The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
6-2
Canisius
1-9
Big Fourth Quarter Leads Akron To A 62-53 Win Over Canisius
December 16 | Women's Basketball
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AKRON, Ohio– Playing their first game in eight days, the Akron women's basketball team shook off a sluggish start and pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 62-53 non-conference win over Canisius at James A. Rhodes Arena Sunday afternoon.
Akron improves to 6-2 overall on the season and picked up its third home win of the season. The Golden Griffins of Canisius fall to 1-9.Â
Redshirt senior guard Megan Sefcik (Austintown, Ohio) led all scorers with 24 points, along with four rebounds and three assists, while junior forward Caitlin Vari (Richfield, Ohio) tallied her second double-double of the season and career with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in the win. Junior guard Shayna Harmon (Richfield, Ohio) was the Zips second-leading scorer and added 12 points to give Akron three players in double figures.
The Akron defense forced 15 turnovers and the offense cashed in 11 points off turnovers. Akron while usually potent from around the perimeter made just five triples in the contest but countered with 28 points in the paint.Â
The Zips used a 12-2 run late in the fourth quarter to take charge which including a dominating performance on the glass all game long, holding a 40-25 rebounding edge. Additionally, Akron forced four key turnovers in the final six minutes of the game to stifle the Canisius attack during a decisive portion of the game.
Sefcik played a central role in the early portion of the fourth quarter, making a three from the corner as Akron faced a 41-37 deficit after the Golden Griffins scored the first four points of the period. With two three-pointers, a layup and an assist, the senior guard accounted for her team's first 10 points of the final stanza, twice helping the Zips cut into four-point Canisius leads.Â
She also took a charge on a key defensive stand with 3:05 remaining in the game and her team holding a five-point lead.
Sefcik went on to record 14 of her 24 points in the fourth, scoring from both the perimeter including a game-high four three-pointers and strong drives to the hoop. It was the sixth time in eight games this season that Sefcik has made four or more shots from long range.
It was a strong closing effort in a game in which the first quarter saw one tie and six lead changes as both teams had hot streaks from the field amidst stretches of cold shooting. Canisius was able to stay in the game and take a brief lead thanks in large part to 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc as three different players made a triple for the Golden Griffins.
Akron rode the hot hand of Sefcik, who scored five points and added two assists and a steal in the opening period, to get her team rolling. Neither team was able to get on track offensively in the second quarter as they combined to shoot 1-of-17 from the field in the first 5:40 of the stanza and tallied a combined 21 points in the period.
Sefcik's three-pointer with just under four minutes left in the half gave Akron back a lead, 22-20, and the Zips were able to carry a one-point edge into the locker room at 27-26 despite committing 10 first-half turnovers.
The third quarter looked identical to the second period as Canisius claimed a one-point edge in the stanza, 11-10, as the game was deadlocked at 37-all heading into the final period of play.Â
For the Golden Griffins, Junior guard D'Jhai Patterson-Ricks led Canisius with 13 points and senior guard Maria Welch and senior forward Sarah Hinriksdottir each added 10 in defeat.
The Zips head west and are back in action Dec. 20-21 when Akron takes part in the 2018 Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic. The Zips go up against Jackson State on Dec. 20, followed by a match-up with UTEP on Dec. 21. Both games tip-off at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT).Â
