (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) (2 points).

However, the Golden Flashes would cut the deficit down to three (32-29) at the halftime break, closing the second quarter on a 12-2 run in the final three minutes.

The third quarter was a battle for the entire 10-minute period. In the first five and half minutes, the score was even seven-all as the Zips held on to a three-point lead (39-36).

Akron and Kent State continued to go back-and-forth in the final three and half minutes with Akron holding the slight edge, increasing its lead to plus-five, 47-42, after 30 minutes of play.

After a tight third quarter, the Zips came out of the break looking to pick up the pace and did just that resulting in an 11-3 advantage in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter to extend its lead to 58-45. Perkins was a big factor for Akron in the final 10 minutes of play scoring the first seven points of the quarter for the Zips and went on to score 13 of her total points in the period.

A short 5-2 stint by the Golden Flashes brought the game within 10 points, 60-50, and forced Akron to take a timeout and reset.

The Zips extended their lead back to plus-14 (64-50) with 4:48 to go in the contest. From that point on, Akron never trailed by more than seven points in the final four minutes and scored eight unanswered points in the final minute of the game to seal the deal and earn the Zips a well-deserved first conference victory.

Akron returns to the road on Wednesday, Jan. 31, when the Zips and Ball State meet for the second time this season in Muncie, Ind. Game two between Akron and the Cardinals is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside John E. Worthen Arena